Mussolini Dbq

Source A is from notes made by an IGCSE student. They are student notes summing up the foreign policies of Hitler. The entire set will be in the appendix but the following excerpts have been chosen.

EXCERPT A) this excerpt is showing the basis of Hitler’s foreign policies. It shows his aims in creating a better stronger Germany then one that had been broken down from the First World War. One of Hitler’s main aims was to revise the Treaty of Versailles. After World War One the Weimar had to sign the armistice and accept the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Hitler felt it was Germany’s first task to recover from the humiliating treaty. It also shows Hitler’s vast aims as he was looking to Western states and Eastern states in his want

for the creation of more lebensraum. The Rhineland was also an important part of land for any European country as it is placed such as an alleyway to the ocean or to land. This would give the country that occupied it much more military advantage as all enemies could be easily attacked, such as why Hitler wanted to rearm it.

EXCERPT B) this excerpt shows us the success Hitler’s policies had on Germany. He had accomplished certain aims he wished to achieve, such as rearmament of the Rhineland and betterment of the German economy. This also shows us that even thou the Nazi state were not necessarily an easy state to live in or approach as an ally; we have to acknowledge the good that the strict, controlled state did. It did has its successes on some of the people of Germany and the economy can easily be seen to have bettered under Hitler’s reign. It shows his take over of land by preying on the weakness within other countries.

REFERENCE: http://www.jondclare.net/RoadtoWWII1_IGCSEnotes.htm (ONLINE) accessed 17 July 2014

Source B
Source B is a research paper done by a man named Mitchell Przybocki discussing the Second World War. The paper was published on 12 December 2013. An extract from the paper will be in the appendix but the following excerpts have been chose.

EXCEPRT A) this shows how Hitler used the SS and SA as the powerful force which got him what he wanted by all means necessary. The laws Hitler had in place were enforced by the military. This force was the main reason Hitler had the power to extend and gain control over land from other countries. By the great fear the Storm Troopers installed in the German citizens it was easy to make a malleable country which would ultimately become such a powerful force, it could stand alone against other countries who aimed at tearing it down.

EXCERPT B) this excerpt shows us the reasoning behind what Hitler based his foreign policy on. It also shows the reasons for the way the country was run, the laws that were in place and the inferior treatment of races seen as “unworthy” or weak. These races were not part of the pure Aryan race Hitler wanted to create for the future Germany. Not only were certain races seen as inferior but other countries besides Germany were also seen as weak, Germans saw themselves as “superior” to all other people.

REFERENCE: downloaded off the Internet. Mitchell Przybocki Research Paper phase 3 HI 355 The Second World War Professor Pennington 12 December 2013 accessed 17 July 2014

Source C
Source C is taken from a history site, which bases its articles on projects, as is the research of a historical person or event.

This source shows the foreign policies of Mussolini and what he aimed to build Italy up towards. Mussolini had a main aim of building Italy into a modern Roman empire. He wanted Italy to have greater influence in the Balkans and in North Africa. He did not really have an expansion policy as much as an aim to make Italy a great and powerful country that could overcome the ties of the treaty of Versailles and expand its influence. This source also shows how Mussolini was aiming to reconcile and fix relations with the West, not a grabbing for power through land as Hitler felt he needed to do. Mussolini may have made gestures later on towards actions of war but he initially set out to cooperate with the other countries.

REFERENCE: http://ibatpv.org/projects/italy/mussolini.foreign.htm [ONLINE]
Accessed 1 August 2014

Source D
Source D is taken from the foreign policies of Mussolini and Hitler and it compares their similarities and differences.

The full source will be in the appendix but these excerpts were chosen.

EXCERPT A) This excerpt shows us how anti-Hitler Mussolini initially was. Mussolini attempted to try stopping the rise of Nazi Germany and Hitler in the early 1930’s showing that even though they were both aggressive dictators they still had their differences. Mussolini did not trust Hitler and even made it a goal to make Italy strong enough the Germany would never overpower it. This is important to know that the two were not always allies and only later in their separate reign did they turn to become allies.

EXCERPT B) This excerpt shows us how the two dictators came to become allies. They both saw the benefit of becoming allies with Britain. However as being enemies with Germany in WWI, Italy made use of Britain’s fear of the second coming of the powerful Germany by joining America and Britain through imposing the Treaty of Versailles on Germany. Hitler’s tactic was to use Britain’s fear of the Soviet Union as a way of manipulating Britain in order to change a few parts of the Treaty. As the two did not always see eye-to-eye they began to support each other’s expansionism due to their alliance through the Spanish Civil War. This cooperation was seen through the Rome-Berlin Axis that had a goal of preventing the threat of Communist Russia (with who both countries were strongly

against).

EXCERPT C) The similarities of both countries can be seen here by in part showing the weakness of the League of Nations.

As Germany annexed Austria it was a large win for Hitler as it outlined the weakness of the League of Nations as they failed to stop Germany. In turn it showed how easy Hitler could manipulate the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles. The Abyssinia Crisis was regarded as a major victory for Italy, not because of their unsuccessful invasion but because of their way of outmanoeuvring the League of Nations that strongly disfavoured Italian occupation in Ethiopia. The similarities are shown by both leaders being opportunists and both looking to become more powerful by expanding their

empires.

