Axis Leaders
Adolf Hitler was born April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Austria. Hitler was the son of a customs official. After dropping out of school, Hitler would later move to Germany to pursue an art career that would never take off. As Germany began wasting away from rising tension Hitler began to be strongly influenced by anti-Semitic propaganda. Then in 1913. Hitler moved to Munich, just as WWI was beginning. Once in Munich he enlisted into the German army. While in the army Hitler became wounded twice, awarding him the Iron Cross First and Second Class as well as the Wound Badge. Adolf Hitler then joined the fascist German Workers' Party in 1919. Hitler promised extremist problem-solvers for Germany's post-war problems which he and others blamed on the Jews and the Bolsheviks (a Russian political faction). Hitler became the undisputed leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi party) by 1921. In 1923, Hitler had attempted to start an armed uprising in Munich but it failed horribly and he became imprisoned for nine months. During his imprisonment he wrote his autobiographical manifesto "Mein Kampf." After his release from prison Hitler began reorganizing the Nazi Party and spreading its message through different means of communication as well as violence. The Nazis grew more powerful with political turmoil and economic depression engulfing Germany. in the 1932 elections the Nazis became the largest party in the German parliament. Then in January 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. With his position Hitler began taking advantage of his new power grasp and he began implementing anti-Jewish laws. Along with new laws, he also started building up the German military and territorial expansion plans. With WWII seeming inevitable, Hitler joined up with Italy and then Japan to create the Axis Powers. World War Two began when Hitler's forces invaded Poland in September 1939. Hitler's military forced were very successful after they invaded Norway, Denmark, and much of Eastern Europe. Nazi Germany's military success finally met it's match when it was unable to invade Britain in 1941. With the failed invasion of Britain, Hitler set his sights on the Soviet Union. During that time Hitler was also ordering the "Final Solution," Jews across Europe were rounded up and put into Nazi concentration and extermination camps. Others who Hitler also considered "racially inferior" were also put into camps. Hitler declared war on the United States in December 1941. With the war on the eastern front draining Germany of their resources, the Nazi party was running out of time. June 6, 1944, D-Day, British and American forces landed in France. Soviet troops eagerly wanted to take the capital of Germany. The Nazi party's time of power had finally run out. April 19, 1945, Hitler married his girlfriend Eva Braun in his bunker. Hitler did not want to be captured and after learning about Mussolini's execution his decision solidified even more. With Soviet troops within a block or two away Hitler and his new wife committed suicide with cyanide tablets.
"Anzac Day Hitler Pinata Will Return." - Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr.
2014. http://www.3news.co.nz/Anzac-Day-Hitler-pinata-will-return/tabid/423/articleID/296094/Default.aspx
Adolf Hitler was born April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Austria. Hitler was the son of a customs official. After dropping out of school, Hitler would later move to Germany to pursue an art career that would never take off. As Germany began wasting away from rising tension Hitler began to be strongly influenced by anti-Semitic propaganda. Then in 1913. Hitler moved to Munich, just as WWI was beginning. Once in Munich he enlisted into the German army. While in the army Hitler became wounded twice, awarding him the Iron Cross First and Second Class as well as the Wound Badge. Adolf Hitler then joined the fascist German Workers' Party in 1919. Hitler promised extremist problem-solvers for Germany's post-war problems which he and others blamed on the Jews and the Bolsheviks (a Russian political faction). Hitler became the undisputed leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi party) by 1921. In 1923, Hitler had attempted to start an armed uprising in Munich but it failed horribly and he became imprisoned for nine months. During his imprisonment he wrote his autobiographical manifesto "Mein Kampf." After his release from prison Hitler began reorganizing the Nazi Party and spreading its message through different means of communication as well as violence. The Nazis grew more powerful with political turmoil and economic depression engulfing Germany. in the 1932 elections the Nazis became the largest party in the German parliament. Then in January 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. With his position Hitler began taking advantage of his new power grasp and he began implementing anti-Jewish laws. Along with new laws, he also started building up the German military and territorial expansion plans. With WWII seeming inevitable, Hitler joined up with Italy and then Japan to create the Axis Powers. World War Two began when Hitler's forces invaded Poland in September 1939. Hitler's military forced were very successful after they invaded Norway, Denmark, and much of Eastern Europe. Nazi Germany's military success finally met it's match when it was unable to invade Britain in 1941. With the failed invasion of Britain, Hitler set his sights on the Soviet Union. During that time Hitler was also ordering the "Final Solution," Jews across Europe were rounded up and put into Nazi concentration and extermination camps. Others who Hitler also considered "racially inferior" were also put into camps. Hitler declared war on the United States in December 1941. With the war on the eastern front draining Germany of their resources, the Nazi party was running out of time. June 6, 1944, D-Day, British and American forces landed in France. Soviet troops eagerly wanted to take the capital of Germany. The Nazi party's time of power had finally run out. April 19, 1945, Hitler married his girlfriend Eva Braun in his bunker. Hitler did not want to be captured and after learning about Mussolini's execution his decision solidified even more. With Soviet troops within a block or two away Hitler and his new wife committed suicide with cyanide tablets.
