Definitions:

Dictatorship is a form of government in which the ruler (or group of rulers) has the
power to govern without consent of those being governed. “a system that does not
adhere to democracy”.

Democracy is defined as a form of government where those who govern are selected
through contested elections.

Authoritarian regimes are dictatorships characterized by a strong central

government that allows people a limited degree of political freedom. The political
process, as well as all individual freedom, is controlled by the government without
any constitutional accountability.

Totalitarian regimes are dictatorships, but their scope is broader: they aim to control
the whole life of the population In the 1930s, three regimes embodied a new type of
government, characterized as “totalitarian”.

Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the state’s power is unlimited and

controls virtually all aspects of public and private life, largely using terror. This control
extends to all political and economic matters as well as the attitudes, morals, and
beliefs of the people.

3 main criteria:
1. Single Party Rule: A single political party, led by a worshipped leader, controls society,
monopolizes weapons and communication, and uses violence and secret police to
repress individual freedom.
2. Anti-Democratic Ideology: The regime has a guiding ideology that is organized against
democracy or motivated by a hatred of it.
3. State Supremacy: The state is considered all-important, with individuals being
insignificant. The state alone is seen as capable of leading society towards progress,
negating individual importance (as noted by Hannah Arendt).

Totalitarian: The term was first used in 1924 by the Italian liberal Giovanni Amendola to
denounce the Italian State ubiquitous, ever-present and large control.

Diktat: spirit of revenge

Proletariat: weaker and poorer part of the society, opposed to capitalism / change from
autocratic government to government by the communist party.

Mensheviks: wanted Communism without a revolution.

extremist Bolsheviks: wanted a violent proletarian revolution.

Communism is a political ideology aiming to establish a classless society with no

private property, where all major means of production (mines, mills and factories)
and resources are publicly owned and controlled by the community. People
contribute and receive based on their abilities and needs.

War Communism involved government control of large factories, strict military

discipline for workers, the prohibition of strikes with severe punishments, mandatory
seizure of surplus food from peasants, and rationing of supplies.

Lebensraum: the need for additional living space and for the nourishment of the future
generations.

The aryans: the master race, Germans, destined to rule the world

The non-aryans: the slave races such as Jews.

Autarky: the idea that Germany should be economically self-sufficient.

Kulaks: the rich peasants in the USSR

Concordat: agreement signed with the pope who saw Hitler as someone who could
destroy communism.

Hitler = Führer, Guide

Stalin = the Void, the 'little father of peoples' “father of the nations”

Hard line communism: militarization of labor, collectivization of agriculture.

Moderate communism: proceed to build a modern, industrial state, the equal of any
nation in the world.

Reichstag: the German parliament.

Autodafe: banned books in Germany were burned

Kraft durch Feude: Strength through happinnes.

Eugenics: a belief system focused on improving the genetic quality of a human

population by promoting those deemed superior and excluding those considered
inferior.

Gestapo: Specialized political police in German

NKDV: People’s commissariat for internal affairs in the US.

Cheka: secret police (the Bolsheviks)

Kristallnatch: The night of broken glass.

Comintern: communist international, third communist international

Volksgemeinschaft: The community of People (a human body that should be purified
of all ta weakens it.

Theory of the “Stab-in-the-back: It was a conspiracy theory that claimed that the
German Army had been 'stabbed in the back' by subversive politicians

Propaganda was central to totalitarian regimes, serving to indoctrinate the population

and promote the cult of personality around the leader. It reinforced the dominance of a
single party, which held a monopoly on political action and speech.

Nazism: the purification of the “master race”

Ideology: a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system,

party, or organization is based.

