These Questions Are Based On The Readings Before The Questio

These questions are based on the readings before the question Ei Q

These questions are based on the readings before the question. e.i., Question number one is based off the reading by the author with the last name Fest and the title of the work is "The Rise of Hitler" 1. Fest, The Rise of Hitler. To whom did fascism appeal? Why? What is the "fascistic" type? 2. Fest, The Rise of Hitler. What are some of the historical reasons why Germans may have supported the fascists? 3. Himmler, Speech to the SS. How does Himmler distance, rationalize and scapegoat in this speech? 4. Steiner, Treblinka. How did Lalka "rationalize" Treblinka? 5. Chang, The Rape of Nanking. What reasons did Chang find to help explain how Japanese soldiers became capable of the atrocities identified in the text? 6. Westad, The Global Cold War. How did ideology color the way the US and the USSR interpreted the modernization of Third World Nations? 7. Westad, The Global Cold War. How and where did the superpowers intervene in the process of Third World modernization? 8. Kennan, Sources of Soviet Conduct. What US policies does Kennan recommend regarding the USSR? Why? 9. Soviet Telegram on Cuba. Summarize the events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. 10. Soviet Telegram on Cuba. What was the Soviet perspective on the Cuban crisis? Also define and/or give information on these terms: Lenin, Bolshevik Revolution, Soviet, Stalin, War communism, collectivization, five-year plan, political purges, fascism, Mussolini, "made the trains run on time", Weimar, Hitler, Nazism, lebensraum, H. Himmler, Treblinka, Gestapo, the Great Depression, steps toward war, appeasement, the Axis powers, Guernica, blitzkrieg, "total wars", atomic bombs, Holocaust, Milgram, Experiment, Elie Wiesel, Nuremberg Trials, United Nations, sphere of influence, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, Cold War, political reconstruction in Japan and Germany, iron curtain, containment, client states, McCarthyism and the Red Scare, American military industrial complex, Gorbachev's reforms, Solidarity, domino effect, proxy wars, non-alignment, Castro, Cuban Missile Crisis, necolonialism, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, the legacies of colonialism, the Palestinian_Israeli conflict, Arafat, intifada

Paper For Above instruction

The provided questions are based on a series of readings that explore pivotal moments and ideological shifts in 20th-century history, focusing on fascism, World War II, Cold War dynamics, decolonization, and contemporary conflicts. The aim is to analyze these historical texts critically, understanding the motivations, ideologies, and consequences of key figures and events.

Beginning with the rise of fascism as discussed by Robert O. Paxton and Ian Kershaw, fascism appealed primarily to populations seeking stability, national rejuvenation, and leadership in the wake of economic and political crises. Specifically, fascism resonated with those who felt disillusioned with democratic processes, rampant inflation, unemployment, and perceived national humiliation following World War I. The fascist type, characterized by authoritarian rule, nationalism, militarism, and suppression of opposition, capitalized on fears of social disorder and promised to restore national strength. In Germany, fascism attracted middle-class conservatives, industrialists, and disaffected veterans who sought order amidst chaos (Paxton, 2004; Kershaw, 1998).

Hermann Himmler’s speech to the SS reveals how Nazi ideology distanced itself from moral accountability while rationalizing and scapegoating Jews, communists, and other marginalized groups. Himmler emphasized biological purity and racial superiority, portraying Jews as a destructive force threatening German society. The language employed created a dichotomy between the supposedly pure Aryan race and the "alien" groups responsible for societal decay. Himmler’s rhetoric functions to dehumanize victims, justify genocidal policies, and unite the SS behind a calculated racial ideology (Himmler, 1943).

In Steiner's account of Treblinka, Lalka’s rationalization exemplifies how individuals involved in the Holocaust justified atrocities through ideological conformity, fear, and dehumanization of victims. Lalka perceived the victims as subhuman, which alleviated moral tensions and facilitated participation in mass murder. This rationalization was rooted in Nazi racial theories, propaganda, and the perceived necessity of racial purification, illustrating the destructive effects of extremist ideology on moral judgment (Steiner, 2013).

The atrocities committed during the Nanking Massacre, as detailed by Chang, can be explained through a mixture of military propaganda, authoritarian discipline, and wartime dehumanization. Chang argues that Japanese soldiers were influenced by nationalist narratives, obedience to command, and a brutal wartime culture that normalized violence. The atrocities reflected systemic militarism and a lack of accountability, compounded by the dehumanization of Chinese civilians, which facilitated widespread violence (Chang, 1997).