REFERENCE: http://uahsibhistory.wikispaces.com/The+Foreign+Policies+of+Hitler+and+Mussolini [ONLINE} accessed the 3 August 2014
Source E
Source E is taken from a book called The History of World War II, Volume 1. It is a photograph of Hitler and Mussolini walking together while participating in a march.

This source is a photograph taken of the two leaders in their military uniforms whilst attending a march. Both leaders always liked to be photographed in their military uniform as they felt it made them look strong, powerful and sincere. The two leaders were always emphasizing the need for military pride and made use of propaganda, even through the military, to gain support and trust from their followers. This picture would be used to show the two becoming allies through their similarities. The picture also gives clear representation of what those similarities are and why both men held all the power in their selected countries. With such a strong military backing being a main reason these countries held so much power between them.
REFERNECE: The History of World War II volume I, pg. 1, Time/Life-Hugo Jaeger

Source F
Source F is an article written by Irma Husić discussing the similarities and differences between the totalitarian societies of Germany and Italy. The entire article will be in the appendix however the underlined phrases will be what are important.

This passage mainly highlights how both countries were anti-communist. Mussolini even posed as the “saviour of the nation from the communism. Italy was run under a fascist regime, which was pro-nationalism. This meant the idea was to build the greatness and prestige of the state with the implication that one’s own nation is superior to all others. This is the same ideology Germany had, that their nation was superior to all others. Both ideologies were repeated by means of propaganda until their followers began to believe it too. Mussolini aimed to create a country that is self-efficient, this ties in with thinking Italy is a superior state to all others. Mussolini may have been overshadowed by Hitler’s strength and mass of land but he was more successful with his religious policies. Unlike Hitler, Mussolini recognized the influence the Church had on the people. It can be said that Hitler held a greater totalitarian state but life was better in Italy, as Mussolini never inflicted such harsh and brutal tactics in order to gain followers and was never specifically racist.

REFERENCE: http://www.novinar.me/index.php/english/item/213-differences-and -similarities-in-totalitarian-societies-of-germany-and-italy
Evaluation of Sources
Source E:
A historical picture taken of Mussolini and Hitler, emphasising their alliance and similarities in state. The picture was taken at a march were both leaders are seen to be leading the military forces.

ORIGINS: Source E is a primary source, a historical picture found in a book called The History of World War II, Volume 1. The purpose of this photograph is to record a historical event. To show the two dictators joining forces as allies and leading their countries forward. This photograph could be used as propaganda, to try show the strength each leader hold and to try create support for the countries becoming allies. The military uniforms would appeal to patriotism in individuals and allow Mussolini and Hitler to show their strength by wearing a military uniform.

VALIDITY: this picture is valid for the purpose of trying to rally support from the civilians. Being published in a historical book, which would be published for international usage, proves the validity of the picture. The picture would therefor be authentic and useful.

USEFULNESS/VALUE: this photograph is useful as a primary source and original picture. It does a good job is portraying what life would have been like at time period, especially since these two dictators made good use of marches and rallies as a propaganda technique in making their people follow them. This photograph is very useful as a primary source as it shows what propaganda was used at that time, as opposed to a secondary source which may only explain or describe the types of propaganda used, thus not allowing the historians or reader to see for themselves and analyse the source correctly and objectively.

RELIABILITY: the photograph is reliable for illustrating the propaganda at that time, as it portrays just how the two dictators would have been like. It also is reliable for the investigation of the happenings of that time period and how people’s lives may have been. It is reliable, as no bias view has been made, it is a complete objective photograph taken. No views or insinuations are shown in this photograph. It allows for the reader to draw to his or her own conclusion without being persuaded through any techniques.

LIMITATIONS: by looking at this photograph we are not aware of the atrocities made by these two leaders. This photograph could have been altered by means of cutting out surroundings to make it look a certain way, offering no contextualization or other information about the people in this photograph. It does however only give one look at to that time period so a viewer would have to make up their own interpretation of the time period without having relevant accounts to what it was like during that time or a wider based knowledge about that time. Primary evidence reflects only on immediate responses from the time.
Source F:
ORIGINS: Source F is a secondary source, based on research done then analysed into forming a general conclusion about the time period. Irma Husić wrote it
Discussing the similarities and differences between the totalitarian societies of Germany and Italy. The purpose of this article is to highlight the similarities the to dictators and their countries shared as well as what they differed in.

VALIDITY: This article is valid for the purpose of giving an overview of some of the main components to the two countries, Italy and Germany, by means of supplying facts and not the writers’ opinion. The source is valid that no subjective views have been stated or hinted at. Therefor this source would not be sensationalized.