Characteristics of totalitarian regimes

Characteristic Nazi Germany Soviet Similarities

Union
Ideology Fascism, Marxism- Both regimes promoted a single,
National Leninism, dominant ideology that shaped all
Socialism Stalinism aspects of life.
(Aryan
supremacy)
Cult of Hitler as the Stalin as Both leaders were portrayed as god-
Personality Führer the like figures and were central to the
"Father of regime's identity.
Nations"
State Control Economy, Collectiviz Both regimes controlled nearly all
culture, ation, aspects of public and private life.
education state
under state control of
control industry
Enforcement Gestapo, Night NKVD, Both used secret police and purges
Methods of the Long Great to eliminate opposition.
Knives (1934) Purge
(1936-
1938)
Use of Propaganda via Propagand Both effectively used mass
Technology radio, film, and a via state- communication and technology to
newspapers controlled spread their ideology.
media
One-Party NSDAP as the Communi Both had a single party that
Rule only legal party st Party as dominated political life and
the only eliminated opposition.
legal party
 Dictatorship Hitler ruled Stalin Both were dictators who held
from 1933-1945 ruled from absolute power.
1924-53

Biographies:

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Born: April 22, 1870 Died: January 21, 1924

Founder of the Bolshevik Party and leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution, Lenin
established Soviet Russia and introduced policies like War Communism and the NEP.

Joseph Stalin
Born: December 18, 1878
Died: March 5, 1953
Stalin succeeded Lenin as the leader of the Soviet Union, transforming it into a
totalitarian state through collectivization, industrialization, and the Great Purge.

Adolf Hitler
Born: April 20, 1889
Died: April 30, 1945
Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, became Germany's dictator in 1933, initiating World War
II and orchestrating the Holocaust before his suicide in 1945.

USSR: Social, Political, and Economic Impact

Social impact

Date/ Event/Development Impact Summary

Period
1928- First Five-Year Plan Forced collectivization led to widespread famine,
1932 especially the Holodomor in Ukraine, resulting in
millions of deaths and social trauma.
1936- The Great Purge Mass executions, deportations, and labor camps
1938 (Gulag) created a climate of fear and social
control over the population.
1930s Indoctrination and Komsomol and youth indoctrination were used to
Youth Organizations instill loyalty to Stalin and the Communist Party,
shaping the "New Soviet Man."
1920s- Cult of Personality Stalin's image was propagated as the "Father of
1930s Nations," with a pervasive cult of personality
dominating Soviet life.
Political impact

Date/ Event/ Impact Summary

Period Development
1917 Bolshevik Overthrow of the Provisional Government, leading
Revolution to the establishment of Communist rule and the
dictatorship of the proletariat.
1924-1928 Stalin's Rise to Stalin gradually consolidates power after Lenin's
Power death, eventually establishing a totalitarian regime
by 1928.
1936-1938 The Great Purge Stalin eliminates political rivals and dissent within
the Communist Party and military, reinforcing his
absolute power.
1939 Nazi-Soviet Stalin signs a pact with Nazi Germany, temporarily
Non-Aggression aligning with Hitler and dividing Eastern Europe,
Pact leading to the invasion of Poland.

Economic Impact

Date/Period Event/Development Impact Summary

1928-1932 First Five-Year Plan Focused on rapid
industrialization, resulting
in significant growth in
heavy industry but at the
cost of agricultural
productivity and human
suffering.
1932-1933 Holodomor The famine caused by
forced collectivization
devastated agricultural
areas, particularly in
Ukraine, severely affecting
the rural economy.
1930s Collectivization of Forced collectivization
Agriculture aimed at increasing state
control over agriculture,
leading to resistance,
 repression, and a decline
in agricultural output.

Nazi Germany: Social, Political, and Economic Impact

Social impact

Date/Period Event/Development Impact Summary

1933-1945 Nazi Social Policies Implementation of Aryan racial purity
laws, widespread anti-Semitism, and
persecution of Jews, culminating in the
Holocaust.
1938 Kristallnacht State-sponsored pogrom against Jews,
leading to widespread violence,
destruction of property, and escalation
of anti-Semitic policies.
1930s Indoctrination and Hitler Youth was used to indoctrinate
Youth Organizations German youth, promoting Nazi
ideology and preparing them for future
military service.
1933-1945 Cult of Personality Hitler was venerated as the Führer, with
a pervasive cult of personality that
permeated all aspects of German life.

