Key Historical Terms of the 20th Century: Stalinism to WWII

Key 20th-Century Historical Definitions

Stalinism

Stalinism is a totalitarian political system established by Joseph Stalin in the USSR, beginning in 1927.

Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a political system where a single party holds total control over the economy and society, establishing an authoritarian state characterized by the rejection of equality, ultra-nationalism, and militarism.

Sovkhozy

Sovkhozy were state-owned farms under Stalin's government where peasants worked for a salary.

Kolkhozy

Kolkhozy were agricultural cooperatives under Stalin's government where land was owned and farmed collectively.

USSR

The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was a political organization created in 1922 by Vladimir Lenin, composed of Russia and other European and Asian republics.

Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties was a period of significant economic prosperity between 1924 and 1929, characterized by a high standard of living in many Western nations.

1929 Crisis

The 1929 Crisis marked the end of the Roaring Twenties, when the USA experienced a severe economic crisis caused by decreased production, the accumulation of stock, and a sharp fall in prices.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic crisis that affected the USA and Europe throughout the 1930s.

Fascism

Fascism is a totalitarian political system created by Benito Mussolini in Italy. It featured a state-directed economy and controlled every aspect of social life through propaganda.

Nazism

Nazism is a totalitarian political system created by Adolf Hitler in Germany, born from discontent during the Weimar Republic. It was based on the ideology of racial superiority.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," is a military technique consisting of a swift, concentrated attack using tanks and aircraft. It was famously used by the Germans to invade Poland in World War II.

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was an agreement signed between Germany and the USSR in which both nations pledged not to attack one another.

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty that ended World War I. Under its terms, Germany lost Alsace-Lorraine, parts of Prussia, and its African colonies, and was forced to pay significant war reparations.

Soviets

Soviets were councils of workers, peasants, and soldiers that supported the Bolshevik Revolution.

February Revolution

The February Revolution of 1917 led to the abdication of the Tsar and the establishment of a republic under a liberal provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky.

October Revolution

During the October Revolution, the Bolsheviks overthrew the liberal government and placed their leader, Vladimir Lenin, in power, with the support of the Soviets.