China

China in the first half of the twentieth century was dealing with many changes and conflicts. In 1911, China was declared a Republic after centuries of being a Dynasty. China was heavily influenced by the Bolshevik Revolution in the Soviet Union and developed its own Communist Party. Not everyone supported the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a Civil War between the Communists and Nationalists lasted for years. At the same time, China was in conflict with Japan which started with the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and the second Sino-Japanese War which began in 1937. Republic of China- 1912 to 1949 Shift from Dynasty to Republic Ended when the Communists won the Chinese Civil War China was renamed the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 Major Ideological and Political Developments: Communism (Marxism)- China became officially Communist at the end of the Civil War in 1949. Mao Zedong leader of the Communist Party of China who became influential in the late 1920s Chiang Kai-Shek political and military leader of China who was against Communism and was an influential member of the Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang (KMT) starting in 1926 Encirclement Campaigns part of the Chinese Civil War which took place during the 1920s and 30s in attempt of the Nationalist government to prevent the expansion of the Chinese Red Army (influenced by the Soviet Red Army) Long March, (193436), the 6,000-mile (10,000-km) historic trek of the Chinese communists, which resulted in the relocation of the communist revolutionary base from southeastern to northwestern China and in the emergence of Mao Zedong as the undisputed party leader. Fighting Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek throughout their journey, the communist troops crossed 18 mountain ranges and 24 rivers to reach the northwestern province of Shaanxi. The heroism attributed to the Long March inspired many young Chinese to join the Chinese Communist Party during the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Famous portrait of Mao Zedong

Japan

In the twentieth century, Japan wanted to expand and militarize much like Germany. In fact, Japan and Germany were allies during the Second World War. Japan started to use the military as the way to rule the Empire of Japan. The Empire included parts of what is now North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and China Japan wanted to increase its influence in Asia and was able to do so because they were on the winning side of WWI. Japan was technologically advanced at the time and therefore felt a level of superiority. Style of Government: Monarchy with a Constitution Emperor from 1926-1947: Emperor Shwa Prime Minister from 19371939, 19401941: Fumimaro Konoe Japan was part of the League of Nations but after the occupation of Manchuria in 1931, Japan left the League. Occupation of Manchuria (Puppet government) in 1931 o Manchuria was important to Japanese economy Investments in Manchuria o The Japanese market declined because of the decline of silk exports during the Great Depression o The Japanese leaders decided to move to complete control of Manchuria instead of just economic control o Announced that Manchuria was separating from China and would become an independent country (the ruler was a Japanese puppet ruler) called Manchukuo League of NationsChina and Japan was a part of it o Most important function was to maintain peace o In February, 1933 the League of Nations adopted the report made about Manchuria and would now be obliged to require all of its members to impose sanctions o The Japanese government responded to the report in May by leaving the League of Nations In 1937, Japan began a war with China in an attempt to conquer more territory. Many atrocious events occurred during this war, including the Rape of Nanking.

This is a photograph depicting the occupation of Manchuria in 1931.

Soviet Union (Russia)

Official Name: The Union of Soviet Social Republics (USSR) Established in 1922 (after the Civil War had ended) Leader of the Soviet Union approaching WWII era: Joseph Stalin Style of government: Dictatorial, Communist Regime Workers of the World, Unite! Russia underwent a Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 whereby Vladimir Lenin took power and the Soviet Union was established. In early October, Lenin convinced the Bolshevik Party to form an immediate insurrection against the Provisional Government. The Bolshevik leaders felt it was of the utmost importance to act quickly while they had the momentum to do so. The armed workers known as Red Guards and the other revolutionary groups moved on the night of Nov. 6-7 under the orders of the Soviet's Military Revolutionary Committee. These forces seized post and telegraph offices, electric works, railroad stations, and the state bank. Once the shot rang out from the Battleship Aurora, the thousands of people in the Red Guard stormed the Winter Palace. The Provisional Government had officially fallen to the Bolshevik regime. Once the word came to the rest of the people that the Winter Palace had been taken, people from all over rose and filled it. V. I. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, announced his attempt to construct the socialist order in Russia. This new government made up of Soviets, and led by the Bolsheviks. By early November, there was little doubt that the proletariats backed the Bolshevik motto: "All power to the soviets!" Directly after the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia broke out into a Civil War. The Civil War was between the Bolsheviks (The Red Army) and the Mensheviks (The White Army) State Entry Exit Combat Forces Population Losses Rebels 1917 1921 1200000 30000000 1500000 Russia 1917 1921 3600000 135000000 350000 Russian Civil War... (1918-20), conflict in which the Red Army successfully defended the newly formed Bolshevik government against various Russian and interventionist anti-Bolshevik armies. Vladimir Lenin Founder of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, died in 1924 from a stroke

Before the Second World War, the Soviet Union tried to depend on only itself. A Part of being a Communist regime means not relying on the Capitalists for the economy. That is why the New Economic Policy (NEP) was put forth in the 1920s when Stalin worked to industrialize and prepare the Soviet Union to rely on its resources. During the years of the NEP, the government slowly started to take control of industries, transportations and farms. In 1928, Stalin introduced the Five Year Plan and it included collectivization. Stalin claimed that Russia would be industrialized by the time the plan would expire. Stalin wanted to use all the grown agriculture in the Soviet Union for the good of everybody. In the beginning of the 1930s, the industries of the Soviet Union expanded tremendously. At the same time, Stalin became paranoid and began to persecute party members, as well as Generals of the Red Army whom he suspected to be a threat to his power. This is important because it is Stalins actions of killing army generals that made things very difficult once the war with German started.

