Dictators - Hitler and Mussolini

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How Dictators Work

Dictators rule more than 70 countries in the world. This form of government is characterized by absolute power, held by one person. To find out just what a dictator is, how dictators come to power, and how dictatorships end, explore the pages of this article. Begin your lesson with an introduction to dictatorships, which discusses the role of current and recent dictators. Other topics explain the history of dictatorships, characteristics of dictatorships, and the difficulties of ending a dictatorial form of government.
Topic: Dictators, Dictatorship Language: English Lexile: 1100 http://people.howstuffworks.com

Dictatorship

Learn about the lengthy history of dictatorships, and how this ruling method took on a rather sinister meaning throughout the twentieth century. An introductory discussion explains the origins of dictatorships, where one person holds absolute power over a country. After reading about the ancient origins of dictatorships, continue reading to discover the rise of noted dictators during World War II, ranging from Hitler to Mao Zedong. Following this short history lesson, scroll down to learn the key concepts of totalitarianism, a concept separate from, but closely identified with, dictatorship.
Topic: Dictators, Dictatorship Language: English Lexile: 1510 http://www.history-ontheweb.co.us

The Coming of World War II

Historical events involving Adolf Hitler led up to the beginning of World War II and this text explains Hitler's role in anti-Semitic practices that became an integral part of his political program. Hitler's political career is traced back to 1919 when he joined a party that is now known as the Nazis. The text takes you through to the days of Hitler's dictatorship and describes how he transformed Germany and the government as a whole.
Topic: World War II--Causes, Hitler, Adolf Language: English Lexile: 1160 http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler led Germany into World War II and is responsible for ordering the murders of millions of men, women and children. Many wonder how this man was able to secure such power and trust with the German people. This site seeks to try to provide some answers and describes Hitler's power of persuasion. You will begin to understand how the economic failure occurring in Germany, combined with the frustration of the people, opened the door for the ideas spread by Hitler.
Topic: Hitler, Adolf,--1889-1945 Language: English Lexile: 1130 Biography http://www.bbc.co.uk

Fascism

Although Hitler is closely associated with the second World War, his rise to power began during the 1920s. Explore the ideologies that fueled dictatorships throughout the period between World War I and World War II. Overviews of Fascism and Communism comprise the first two pages of this article. Additional pages trace the career of Adolf Hitler, and the lives of European citizens under his rule. Within these four pages, find interesting illustrations, ranging from political cartoons to intimate photographs.
Topic: Fascism Language: English Lexile: 920
http://www.lermuseum.org

Adolf Hitler: Man and Monster

Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889. Hitler dropped out of school at the age of 16 to pursue his painting career. He enlisted in the German army during WWI. He became the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in 1921. In 1923 Hitler wrote his very successful book Mein Kampf while in prison for leading an uprising. By 1933 Hitler had become the Chancellor of Germany. In September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland and began WWII. He committed suicide in April 1945.
Topic: Hitler, Adolf Language: English Lexile: 1020 Biography http://www.bbc.co.uk

The Coming of Hitler

As a child, Hitler dreamed of being an artist, but others weren't impressed with his artistic talents. As a teen on his own, he became obsessed with hating the Jewish people. Destroying the Jewish people gave him a sense of victory, even though he lost the war. He dreamed of a glorious Germany to replace the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Hitler survived for four years as a runner in World War I, a job that often had a life expectancy of days. He survived at least eighteen assassination attempts. The fear of communism, economic havoc, and civil war catapulted Hitler to power.
Topic: Hitler, Adolf Language: English Lexile: 1060 http://www.jewishhistory.org