USEFULNESS/VALUE: The source is a secondary source that has a purpose of providing a factual overview of time period. It is of value as it does not give a personal or first hand account of a witness, which means no sensationalism would have been added in. The source is useful as it gives the understanding of how in depth the fascist Italy was run, with the country’s priorities being mainly looked after. The source also gives a good account to the basis of both country’s policies and how they differ or promote the same ideas. Which would give the reader a good understanding of the overall time period as both sides have been represented and explained objectively. As a secondary source it gives broad trends and since the writer was not directly involved he has had to consult many primary sources on that event to draw to this objective view.

RELIABILITY: This source is reliable to the degree that it is not subjective or in favour of a certain side. It is reliable for showing the purpose of the propaganda, laws and policies set in Italy and Germany. Some of the detailed facts may be missing as it is a short article which does not go in depth of the regimes but rather gives a basic understanding to how each country was run and why. No emotive language is used therefor the reader can arrive to his or her own conclusion about the time, making it a reliable source.

LIMITATIONS: The source being a secondary source does not give the feelings or look to what life was like at that time period. It therefore makes it a bit harder to come to a conclusion about the regimes and countries if no fist hand accounts have been read. For this purpose it may be suggested that further research be done to determine to what degree the reader feels about the topic, not because the article is not detailed enough it just does not explain how exactly life was like for people living during that time. It does not show the emotional impact of the events on people’s lives.

Essay
The foreign policies held both by Hitler and Mussolini were very similar. Both were nationalistic, promoted an idea of expansionism and relied heavily on helping their countries recover from the Treaty of Versailles. However the difference came in by how these policies were implemented and to what extent the leaders were willing to go to become more powerful mainly the brutality Hitler used to achieve this.

Hitler’s aims were to revise the treaty of Versailles, which he felt embarrassed Germany after World War One. He wanted to make Germany great and create more living space, lebensraum, which in turn meant being independent (A). Mussolini wanted to restore Italy to a modern Roman Empire. Mussolini also wished for more influence in the Mediterranean, Balkans and North Africa(C). Mussolini also urged for the German-Italian Alliance to allow Italy the chance to meet its goals after France and Britain insisted on the legal-moral aspects of the Versailles system(C).

Since the two countries were linked through their anti-communist policies (C), Germany with it’s enemy Russia and Mussolini having the ability to pose as the “saviour of the nation from the communism” (C) it was easy for the country to collaborate and form a combined force. This can be easily seen in the rally Hitler and Mussolini had behind them (E). Italy still had a goal to make sure Germany would not overpower them (D) but having not the same size of force it was in Mussolini’s best interests to join Hitler to achieve his goals seen in source C. The support of each other’s expansionism came due to their alliance in the Spanish Civil War (D).

As Hitler annexed Austria it showed weakness in the League of Nations for not stopping Germany and it also showed how Hitler could manipulate the Treaty of Versailles, this became a major victory for Hitler (D). The Abyssinia Crisis became a major victory for Mussolini, as they were able to not only invade Abyssinia successfully but also outmeneuver the League of Nations, which strongly opposed the Italian occupation of Ethiopia (D). These two events prove they were both opportunists, whose main goal was expanding their empires (D).

However, Hitler ran a totalitarian state and Mussolini ran a fascist state and through this different effect (B) in their foreign policies were evident (F) as can be shows in their publication of aims of Hitler (A) and Mussolini(C). Mussolini wished to work with Britain and France through the League of Nations (C) and through this creates a greater sphere of influence but after which Mussolini turned to Hitler (E). Hitler had no plans of working with the Western Powers (A) but realised later it would be beneficial to become allies with Britain I order to revise parts of the embarrassing Treaty (D). Hitler’s foreign policy was to create more space for Germany and create a bigger German state (A) at all costs, using his SS and SA for brutal force (B). Italy wished to expand more but it was introduced by imposing an influence on the other countries and not taking them over wholly (C).

Up until the mid 1930’s Italy was the lone nation in Europe to stand up to the Nazi-power (D) and it was only after the Spanish Civil War in 1935 that both nations started to cooperate and share similar foreign policies. One of Mussolini’s aims was to block the German ability to invade Austria and protect the Brenner Pass, the historical invasion route into Italy (C). Hitler was Austrian and felt by occupying Austria it would make Germany strong (A).

Both men failed to achieve all their foreign policy aims. Hitler was more successful in achieve complete control over his own and other countries while Mussolini was more successful in his religious policies and lesser brutal tactic (F). Both countries failed to be self-sufficient as they wanted to reduce their dependence on other countries (F). It was still Mussolini who tried steering Hitler away from war but was obviously unsuccessful(C).

As Hitler and Mussolini lead their totalitarian states with similar foreign policies of expansionism and recovery from the harsh Treaty of Versailles, Hitler used force to feed his power hunger and Mussolini only used force when necessary. The two failed and implementing their foreign policies even with strong nationalism behind them.

Reflection
I chose to research this subject as half my family is German and the other half is Italian. History is such an interesting part of life and how the world around us came to be so, so I decided to take two of the most successful leaders in history and write about their foreign policies. Being a successful leader does not mean Hitler and Mussolini were well liked or had an authentic following, it meant they raised their countries out the hardship they were in into powerful countries which were able to invade other states and not be looked upon as weak.