Culminating Activity 2

What are four other totalitarian leaders? Identify them and describe why you consider them for this post.

 Adolf Hitler was an Austrian- born German politician and the leader of the 

National Socialist German Workers Party ( commonly known as the Nazi Party). Hitler is most well known for his central leadership role in the rise of fascism in Europe, World War II and the Holocaust. Hitler joined the precursor of the Nazi Party in 1919, and became leader of NSDAP in 1921.

In the 1920s, Adolf Hitler gained control of the Nazi party, a nationalistic, anti-communist, anti Semitic organization. Hitler won popular support by blaming Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I and for its economic troubles. He claimed that the German people belonged to a superior "Aryan" race that was destined to rule the world. As the Great Depression caused unemployment to rise in the early 1930s, many desperate people found hope in the Nazi party. In 1933, Hitler used the threat of a communist uprising to gain power. He then moved against all opposition parties and set up a fascist state in Germany. Hitler used many of the methods to build a totalitarian state in Germany. The Nazis preached the need for hard work, sacrifice, and service to the state. The Gestapo, or secret police, arrested anyone suspected of opposing Nazi rule. The Nazis used the press, schools, and even churches to glorify their goals. They also waged a violent campaign against Jews, sending many to concentration, or prison, camps. To end unemployment and improve the economy, Hitler launched vast building programs, banned strikes, and placed strict controls on wages and prices.
He is the representative of totalitarian regime, and he is a famous totalitarian leader in the world.

After Lenin's death in 1924, Joseph Stalin gains control of the government. Stalin was determined to transform the Soviet Union into a powerful industrial state. In 1928, therefore, he launched his first five-year plan. The plan included two goals: rapid growth of heavy industry and increased farm production through collectivization of agriculture. In a series of five-year plans, Stalin poured the nation's resources into building steel mills, electric power stations, and other industries needed in a strong modern state. He also forced millions of farmers to give up their land and work on collective farms, large, government-run enterprises. Many farmers opposed the change, and millions of them died in Stalin's brutal crackdown.

After World War 1, Italy was suffered by economic and political problems. Workers went on strike in the cities, while in the countryside, landless farmers seized the property of wealthy landlords. The unrest made the middle class fear a socialist revolution. An ambitious politician, Benito Mussolini, used the turmoil to gain power. Mussolini founded the Fascist party. Fascists glorified the state, supported aggressive nationalism, and condemned democracy because they believed rival parties divided the state. They also opposed communism and defended private property. In the early 1920s, Mussolini and his followers, known as Black Shirts, won the support of many Italians by attacking communists and socialists. Then in 1922, Mussolini led a "March on Rome" supposedly to prevent a communist revolution but in fact to frighten the government into naming him prime minister. Once in office, Mussolini increased his power by appointing Fascists to top offices, censoring the press, organizing a secret police, and banning any criticism of the government. He controlled the army and the schools, urging Italians to accept the slogan: "Everything in the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."

Francisco Franco born 4 December 1892 died 20 November 1975. he was commonly known as Franco. He was a Spanish military general and head of state of Spain. As head of state, Franco used the title Caudillo de España, por la gracia de Dios, meaning Leader of Spain, by the grace of god. He also developed a reputation as a cruel and vindictive military leader. It is estimated that an estimated 200,000 political prisoners died as a result of starvation, overwork and executions. July 18, 1936, Franco, a nationalist, led a rebellion against the government, which got him support from Hitler and Mussolini.

Spain has been swept by debate on the legacy of Franco-era teaching by a new book that shows how generations of youngsters were told that women should not read books about war, that liberty led to anarchy and that Jews were spies.

Those four people are the totalitarian leaders who are very famous all over the world during the World War II.