Germany
The Weimar Republic was established after WWI and was the government system until 1933 National Socialists (Nazis) led by Adolf Hitler won the election in 1933 and Hitler took steps to gain full power, all done legally and constitutionally Fascism- A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent
socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Nazism- the German form of fascism, especially that of the National Socialist (German:
Nazionalsozialist) Workers party under Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler Dictator of Nazi Germany, drove the world into a world war Hitler and the National Socialists were able to take power in Germany due to conditions that were caused by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Germany was devastated because of the Treaty and Hitler was able to take advantage of the terrible situation to influence people to vote for a party with extreme views. When Paul von Hindenburg died in 1934, Hitler was able to take over complete power of Nazi Germany and made many changes which affected the relationship Hitler had with other European leaders. Hitler was a huge fan of Benito Mussolini of Fascist Italy and wanted to gain his respect. Short Overview of Hitlers Rise to Power 1919: Nazi Party Founded 1923: Beer Hall Putsch- Hitler is arrested and writes Mein Kampf while in prison 1926: Hitler reorganizes the party 1931: The Depression in Germany worsens 1932: Nazi party wins 38% of the votes in the election (increase from 2.6% in 1928) January 30, 1933: Hitler becomes Chancellor February 27, 1933: Reichstag fire March 5, 1933: Enabling Act June 30, 1934: Night of the Long Knives August 2, 1934: Hindenburg dies and Hitler declares himself Fuehrer

Italy
Benito Mussolini- dictator of Italy, 1922-1944 Il Duce (The Leader)

Fascism political ideology invented by Benito Mussolini in 1919 A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. Fasci di Combattimento what the Fascists in Italy were called. They were a cluster of men that stuck together to fight for the people because the government did not (that is what they wanted to make people believe) We will fight for Italy in a way that the government is too weak to fight Italy was still going through some struggles after WWI and they needed a powerful leader Fascists/Fascism moves from being a political movement to a political party in the government Fascists are represented in the 1921 elections Recognition as a political party March on Rome (October 1922) Italy was ruled by a Prime Minister but it was still a kingdom (until 1946) The Prime Minister resigned and the King had to appoint a new Prime Minister The king asked Mussolini to form a government and Mussolini goes to Rome Wanted Mussolini to include the nationalist parties in the coalition government All the party members come to Rome from Northern Italy Mussolini asks for special powerasks for Parliament to pass temporary powers (for a year) Italy still had a parliamentary system of government Takes a while for Mussolini to turn into a dictator Hitler really admired what Mussolini was able to do. He gained power legally and after Hitler had not succeeded doing things outside of the law, he studied Mussolinis rise to power for inspiration. Italy had other conflicts in the 1930s: Italy tried to increase its African Empire Mussolini would try to keep the energy going by proving to the Italian people that they could have a great, expanding Italian Empire There was a conflict in Ethiopia which caused a lot of tension for Mussolini with the rest of Europe Mussolini left the League of Nations as a result

Spain
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was fought between the Falangists (Fascists supported by Italy and Germany) and the Loyalists (the Communists and other groups opposing Fascism) Francisco Franco Leader of the Falangists (renamed to Nationalists) who comes out victorious at the end of the Civil War and remains the dictator of Spain until his death in 1975. Falangists (Fascists) in Spain founded the Falange in 1933. They were just like the Fascists in Italy in that they had a symbol but in reality, the Falange was very different from the Fascists in Italy. They had a powerful dedication to the church which made the character of the Falange different. In 1936, General Franco began the revolt against the government. Franco becomes the spearhead of the coup which begins in July, they announce military takeover but there is a lot of protest. The reaction was not the same all over Spain and it becomes split within weeks and each side starts to wage war against the other side. Nationalists: monarchists, aristocrats, landowners, army leaders, devout Catholics, clericals Very closely linked to the Church The Pope was enthusiastic at the beginning of the war In Spain itself, there was no debate about priests going into battle but the Pope was disturbed by this and distanced himself from the conflict Republicans (Loyalists): liberals, socialists, communists, anarchists, syndicalists (non-Marxist type of trade union), Basques, Catalans o Trying to defend the republic and a lot of them dont like each other but have to work together All sorts of foreign countries and people in foreign countries were interested and got involved which probably prolonged the war France supported the Republican side The British foreign policy tended to be we should stay out of this no official participation Stalin gives the most specific support-sends armaments to support the Republican side Volunteers from countries like Canada, Britain, U.S go to Spain in order to support the republican side of the civil war because they feel it is a struggle against Fascism

Spain is significant because it showed the rest of Europe the power of Fascism which they were very afraid of. It was also a chance for Germany to test out some of their new technology which helped them during WWII.