"Anzac Day Hitler Pinata Will Return." - Story. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr.
2014. http://www.3news.co.nz/Anzac-Day-Hitler-pinata-will-return/tabid/423/articleID/296094/Default.aspx
Benito Mussolini born July 29, 1883, in Predappio, Italy. Mussolini was the son of a blacksmith. Due to poor employment options Mussolini moved to Switzerland in 1902. While in Switzerland Mussolini became involved in socialist politics. In 1904, Mussolini returned to Italy and started as a journalist for the socialist press. After Italy's entry into World War One Mussolini became dissatisfied with socialism. Then in September 1915, he was drafted into the Italian army. After World War One, in March 1919, Benito Mussolini formed the Fascist Party. The formation of the Fascist Party stimulated the support of many unemployed war veterans. Mussolini then arranged them into armed squads known as Black Shirts. Once organized the Black Shirts terrorized political opponents. Two years later in 1921, the Fascist Party was given an invitation to join the coalition government. With more than one political party trying to run Italy, it only took until October 1922 for Italy to be slipping away towards political destruction. With chaos engulfing Italy, Mussolini rose up and presented himself as the sole liberator. After an invitation from King Victor Emmanuel III to form a government, Mussolini started to take down the democratic government. In 1925, Benito Mussolini made himself dictator of Italy. Once Mussolini was dictator he took the title of "IL Duce". Mussolini's goal was to once again make Italy a European superpower. Then in 1935, Mussolini created a new Italian Empire by invading Abyssinia. During 1939, cooperation with Nazi-Germany resulted in the Pact of Steel. With Mussolini becoming closer to Hitler, he began to become more influenced by him. Which is why Mussolini introduced anti-Jewish legislation in Italy. The growing tension between Britain and France lead to Italy declare war on them in June 1940. This resulted in nothing more than a series of defeats in North Africa, East Africa, and the Balkans. These defeats just showed how weak the Italian military really was. Allied troops landed in Sicily in July 1943. Mussolini was then overthrown and ironically imprisoned by his former associates in the Fascist government. Two months later in September, Italy agreed to sign a cease fire with the Allies. The German army then started to move in to Italy which also evolved into Mussolini being rescued by German commandos. Mussolini then became leader of a new government, unfortunately he had very little power. His return was short lived when the Allies moved north towards Italy, forcing Mussolini to flee to Switzerland. Then on April 28, 1945 Benito Mussolini was captured by Italian supporters and was shot dead.
fascistitaly.wordpress.com
Hideki Tojo." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Apr.
2014.
Hideki Tojo was born in Tokyo, Japan, on December 30, 1884.
In 1899, Tojo entered the Army Cadet School in Japan. When He finished the
Japanese military school he ranked 10th out of 363 cadets. Tojo then joined the
Japanese Army where he was stationed in places such as Switzerland and Germany.
In 1933, Tojo was promoted to major general. Then in September 1935, he became
head of the Imperial Japanese Army's military police. Two years later in March
1937, Tojo was promoted to a lieutenant general where he then became chief of
staff of the Imperial Japanese Army until May 1938. In May 1938, the prime
minister of Japan, Fumimaro Konoye, appointted Hideki Tojo as his vice minister
of war. Tojo only stayed in the position for six months before he went back to
the armed forces and started commanding the army's aviation forces. Hideki Tojo
was an avid supporter of Hitler's Nazi Germany. One thing that lingered in
Tojo's mind was Joseph Stalin's long-term plans, which made Tojo uneasy.
Because of this fear, he supported air strikes on both the Soviet Union and
China. Japan's Prime Minister, Fumimaro Konoye, re-appointed Tojo as his
minister of war in July 1941. With his new position he promoted and aggressive
foreign policy which would keep Japanese troops in China and Korea; this went
against Shigenori Togo, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, plans of
removing Japanese troops from those places. On October 16, 1941, Hideki Tojo
became the Prime Minister of Japan after Konoye resigned. At first Tojo
attempted to back the foreign office's efforts to not get involved in a war
with the United States. When he was finally convinced a peace agreement was
possible, quickly he ordered the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the loss in
Saipan in July 1944, Tojo became well-aware that Japan would be unable to
win the war so he resigned from office. On September 11, 1945, Japan formerly
surrendered. Just before he was supposed to be arrested by the United States
military Tojo tried committing suicide by shooting himself. His suicide attempt
failed and he was nursed back to health where he was then tried as a war
criminal. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo found
Hideki Tojo guilty of war crimes and he was hanged on December 23, 1948.