Political impact

Date/Period Event/Development Impact Summary

1933 Hitler Becomes Chancellor Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor
led to the swift dismantling of the
Weimar Republic and
establishment of Nazi dictatorship.
1933-1934 Enabling Act and Night of the The Enabling Act gave Hitler
Long Knives dictatorial powers; the Night of the
Long Knives eliminated internal Nazi
Party rivals, solidifying his control.
1939 Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Hitler signs a pact with Stalin,
Pact securing Germany's eastern front
and enabling the invasion of Poland,
sparking World War II.
Economic impact

Date/Period Event/Development Impact Summary

1933-1936 Nazi Economic Emphasis on rearmament and autarky,
Policies reducing unemployment through public
works programs, and preparing the
economy for war.
1936 Four-Year Plan Aimed at achieving German economic
self-sufficiency, particularly in raw
materials, while continuing heavy
investment in military production.
1933-1945 Exclusion of Jews from Jewish businesses were Aryanized, and
Economy Jews were systematically excluded from
economic life, consolidating Nazi control
over the German economy.

Nazi Party Consolidation of Power in the 1930s

Date/ Event/ Description/Impact Type of

Period Action Impact
1933, Hitler Appointed Hitler is appointed Chancellor, Political
January Chancellor marking the beginning of Nazi control
30 over the German government.
1933, Reichstag Fire The Reichstag fire is used as a Political
Februar pretext to issue the Reichstag Fire
y 27-28 Decree, which suspended civil
liberties and targeted Communists.
1933, Enabling Act The Enabling Act is passed, allowing Political
March Passed Hitler to enact laws without
23 Reichstag consent, effectively giving
him dictatorial powers.
1933, Gleichschaltung Nazis implement a policy of enforced Political,
June- (Coordination) conformity, bringing all aspects of Social
July society under Nazi control (e.g.,
outlawing opposition parties,
controlling media).
1934, Night of the Long Hitler purges the SA leadership and Political,
June 30 - Knives other political opponents, Social
July 2 consolidating his control over the
Nazi Party and the military.
1934, Death of After Hindenburg’s death, Hitler Political
August President merges the roles of Chancellor and
Hindenburg President, becoming Führer and
solidifying his absolute rule.
1933- Suppression of Systematic elimination of political Political,
1937 Opposition opposition, including Social Social
 Democrats, Communists, and other
non-Nazi groups.
1933- Propaganda and Extensive use of propaganda, led by Social
1945 Indoctrination Joseph Goebbels, to promote Nazi
ideology and the Führer cult,
indoctrinating the German
population.
1933- Military Large-scale rearmament and public Economic,
1939 Rearmament and works programs (e.g., Autobahnen) Political
Public Works reduce unemployment and gain
popular support, while preparing
Germany for war.
1933- Anti-Semitic Gradual implementation of anti- Social,
1938 Legislation and Semitic laws, culminating in the Political
Kristallnacht Kristallnacht pogram, which
terrorizes and marginalizes Jewish
communities.

