Nationalism and Ultra-nationalism

What is ultra nationalism?

Ultra nationalism is very similar to the word "nationalism" which means to to have an extreme form of patriotism and effort to ones honored country. Now ultra nationalism is just more of an exaggeration of the word nationalism, which is how they both relate. It promotes the interest of one state or people above all others. Although ultranationalism in each state is different for certain reasons, it had the same tragic result when it came to war! These people who are strongly interested in their states well being are called ultra nationalists. Ultra nationalism is usually shown when opposed to international cooperation between states/countries, and being able to stay strong in your beliefs for that certain state/country! basically a type of patriotism that a person shows or just different types of nationalists that take it over board in a good way when it comes to being patriotic.

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How have people responded to ultra nationalism? 

Ultra-nationalism has an effect on all aspects of a country's life: economic, social, political, cultural, and spiritual. Ultra nationalists prey on people's fears and use propaganda to spread hatred.


Appeasement as a Response to Ultra-nationalism 
Before world war two, many countries that have already went through world war one and the great depression believed that not coming into contact with another war was one of their national interests. They hoped that appeasement was the best policy for them, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis began to expand Germany's territory in Europe. In 1938, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain, French prime minister Edouard Daladier , and Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini met Hitler to discuss Germany's takeover of the Sudetenland. Before world war one took place Germany had controlled the territory, Treaty of Versailles gave it to Czechoslovakia. Hitler promised not to expand further. Mussolini, Daladier, and Chamberlain agreed to allow the takeover to go unchallenged. Not everyone thought that appeasement would be the right choice. Winston Churchill said "Chamberlain, Daladier, and Mussolini had to choose between war and dishonor. They choose dishonor; they will have war." 


By 1934, 58 countries, including Canada, France, and Britain were members of the league of nations, which was established after world war one. League of nation members agreed to help one another to take action and keep the peace. If one country were to invade another, league of nation members could

• Use military force against the aggressor
•  Impose trade sanctions and penalties on the aggressor 
• Order the aggressor to leave the other country's territory 

After world war one, Italy suffered some of the same problems just like Germany. Promising to gain Italy's power and prestige again, Benito Mussolini, an extreme nationalist was prime minister in 1922 and soon also established himself as a dictator. Mussolini ruled through fear, just like Stalin in Russia and Hitler in Germany. His policy was instilling absolute lotalty and conquering other territories. They were angry when the Treaty of Versailles failed to give Italy control of independent African country of Ethiopia or the territory it claimed in Europe. In October 1935, Italian forces were ordered to invade Ethiopia. Italy and Ethiopia were part of the League of Nations, Ethiopian emperor traveled to league of nations to plead for help. But in response the league of nations called for trade sanctions against Italy. But this failed, many countries including the united states, ignored them.

1939- Germany was beginning to think that they could control everyone beginning with Poland. Canada began to talk about their national interest and began to think about the war effort that would need to be brought forward. Canadian citizens began to label countries based on their actions Germany was one of them they were officially named the enemy and citizens were under the impression, that Canadian soldiers were fighting for the freedom of man kind. Many men and women were beginning to enroll in to the army to help the war efforts and help bring mankind this freedom. To appeal to people posters were displayed everywhere to encourage the idea that joining would be for the best. The Canadian government began to believe that their was people using information against them, so they made a guideline that everything would be read and censored before being applicable to soldiers or families.

Along with censorship and invading people privacy, the Canadian government began to follow the ideas of Germany and the Soviet Union. They believed that they should this idea as well. It was a pro and a con because it began to divide people and the rest of society. Farmers played a large role in this because they were torn between two loyalties. Many citizens were more worried about how it would affect the rest of Canada, and problems did not begin to arise until the end of World War I.

A change in society was under way; many citizens began to believe racist thoughts towards other people more specifically other races. Japanese, Ukrainian and Italian people were being discriminated against. Specifically Japanese Canadians were rounded up and were placed in camps, which were similar to prisons. For safety reason the government imprisoned them to better society’s security policies. Due to the fact that the bombing of Pearl Harbor could be reoccur.

When all this was going on it was not just the Canadian government making changes the UN began to get involved in missions to help protect people’s safety and make sure that everything was being done respectively. The UN solved people from getting in wars by reconciliation between nations, and making sure that everyone was negotiating fairly. Canada joined this affect since they were strong believers in world piece. 

How is ultranationalism developed?

Countries in Crisis

·         Germany – After World War 1 Germany became a republic, but it was hit very hard by the Great Depression because it was still trying to recover from the war and having to pay war reparations. In the 1920s, inflation was very high and German money was worth nearly nothing. During these times the people came altogether to look for a new leader. That was when Adolf Hitler and his party were elected. Once elected, Hitler then abolished parliament and took over everything, he had all the power in his hands. Germany was at the top in everything: economic, social, political, military, and cultural matters.

·         Japan – Japan supported the allies during the world war, but they exported to the United States, Canada, and Europe after the war. Then after the great depression and a massive rice crop failure all the ultranationalists in japan started blaming the politicians. When Canada, Australia, and the United States stopped accepting Japanese immigrants, Japan was enraged. They invaded Manchuria to obtain products/ supplies. In 1937, the government was controlled by the military, and to top it off Japan was at war with its neighbour, China.  

Charismatic Leaders

·         Hitler – Hitler promised to put Germany at the top by :

o   Refusing to follow Treaty of Versailles

o   Rebuilding Germany’s territories

o   Reclaiming lost territories

o   Restoring superiority of the “Aryan race” (white Europeans)

All Hitler’s propaganda posters and speeches were carefully organized and planned. He had everything and everyone under his control.

·         Hitohito & Tojo in Japan – Ultranationalists tried to make japan into a one-party state that was run by the military. Emperor Hirohito was not involved in politics. Commanders of Japan’s armed forces made all the decisions and decided the country’s national interests. In 1941, General Tojo became Prime Minister, being an ultranationalist he promised to soon have Japan dominating all of Asia.

Instilling Ultranationalist Values

·         Ultranationalist Values in Germany – In the 1930s, German propaganda focused on nationalist values of the past. Hitler wanted to create a race that would last for a thousand years, but to do this all the people that did not qualify would have to be gotten rid of. This includes people like socialists, Jews, Roma, homosexuals, and people that had disabilities. All of these people did not qualify or meet the requirements of the “master race.” On a night in November known as “Kristallnacht” which means the Night of Broken Glass, the Nazis did the worst they could. Nazi thugs destroyed Jewish synagogues, buisnesses, beat Jewish people and broke windows. Then, not soon after that all basic rights of the Jewish people were taken away. Things like driving a car were no longer allowed for Jewish people.