HIST SUBJECT: 150The West in the World
ASSIGNMENT TEN: An Era of Totalitarianism and World War II.
READING ASSIGNMENT:
Textbook: Marvin Perry, Western Civilization, A Brief History, 6th ed., Boston
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008, chapters *19 and 20, pp.423-81.
QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss twentieth-century totalitarianism. How does it differ from ancient tyrannies and
early modern autocratic states?
2. Discuss the Stalin Revolution. Describe Stalins rise to power, explain how his view of
revolution differed from Lenins, and describe Stalins program of collectivization and its
effect. Note Stalins comments on Russian history in 1931 (p. 432) and how he is
eulogized by a writer in 1935 (p. 432).
3. Discuss the rise of fascism in Italy including Mussolinis seizure of power and the fascist
state he created.
4. How was Hitlers outlook shaped by his experience in Vienna? What were his attitudes
toward democracy, the masses, war, the Jews, and propaganda? How did the Nazis
extend their control over Germany?
5. Analyze the causes of the pessimism and disillusionment of artists and intellectuals
following World War I, explaining those things that troubled them most and citing
examples from their works. Note the quotations of Jung and Huizinga and their
pessimism. Look also at the brief statement by the Dadist, Tzara on p. 452 and what he
called in for art.
6. Trace the intellectual background of existentialism and summarize the main points of
existential philosophy. Does existentialism express the modern predicament? Explain.
7. Trace the events that began the breakdown of peace in Europe from 1935 through the
invasion of Poland and describe the responses of the major powers to these events.
8. First describe the New Order that the Nazis established in Europe. Then go to the link.
On the main page go left and click on Modern. Then go left to topics with green
background and scroll down to Holocaust and click on it. When you reach the Holocaust
screen scroll down to the section The Final Solution: The murder of European Jewry.
Under there you will find Heinrich Himmlers chilling Speech to SS Group Leaders at
Posen in 1943. Click on it. What does this speech tell you about the mentality of the SS
and the New Order? Explain.
9. Describe the key events in the defeat of the Axis powers in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
10. What is the legacy of World War II?
Note: If interested click on Modern on the main screen. Then scroll down to WWII. When
you reach that screen, scroll down to the section The Home Front for War speeches of
Churchill and British Songs of World War, including Well Meet Again, used in the classic
1964 film Dr. Strangelove with Peter Sellers.