How Did Hitler Rise to Power? - Alex Gendler and Anthony Hazard

Germany was a democratic country before Adolf Hitler rose to power. Investigate how a tyrant became Germany's Fuhrer. After Germany lost World War I and signed an armistice, civil and labor unrest grew in Germany. Politicians joined together to stop the uprising. The peace treaty required Germany to disband its army and pay war reparations. German nationalists and veterans thought the treaty was humiliating and the politicians and protesters had betrayed them. Hitler accused the Jews of subversion and war profiteering. The Nazis thought communism and capitalism were conspiracies against Germany. The economy collapsed. As chancellor, Hitler gained emergency powers.
Topic: Hitler, Adolf Language: English Lexile: 1300 Animation http://ed.ted.com

The Long Shadow of Adolf Hitler

Why does the world continue to be so fascinated with Adolf Hitler when there were other dictators who committed genocide in the twentieth century? The Russian dictator, Josef Stalin, and the Chinese leader, Mao, were also responsible for millions of deaths, but no one is as interested in analyzing their characters as people are with Hitler. People ask, what kind of a person would do that? How did he gain such hold over the German people? He deliberately cultivated mystery and controlled propaganda. There is very little personal memorabilia because he ordered it to be destroyed. His main talent was demagoguery—that he gave voice to the anger and prejudice of his audience.
Topic: Hitler, Adolf Language: English Lexile: 1330 Magazine http://www.historyextra.com

Historical Film Footage: Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini wanted to be Caesar of Rome in 1922. He developed the ideas of Fascism and turned an armed group into a Fascist army. With a hoax march on Rome, he seized power in Italy. Adolf Hitler wanted to be just like Mussolini and came to learn from the master as Mussolini worked on his plans for an empire in the Mediterranean and Ethiopia. See the crowd cheer as Mussolini proudly speaks in this historical film footage.
Topic: March on Rome, 1922 Language: English Video Primary Source Material
https://www.ushmm.org

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini

Opposing democracy, Mussolini created a Fascist state in Italy through complete control of the media. Explore how his career as a journalist facilitated his use of propaganda. Investigate his military service, parliamentary involvement, and leadership of armed revolutionary squads. As Italy moved toward anarchy, the government seldom intervened. Learn how Mussolini manipulated elections and controlled the press to gain the support of the people and parliament. Ruthless in dealing with opposition, he developed a regime with highly centralized power and moved from pacifism to aggressive nationalism.
Topic: Mussolini, Benito,--1883-1945, March on Rome, 1922 Language: English Lexile: 1200 Biography http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

Mussolini's March on Rome 80 Years On

It's been over 90 years since Mussolini rose to power with his March on Rome. In 1922, Mussolini began his 23 years as the Fascist dictator of Italy. The March on Rome wasn't really a march since Mussolini and his followers traveled by train. The mythic march was inflated in Fascist propaganda to make it sound more like an army of hundreds of thousands than a few hundred fascists. Some Italians celebrate the march each year, but many don't even know about it because it wasn't a part of the history curriculum for decades.
Topic: March on Rome, 1922 Language: English Lexile: 1310 http://news.bbc.co.uk

Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)

Traveling to Switzerland as a young man during a time of high unemployment, Benito Mussolini embraced socialism. Back in his native Italy, he was drafted and left socialism behind. Investigate who Mussolini invited to take part in the Fascist Party. As Italy moved toward chaos, Mussolini presented himself as the only one who could restore order. Invited to form a government, he dismantled democracy and set up a dictatorship that he claimed would establish Italy as a great world power. Learn about his alliance with Hitler, his betrayal by former party colleagues, and his defeat during World War II.
Topic: Mussolini, Benito,--1883-1945 Language: English Lexile: 1020 Biography http://www.bbc.co.uk

A Fundamental History Lesson

Fritz Stern attempts to discover how it was possible for a once peaceful Germany to succumb to such barbarianism under the guise of National Socialism. He explores the root of the National Socialism philosophy and why it was so easily accepted by many Germans. With the poor economic conditions, it was easy to place the blame on someone, and it was the Jewish community who suffered. He also briefly touches on how Germany was able to overcome this tragedy.
Topic: National socialism (Nazi Party) Language: English Lexile: 1360 Magazine
http://www.inthesetimes.com