Steps to Exclude "Non-Aryans" and Political Opponents

Date/Period Event/Action Description/Impact Type of

Exclusion
1933, Reichstag Fire The Reichstag Fire Decree Political
February 27- Decree suspends civil liberties, allowing Opponent
28 mass arrests of Communists and s
other political opponents.
1933, March Enabling Act The Enabling Act gives Hitler the Political
23 power to enact laws without Opponent
parliamentary approval, enabling s
legal repression of opponents.
1933, April Law for the Jews and political opponents are Non-
Restoration of the purged from the civil service, Aryans,
Professional Civil excluding them from public Political
Service employment. Opponent
s
1933-1934 Suppression of The Nazi regime bans all political Political
Political Parties parties except the NSDAP, Opponent
effectively outlawing political s
opposition.
1934, June 30 Night of the Long Targeted assassination of SA Political
- July 2 Knives leaders and political rivals, Opponent
consolidating Hitler's control s
over the Nazi Party and military.
1935, Nuremberg Laws The Nuremberg Laws legally Non-
September define "Aryan" and "non-Aryan," Aryans
stripping Jews of citizenship and
prohibiting intermarriage.
 1938, Kristallnacht State-sponsored pogrom Non-
November 9- targeting Jewish businesses, Aryans
10 synagogues, and homes; mass
arrests of Jews; escalation of
anti-Semitic policies.
1933-1945 Aryanization of Systematic confiscation and Non-
Businesses transfer of Jewish-owned Aryans
businesses to "Aryans," further
economically excluding Jews.
1933-1945 Propaganda Ongoing Nazi propaganda vilifies Non-
Campaigns Jews and political opponents, Aryans,
justifying their exclusion and Political
persecution. Opponent
s

Pacts towatrds War

Chiffre Correspondence Impact Type

1936 Rome-Berlin Axis formed between Nazi Political
Germany and Fascist Italy
1939 Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed Political
10 years Duration of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Political
Pact
1939 Steel Pact signed between Germany and Political
Italy, solidifying their military alliance
1939 German-Soviet Pact’s secret protocol Political
divides Eastern Europe (including Poland)
75,000 Number of Italian soldiers sent to support Political
Franco in the Spanish Civil War
25 Date when Hitler signed the Anti-Comintern Political
November Pact with Japan
1936
November Date when Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Political
1937 Pact
1939 Hungary and Spain joined the Anti- Political
Comintern Pact

Finally all the dates and chiffres

Date Event Description Impact

Type
1613 Beginning of the Romanov Dynasty in Russia. Political
1848 Publication of the "Manifesto of the Communist Party" by Social,
Marx and Engels. Political
1867 Publication of "Das Kapital" by Karl Marx. Economi
c
1870, Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. Social
April 22
1871 Unification of Germany. Political
1889, Birth of Adolf Hitler in Braunau-am-Inn, Austria. Social
April 20
1914 Start of World War I; the economic crisis in Russia is Economi
aggravated. c
1914, Hitler volunteers for service in the German army during WWI. Political,
August Social
1916 Revolution in Turkestan (part of Russian Empire). Political
1917, Tsar Nicholas II forced to abdicate during the Russian Political
March 15 February Revolution.
1917, Bolshevik Revolution; Lenin topples the provisional Political
October government and establishes Communist rule in Russia.
1917-1921 Russian Civil War; War Communism implemented. Political,
Economi
c
1918 Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty ends Russia's involvement in Political,
WWI. Economi
c
1918, End of the German monarchy; Establishment of the Weimar Political
Novembe Republic.
r9
1919, Formation of the Comintern (Third Communist Political
March Internationale) by Lenin.
1920 Founding of the NSDAP (Nazi Party). Political
1921 Lenin introduces the New Economic Policy (NEP) in Russia. Economi
c,
Political
1922 Creation of the USSR; the Cheka becomes the GPU. Political
1922 Lenin suffers a heart attack. Social
1923 Crisis in Germany; hyperinflation; French occupation of the Economi
Ruhr. c
1923 Struggles within the Soviet Party post-Lenin's death; Stalin Political
begins to consolidate power.
1923, The Beer Hall Putsch; Hitler's failed attempt to seize power in Political
Novembe Munich.
r8
1924 Death of Lenin; Stalin emerges as the dominant figure in the Political
USSR.
1925 Publication of "Mein Kampf" by Adolf Hitler. Social,
Political
1927 Stalin holds all powers in the USSR. Political
1928-1933 Stalin's First Five-Year Plan; rapid industrialization and Economi
collectivization in the USSR. c, Social
1929 Stock Market Crash leads to the Great Depression; severe Economi
impact on the Weimar Republic. c
1932 Political crisis in Germany; NSDAP becomes the largest party Political
in the Reichstag.
1933, Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany. Political
January
30
1933, Reichstag Fire; Hitler uses it to repress the Communist Party. Political
February
27-28
1933, General Election in Germany; Nazis win 288 seats in the Political
March 5 Reichstag.
1933, Reichstag passes the Enabling Act, granting Hitler full Political
March 25 powers.
1933-1937 Enabling Act remains in force; Hitler consolidates power. Political
1934, The Night of the Long Knives; Hitler purges the SA leadership Political,
June 30 - and other political rivals. Social
July 2
1934, President Von Hindenburg dies; Hitler merges the office of Political
August President with that of Chancellor.
1935, Germany reinstates compulsory military service, violating Political
March the Treaty of Versailles.
1936, German troops reoccupy the Rhineland. Political
March
1936, Formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis between Nazi Germany Political
Novembe and Fascist Italy.
r
1936-1938 The Great Purges in the USSR; mass executions and Political,
deportations. Social
1937 Germany renews the Enabling Act. Political
1937 Bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Social,
Political
1938 Anschluss (annexation of Austria) and occupation of Political
Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany.
1938 Anti-Semitic laws in Fascist Italy lead to the persecution of Social,
Jews. Political
1939, Italy invades Albania; Czechoslovakia dismembered by Political
March Germany.
1939, May Signing of the Steel Pact between Nazi Germany and Fascist Political
22 Italy.
1939, Germany invades Poland, triggering World War II. Political
Septemb
er 1
1938, Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass); a state-sponsored Social,
Novembe pogrom against Jews in Nazi Germany, resulting in Political
r 9-10 widespread violence, destruction of property, and arrests.

