Fascism and Totalitarianism - AP European History

1. What was the purpose of the Lateran Treaty of 1929?

   To recognize the Vatican City as an independent state. Improved relations between Mussolini's regime and Catholic Church leadership.

2. Which event is considered the start of World War II?

   Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. Hitler's aggression triggered Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

3. Which event marked the rise of Mussolini to power?

   The March on Rome in 1922. Demonstrated fascist power and led to Mussolini becoming Prime Minister.

4. What was the primary goal of the Axis Powers during WWII?

   To establish dominance over Europe and Asia. Germany, Italy, and Japan sought territorial expansion and global influence.

5. Name a method used by totalitarian regimes to control society.

   Propaganda. Shapes public opinion and manipulates information to support regime goals.

6. Which Italian city did Mussolini's march target?

   Rome. Capital city became symbol of fascist seizure of power in 1922.

7. What was the secret non-aggression pact signed in 1939?

   Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the USSR. Temporarily allied Germany and Soviet Union, dividing Poland between them.

8. Which concept was central to fascist economic policy?

   Corporatism. State-directed collaboration between government, employers, and workers.

9. What was the name of Hitler's political party?

   National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP). Also known as the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler from 1921-1945.

10. What policy did Stalin implement to rapidly industrialize the USSR?

    The Five-Year Plans. Centralized economic planning aimed at rapid industrial development and modernization.

11. Who was the leader of the Spanish Fascist Party?

    Francisco Franco. Ruled Spain as dictator from 1939-1975 after winning civil war.

12. Which country did Hitler annex in 1938?

    Austria. Anschluss unified Austria with Germany, violating post-WWI treaties.

13. What was the purpose of the Gestapo in Nazi Germany?

    To act as the secret police enforcing Nazi ideology. Monitored citizens, arrested dissidents, and enforced Nazi racial policies.

14. What was the main purpose of the Soviet gulags?

    To detain and exploit forced labor of prisoners. Forced labor camps held political prisoners and suspected dissidents.

15. Which law granted Hitler dictatorial powers in 1933?

    The Enabling Act. Allowed Hitler to pass laws without parliamentary approval or constitutional constraints.

16. Identify the main purpose of Nazi concentration camps.

    To imprison, exploit, and exterminate perceived enemies. Systematic persecution escalated to genocide during the Holocaust.

17. What was the primary goal of totalitarian regimes?

    To maintain total control over public and private life. Eliminates all opposition and controls every aspect of citizens' lives.

18. What was the main goal of Stalin's Great Purge?

    To eliminate political opponents and consolidate power. Eliminated millions of perceived enemies through executions and imprisonments.

19. Which ideology opposes both communism and liberal democracy?

    Fascism. Rejects both socialist economics and democratic political systems.

20. Who led the Soviet Union during its totalitarian phase?

    Joseph Stalin. Established totalitarian control through purges, collectivization, and terror.

21. What was the significance of the Nuremberg Laws?

    They institutionalized racial discrimination in Nazi Germany. Stripped Jews of citizenship and prohibited marriage between Jews and Germans.

22. What was a key economic policy under fascism?

    State control of industries with private ownership. Government directs economy while maintaining capitalist ownership structures.

23. Identify a method used by Stalin to control the Soviet Union.

    State censorship. Controlled information flow and eliminated independent media and expression.

24. Which tactic did Mussolini use to gain support from the middle class?

    Promoting anti-communism. Appealed to bourgeois fears of socialist revolution and economic instability.

25. What was the result of Mussolini's foreign policy?

    Expansion of Italian territories in Africa. Invaded Ethiopia and Albania to build new Roman Empire in Africa.

26. What was the purpose of the Hitler Youth?

    To indoctrinate German youth with Nazi ideology. Trained children in Nazi beliefs, military skills, and racial theories.

27. Identify a key characteristic of totalitarian states.

    Centralized control by an autocratic authority. Single leader or party controls all political, economic, and social institutions.

28. Who became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933?

    Adolf Hitler. Appointed by President Hindenburg, then consolidated dictatorial power.

29. What was the main focus of the Nazi ideology?

    Racial purity and Aryan supremacy. Promoted belief in German racial superiority and antisemitic persecution.

30. What type of economy did Nazi Germany promote?

    A mixed economy with state intervention. Combined private enterprise with extensive government planning and control.

31. Identify a primary feature of Nazi ideology.

    Antisemitism. Central to Nazi racial theory and justification for persecution of Jews.

32. What was the primary aim of the Sturmabteilung (SA)?

    To protect Nazi rallies and disrupt opponents. Brownshirts used street violence to intimidate political enemies.

33. What tactic did Nazi Germany use to justify expansion?

    Lebensraum or 'living space'. Claimed Germans needed territory for population growth and resources.

34. Who was the propaganda minister of Nazi Germany?

    Joseph Goebbels. Controlled media, organized rallies, and spread Nazi antisemitic messages.

35. What is the definition of fascism?

    Fascism is a far-right authoritarian ultranationalist political ideology. Emphasizes extreme nationalism, authoritarian control, and rejection of democratic values.

36. What is the term for a cult of personality?

    Excessive adulation of a single leader. Creates devotion to leader through propaganda, symbols, and mass rallies.

37. Identify one similarity between fascism and communism.

    Both advocate for a single-party state. Both reject pluralism and establish authoritarian one-party rule.

38. Who was the leader of Fascist Italy?

    Benito Mussolini. Founded the Fascist Party and ruled Italy from 1922-1943.

39. What was the main purpose of Mussolini's Blackshirts?

    To intimidate and eliminate political opposition. Paramilitary force used violence against socialists and trade unionists.

40. What was Hitler's title as the leader of Nazi Germany?

    Führer. Means 'leader' in German, emphasizing Hitler's absolute authority.

Study these flashcards