CONDITION
STALIN
HITLER
MAO
Economic/ Social Context
Debating over the NEP/ the appropriate pace of industrialization High Unemployment Inflation Food shortages
High unemployment, 6m in 1932 Great depression, deflation Dependence of foreign loans Rise of communism – people pushed to extremes out or fear of communism (middle and upper class) Pressure from reparations
Mismanagement of the economy, inefficiency. High inflation, by 1947 at 3000% Rationing No land reform, peasant population living in poverty
Military Context
After WW1 and the Russian civil war Russia now isolated Debate between permanent revolution (Trotsky) and socialism in one country (Stalin)
Defeat in WW1, heavily demilitarized Treaty of Versailles, dictated peace treaty, Germany given no say
WW2, humiliation, Japanese invasion CCP victory in the civil war despite being outnumbered and having less equipment than the GMD.
Political Context
Death of Lenin, power vacuum at the head of the communist party, had not named a successor Fears over the unity of the party, rift forming between the radical and the conservative Do not want a dictator who will divide the party.
Weimar never very popular as it was seen as a dictated peace Proportional representation, led to unstable coalitions Desire for a strong leader German tradition of rule by a single leader – many looked favorably on life as it had been under the monarchy before the war.
Anti-foreigner Weak corrupt government Peasant welfare disregarded, GMD support base was mostly middle/upper class in towns/ cities. Dependence on foreign aid
Failures /weaknesses of existing government
Not a failure, Stalin could only come to power after the death on Lenin Failure of the opposition to stop Stalin Trotsky unwilling to engage in political machinations was not as tactical as Stalin. Failed to realize they were being manipulated
Collapse of Weimar, only temporary successes Over reliant on foreign investment Wall street crash, depression, unemployment Weak coalitions Article 48, emergency powers, could be exploted.
Detached from China’s needs Failure to achieve three principles, nationalism, democracy, socialism. Negotiated/ compromised territory to warlords and Japan Unfair Tax System Chiang poor leadership, appointed own relatives, reliance on secret police
Emergence of an individual leader
People underestimated him ‘grey blur’ Personality, peasant/ worker background Political machinations, teams with right to defeat left, then turns on right himself. (uses Kamenev and Zinoviev against Trotsky) Teamed for a time with Bukharin, significant as the editor of Pravda Used his positions, General secretary, appoint friendly party members 1924 conference, chose a room full of his supported, able to get rid of Trotsky. Stalin literally means ‘steel’ in Russian, was ruthless in his quest for power
Had charisma, impressive orator Sole leader of the Nazi party, when he was in prison 1923-24 the Nazi party completely fell apart Was this Hitler’s personal appeal or the work of Goebbels? Opportunistic, played on the wants and fears of the people in the early 1930’s. Political machination, convinced the elites to elect him as chancellor
Ruthless in dealing with all opposition, as shown at the Futian incident, accused many in his party of being in the ‘AntiBolshevik League’, from 1930, estimates 70,000 purged. Emerged as sole leader after long march 1934. Recognized useful people. Eg Lin Bao Flexible (guerilla tactics), determined, strong
Ideology
In tune with party, supported NEP at first to get rid of the Left Then turned against it when it was becoming less productive to get rid of right. Genuine ideology or pure tactics? Takes on Cult of Lenin, promotes himself as Lenin’s disciple Socialism in one country, popular post war, people reluctant for further disturbance.
Nationalism, reduced reliance on foreign aid. Anti-Versailles Anti-communism, appeals to middle class who fear communism. Remilitarization Make Germany great again, people felt under Weimer Germany fell into decline, decadence. National regeneration through racial purity (anti-Semitism played down during RTP) Reduce unemployment
Designed his policies to please the peasantry 80% of the population. Mao Zedong thought Nationalism, land redistribution Land reform is moderated slightly to win popular support in the beginning Mass mobilization Rapid industrialization
Support base
The party, careful to change his ideology to Elites, due to fear of communism, Von please the party Papen, Hindeburg. Stalin’s RTP had less to do with support Middle and Upper classes in general outside the party Some success in German rural areas, not so much in cities.
Peasants, Mao’s ideology designed to improve the lives of the peasantry (often at the expense of the middle and upper classes)
Methods Propaganda
Lenin’s funeral, Trotsky did not attend Stalin seen at Lenin’s disciple Sets up foundation in Lenin’s name Goes on a series of lecture tours
Posters, film, radio. Hitler over Germany, visited 20 cities in just 6 days Rallies, marches, public speeches Work of Goebbels or Hitler? ‘Gauleiters’ ensured local appeal
Methods Organization
Party Secretary In charge of Orgburo ‘Ban on Factionalism’ uses it against united opposition Lenin enrolment, anyone can join the party, means he can fill the party with allies.
‘Gauleiters’, party officials spread all over Local committees, dealt with local issues, Germany, ensured local representation. education, healthcare Able to respond to local issues All reported back to the central national Only party who do this, communist party at government fault as they only focus on large cities United party, authoritarian leadership ‘Fuhrerprincip’, hierarchical structure, pyramid below Hitler, everyone working towards the Fuhrer
Methods Terror
Not used much until Stalin was in power
Role of SA, SS Removal of rivals Almost backfired on him 1923 Landlords stripped of their land, publically Tried to make it appear legal, uniforms etc. humiliated Pressure, watching over elections Disrupting communist meetings
Trigger
Lenin’s Death
Von Papen, Hindenburg, decision of the elites
Cult of Mao Long march Films, radios in town Troops spread the communist message, Mao enforced a code of conduct, insured CCP soldiers showed communism as beneficial.
Victory in the Civil war