Westad’s analysis of the Cold War underscores how ideological perspectives influenced US and Soviet interpretations of Third World modernization. The US framed development as a fight against communism, promoting capitalist democracy and economic aid via plans like the Marshall Plan. Conversely, the USSR viewed modernization as a means of spreading socialism and countering imperialist influence. These differing visions shaped interventions, alliances, and policies in decolonizing nations, often leading to proxy conflicts and ideological competitions (Westad, 2017).

Superpower interventions in Third World modernization took various forms, including military aid, political influence, and economic assistance, often aligning with ideological goals. The US intervened through covert operations and support for anti-communist regimes, especially in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The USSR supported revolutionary movements and socialist governments in Africa and Southeast Asia. These interventions frequently resulted in proxy wars and sustained conflicts, as superpowers sought to expand their spheres of influence (Westad, 2017).

George Kennan, in "Sources of Soviet Conduct," advocates a policy of containment toward the USSR. He recommends diplomatic engagement combined with strategic containment of Soviet expansionism and influence, emphasizing the importance of understanding Soviet motivations and resisting their efforts to spread communism. Kennan’s approach was rooted in the belief that Soviet expansion was inevitable and that patience and firm policies would gradually contain it (Kennan, 1947).

The Soviet Telegram preceding the Cuban Missile Crisis outlined a series of escalating events, including the US blockade and the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba. It depicted the crisis from the Soviet perspective, emphasizing the need for strategic security and balancing the perceived threat posed by US military presence. The telegram also detailed Soviet efforts to justify the placement of missiles as a response to US threats and actions (Soviet Telegram, 1962).

The Soviet perspective on the Cuban Missile Crisis viewed the deployment as a necessary act of self-defense against US aggression. The USSR considered US containment policies a direct threat and saw the missiles as a means to achieve strategic parity. The crisis exemplified Cold War tensions, culminating in a confrontation that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war but was ultimately resolved through diplomacy.

Key concepts such as Lenin’s leadership of the Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin’s rise to power, collectivization, the Five-Year Plans, and political purges are crucial to understanding Soviet history. Fascism, Mussolini’s regime, “making the trains run on time,” and the Weimar Republic provide context for the political environment in Germany leading up to Hitler and Nazism. The Nazi ideology of Lebensraum and the role of Himmler, Treblinka, and the Gestapo detail the progression toward genocide. The Great Depression set the stage for fascist expansion, while strategies like appeasement and the Axis powers’ alliances further destabilized Europe, leading to WWII. The use of atomic bombs, the Holocaust, and the Nuremberg Trials mark the atrocities and subsequent justice efforts. The postwar era saw the creation of the United Nations, the policy of spheres of influence, the Truman Doctrine, and the Marshall Plan, shaping Cold War geopolitics. The division of Germany, the Iron Curtain, containment policy, and proxy wars defined the era, alongside McCarthyism and the military-industrial complex (Fried, 1994; Welch, 2000).

The political reconstruction in Japan and Germany involved demilitarization and democratization, influenced heavily by Allied occupation policies. The Cold War introduced concepts like the Iron Curtain, containment, and the emergence of client states. The US’s strategic focus on resisting Soviet expansion led to support for regimes and movements like Gorbachev’s reforms, the Solidarity movement, and the domino theory in Southeast Asia. Proxy wars, non-alignment, and regional conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian issue, with influential figures such as Arafat and the intifada, continued to shape modern geopolitics. In Africa, leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba addressed colonial legacies and independence struggles, often facing Cold War pressures (Westad, 2017; Smith, 2009; Pappe, 2006).

References

• Chang, R. (1997). The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II. Basic Books.
• Fried, J. (1994). The Politics of American Foreign Policy. McGraw-Hill.
• Kershaw, I. (1998). Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris. Norton.
• Kennan, G. (1947). The Sources of Soviet Conduct. Foreign Affairs, 25(4).
• Paxton, R. O. (2004). The Anatomy of Fascism. Alfred A. Knopf.
• Pappe, I. (2006). The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld Publications.
• Steiner, R. (2013). Treblinka: A History. Holocaust Library.
• Soviet Telegram (1962). Cuban Missile Crisis. Archives.
• Westad, O. A. (2017). The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our Times. Cambridge University Press.
• Welch, D. (2000). Neutrality and the Making of the Cold War. Yale University Press.