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Allied leaders
Franklin D. Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York. His parents James and Sara were sixth cousins. FDR attended Groton School where he was strongly influenced by headmaster, Endicott Peabody. He then went on to college at Harvard. While at Harvard he became editor-in-chief of The Harvard Crimson daily newspaper. FDR met his future wife, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1902. Roosevelt became the assistant secretary of the navy from 1913-1920. In 1921, FDR contracted polio and was left unable to walk without a cane or braces. He continued to work after receiving a great deal of support. In 1928, he was elected governor of New York. He then became the democratic nominee for president in 1932. FDR would become president during the worst time possible; the country was in a rough depression and things were not looking good. one of the first things he did as president was usher in a new program to provide relief for unemployed people, this was know as the, "New Deal." The new program would hopefully strengthen and reform the U.S. economy. FDR won a second term as well as a third term in 1940. At first FDR was trying his best from keeping the United States out of war but when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened America was thrown into war. FDR established an alliance to fight the Axis Powers and he devoted much of his time to planning what would happen as a result of the war. As a result of the governments mass war production the U.S. economy had recovered. On April 12, 1945, FDR would die while still in office, less than a month before Germany would surrender.
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Born on November 30, 1874 in Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Winston Churchill attended the Royal Military College of Sandhurst. He then was able to go off on an army career where he was able to see action in India as well as Sudan. During the Boer War he was working as a journalist when he was captured and made a POW before escaping. He became the Conservative member of the parliament for Oldham in 1900. Then in 1904 he switched to the Liberal Party. In 1905 the Liberals won the election and Churchill was appointed undersecretary at the Colonial Office. He entered the Cabinet as president of the Board of Trade in 1908. He then left office after he was blamed for the disastrous Dardanelles expedition in the first months of WWI. Churchill then joined the army where he then served some time on the Western Front. It didn't take long though because in 1917 he was back in the government as minister of munitions. He was secretary of state of war and air from 1919-1921. Then from 1924-1929 he was chancellor of the exchequer. The British government had ignored Churchill's concern about the rising Nazi regime. He then became the first lord of Admiralty in 1939, when war broke out. Churchill became prime minister after the former prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, resigned. All of Britain was inspired by his unwillingness to give up against Nazi Germany. He put in a ton of time building relations with the United States and even though there were a few bumps in the road he was still able to maintain an alliance with the Soviet Union. These alliances would help bring down the Axis Powers.
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Joseph Stalin
Born on December 18, 1879 in Gori, Georgia Joseph Stalin's name was Iosif Vissarionvich Dzhugashvili's. His father was a cobbler and he grew up in a middle class home. He was able to study theology at a seminary school where he started reading Marxist literature. He had grown so against the Russian monarchy that he never graduated from school he instead devoted his time to revolutionary movements. He quickly rose through ranks in the Bolshevik, when they took power in 1917. Stalin was then made the general secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, this allowed him to build a starting point. After Vladimir Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin promoted himself as the next president of The Soviet Union. After beating out his rivals Stalin became the dictator of the USSR in the late 1920s. Stalin forced a large collection of agriculture which cost millions of lives. While at the same time his rapid industrialization caused for the Soviet productivity and economy to increase but with a price. During the Great Depression he removed people who he saw as enemies, resulting in the execution/exile of millions of people who were sent to the gulag. This caused for a shortage of soldiers in the Red Army which was not good for the Soviet Union who were unprepared for Hitler's attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941. After becoming members of the Allied Powers the Soviet Union was able to regain itself and they were able to march to victory with the Allies. Even though millions of people died Stalin shared no consideration of any human loss.
Http://fascistitaly.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/benito-mussolini1.jpeg.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Born on December 18, 1879 in Gori, Georgia Joseph Stalin's name was Iosif Vissarionvich Dzhugashvili's. His father was a cobbler and he grew up in a middle class home. He was able to study theology at a seminary school where he started reading Marxist literature. He had grown so against the Russian monarchy that he never graduated from school he instead devoted his time to revolutionary movements. He quickly rose through ranks in the Bolshevik, when they took power in 1917. Stalin was then made the general secretary of the Communist Party in 1922, this allowed him to build a starting point. After Vladimir Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin promoted himself as the next president of The Soviet Union. After beating out his rivals Stalin became the dictator of the USSR in the late 1920s. Stalin forced a large collection of agriculture which cost millions of lives. While at the same time his rapid industrialization caused for the Soviet productivity and economy to increase but with a price. During the Great Depression he removed people who he saw as enemies, resulting in the execution/exile of millions of people who were sent to the gulag. This caused for a shortage of soldiers in the Red Army which was not good for the Soviet Union who were unprepared for Hitler's attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941. After becoming members of the Allied Powers the Soviet Union was able to regain itself and they were able to march to victory with the Allies. Even though millions of people died Stalin shared no consideration of any human loss.
Http://fascistitaly.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/benito-mussolini1.jpeg.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.