This document discusses the rise of totalitarian regimes in the early 20th century amidst worldwide economic depression and hardship. It outlines the policies and impacts of communist dictator Joseph Stalin in Russia, Emperor Hirohito in Japan pursuing military expansion, fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler in Germany. It also notes responses by other nations like the New Deal in the US and planned economies in Britain. In the end, the regimes of Hitler and Stalin led to World War II, which caused over 50 million military and civilian deaths worldwide before the defeat of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.