chiffre Correspondence Impact Type

288 Number of seats won by the Nazi Party in the Political
Reichstag (March 5, 1933)
44% Percentage of votes won by the Nazi Party in the Political
1933 election
2 million Number of SA members under Ernst Röhm Political
200 Approximate number of people killed during the Political
Night of the Long Knives
6 million Number of unemployed people in Germany in 1932 Economic
1 million Number of unemployed people in Germany by 1936 Economic
250% Targeted increase in overall industrial development Economic
in the USSR
330% Targeted expansion in heavy industry in the USSR Economic
97% Percentage of peasant households collectivized in Economic
the USSR by 1940
15% Population loss in rural areas of Ukraine during the Social
Holodomor
3.9 million Estimated number of deaths during the Holodomor in Social
Ukraine
75,000 Number of Italian soldiers in the Spanish Civil War Political
40,000 Number of anti-fascist volunteers in the Political
International Brigades
1,500-3,000 Estimated number of Jews killed during Kristallnacht Social
30,000 Number of Jews sent to concentration camps after Social
Kristallnacht
13% Percentage of the total Ukrainian population lost Social
during the Holodomor
1108/1966 Number of 1934 Soviet Congress delegates arrested Political
during the Great Purge
750,000 Approximate number of deaths during the Great Political
Purge in the USSR
8 million Estimated number of prisoners in the Soviet Gulag Social,
system by 1941 Political
16% Estimated mortality rate in Soviet Gulags Social
20-35% Percentage of the Kyrgyz population that died due to Social
Soviet sedentarization
191 Number of synagogues destroyed during Social
Kristallnacht
1 billion Fine imposed on Jews for property damage after Economic
marks Kristallnacht
10 years Sentence length in Soviet labor camps ("without Social,
correspondence rights") Political
1936 Percentage of peasant households planned for Economic
collectivization (but achieved 97% by 1940)
13,754 Number of mass disturbances during Soviet Social,
collectivization in 1930 Political
1,000+ Number of Soviet officials assassinated during Political
collectivization resistance
18 years Length of time Evgenia Ginzburg spent in the Gulag Social