HIST-410N Week 3 Discussion: Failure of Democracy and the Rise of Totalitarianism (Option 2: USSR-Stalin)

Week 3 Discussion: Failure of Democracy and the Rise of Totalitarianism Initial Post Instructions During the 1930s, much of the world seemed to give up on their hope for a democratic solution to their problems and instead turned to totalitarianism, both in Europe and in Asia. For the initial post, select and address one of the following:  Germany/Hitler  USSR/Stalin  Japan/Tojo Address the following questions for your selection:  What effects did the history, politics, and economies of those areas play in their decisions to turn to totalitarianism?  What role did the Great Depression in the United States play in their plight? Hello Classmates and Professor,  Germany/Hitler In the history to totalitarianism in Germany stems from the forced signed Treaty of Versailles that imposed strict reparations on Germany. The effects of the reparations demanded a settled sum of 33 billion paid in annual installments of 2.5 billion (gold) marks (Duiker, 2015). Germany’s economics responded by printing more money which caused inflation and the German mark to be worthless. This economic collapse charged political disruption into Hitler’s attempt to seize government power in 1923 (Duiker, 2015). A unanimously hatred with the Germans towards the Treaty of Versailles gave Hitler an advantage to gain recognition. The Great Depression in the United States was a downward spiral leading to the stock market crash on October 24, 1929 (Holocaust Encyclopedia). Banks and business no longer could pay their customers. Unemployment rates doubled and the demand for goods declined worsening the Depression globally (Holocaust Encyclopedia). The United States in economic distress, calls in all favors from the support given during WW1 like finances, weapons, and ammunition. Germany was among the countries to borrow millions of dollars from the United States to help pay the required reparations by the Versailles Treaty (Holocaust Encyclopedia). Germany already in a similar economic crisis deteriorates into the hands of Hitler. By the 1930’s the Great Depression spread through a vulnerable county under extreme political and economic enabling Hitler’s rise to power. Thanks