prep for IB History exam. Move to Global War. Authoritarian Regimes. European 20th Century.
| Front | Dollfuss Affair (aka the July Putsch) |
| Back | (July 1934)Failed coup attempt by Austrian Nazis to overthrow the government and unite Austria with Germany. Resulted in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss.Background:Growing Nazi influence: Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Austrian Nazis strongly supported Anschluss and began a campaign of bombings, propaganda, and civil disobedience to destabilize the country.Dollfuss's opposition: Chancellor Dollfuss was vehemently opposed to both the Social Democrats and Nazism and sought to maintain Austria's independence from Germany. In 1933, he banned the Communist and Nazi parties.Establishment of an authoritarian state: Suppressed Austria's democratic institutions and established a one-party, authoritarian regime known as the "Austrofascist" or "Corporate State".German response: Following the ban on the Austrian Nazi party, thousands of Austrian Nazis fled to Germany, where they formed the Austrian Legion, a paramilitary unit trained by German Nazis. Hitler also imposed economic sanctions on Austria to cripple its tourism industry. The July Putsch:The assassination: On July 25, 1934, 154 Austrian Nazis disguised as soldiers and police stormed the Federal Chancellery in Vienna while the cabinet was meeting. They captured Chancellor Dollfuss and shot him, leaving him to bleed to death.Radio station takeover: Another group of conspirators seized the state radio station and falsely announced Dollfuss's resignation. They called for a nationwide Nazi uprising.Coup's failure: Attempt largely failed because the majority of the Austrian military and police forces remained loyal to the government and quickly suppressed the revolt. Nazis wrongly assumed that a significant portion of the population would support them.Mussolini's intervention: Crucially, Mussolini moved Italian troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austria's independence from a potential German invasion. This act, spurred by his anger over the assassination and his desire for a buffer state, forced Hitler to back down and deny any involvement in the coup. Significance:New chancellor: After Dollfuss's death, Kurt von Schuschnigg became chancellor. Continued the Austrofascist regime.Hitler's next move: Demonstrated to Hitler that a forceful takeover of Austria was not yet possible due to international opposition.Germany and Italy grew closer. Mussolini ceased to be a reliable guarantor of Austrian independence.The Anschluss: Without Italian protection, Austria became diplomatically isolated. In 1938, Hitler successfully annexed Austria in the Anschluss. |
| Front | Bolshevik Revolution (aka the October Revolution) |
| Back | Second of two revolutions in Russia in 1917Established the world's first communist state. Led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin. Overthrew the Provisional Government.Causes:WWI failures and hardship: Imperial Russia was ill-equipped for WWI. Massive military casualties, severe food and fuel shortages. Widespread disillusionment with Tsar Nicholas II's leadership and the costly war effort.Political and social inequalities: For centuries, Russia's lower classes were oppressed under the autocratic rule of the tsars. Rigid class structure resulted in extreme poverty for the vast peasant population and urban working class.1905 Revolution: Triggered by economic hardship and the embarrassing defeat in the Russo-Japanese War. The "Bloody Sunday" massacre, where tsarist troops fired on peaceful protestors, eroded public trust in the monarchy. Though Tsar Nicholas II conceded some reforms, like creating a representative assembly (Duma), he repeatedly dissolved it when it opposed his will.Rise of the Bolsheviks: The radical Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party exploited the instability following the 1905 revolution.February Revolution: Strikes and protests over food shortages and the war intensified. Mutinous army troops joined the uprising, forcing the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.Dual Power and Bolshevik rise: Provisional Government was formed, but challenged by powerful councils of workers and soldiers known as "soviets." The Provisional Government's decision to continue fighting in WWI made it increasingly unpopular, while the Bolsheviks, with their promise of "Peace, Land, and Bread," gained support.The October Coup: On November 6–7 (October on the Julian calendar), Lenin's Bolsheviks and the Red Guards, launched a nearly bloodless coup against the Provisional Government. They seized control of key locations in Petrograd, including the Winter Palace, the seat of government.Civil War and Consolidation of power: Bolshevik seizure of power triggered a brutal civil war lasting from late 1917-1923. Bolshevik Red Army defeated a coalition of anti-Bolshevik forces (the White Army) supported by foreign powers. Lenin's government used terror and repression to eliminate opposition, including the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1918. Outcome:Formation of the Soviet Union (1922): Highly centralized, one-party state.Radical reforms: Nationalized industry, land redistribution and withdrawal Russia from World War I. Inspiration for global communism: Inspired the formation of communist parties worldwide. By the start of World War II, socialism had become a global political force.Paved the way for the Cold War: new geopolitical dynamic, pitting the world's first socialist state against the capitalist West. |
| Front | Ludendorff Offensive |
| Back | March to July 1918aka the German Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht ("Kaiser's Battle")Last-ditch attempt to win the war before overwhelming U.S. troops could arrive in force. Series of massive German attacks on the Western Front spearheaded by General Erich Ludendorff. Impending American forces would soon turn the tide for the Allies.Russian withdrawal: freed up nearly 50 German divisions from the Eastern Front.Economic crisis: Naval blockade by the British had left Germany low on food and war materials. Plan:Based on a temporary German numerical advantage.Sought to exploit the differing priorities of the British and French armies to separate them and knock one out of the war. Initial goal: Break the Allied lines in the Somme area with a surprise attack.Main target: Following the breach, push the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) back toward the Channel ports.Overall aim: Force the Allies to negotiate a peace settlement before the Americans could fully mobilize. Four main operations, each named for a figure in German history:Operation Michael (March 21–April 5): The first and largest assault targeted the British lines near the Somme River. Using new infiltration tactics with elite stormtroopers, the Germans made significant advances, pushing the British Fifth Army back. However, they were eventually halted by stiffening Allied resistance.Operation Georgette (April 9–29): This attack in the Lys sector of Flanders again initially gained ground but was stopped by determined British and Australian forces.Operation Blücher-Yorck (May 27–June 4): Against the French forces along the Aisne River. German forces achieved a deep advance but exhausted their reserves in the process.Operation Gneisenau (June 9–12): Smaller offensive near Compiègne. The French, forewarned by intercepted intelligence, were able to stop the attack with a powerful counter-barrage. Outcome:Tactically successful in gaining territory, the Ludendorff Offensive was a strategic failure that ultimately led to Germany's defeat. Heavy casualties: exhausted Germany's best-trained troops and depleted its manpower reserves.Allied consolidation: Allies unified their command structure under French General Ferdinand Foch, improving their coordination.Turning the tide: By July 1918, a million U.S. soldiers had arrived in France, reinforcing Allied ranks and demoralizing German troops.Allied counteroffensive: Starting with the Battle of Amiens in August, Allied forces, reinvigorated and with a growing numerical advantage, launched the Hundred Days Offensive. This final push drove the Germans back, leading to the Armistice in November 1918. |