Fascism and Nazism Italy 1912 – “manifesto of futurism” “Beauty only exists in struggle” and war is the only cure for the modern world” Post-war Germany: a) economic discontent b) fear of socialism and communism c) advocated nationalism The answer in both countries – dictators Germany had no history of democratic rule Italy was only superficial Both relatively new countries Fascism and Nazism were mass movements

Fascism in Italy Post-war social and economic tensions Rising inflation and unemployment, lost saving, agricultural depression Dissatisfaction with the Versailles Treaty A lack of a stable government Workers organized unions (also in Britain, France, and Germany)

Mussolini Average family, but he was a bully and a loner with no friends Read Marx and Nietzsche – believed in the will of the people Initially a socialist and against the war Like Hitler he was wounded 1919 founded the National Fascist Party Fascists (black shirts) supported the wealthy landowners and businessmen

Mussolini boasted of an army of fascists 1921 Mussolini was elected to parliament to work with the Liberals who held a majority Fascist Party had rich powerful allies and access to the media Mussolini became Duce (leader) and he advocated violent confrontation to maintain authority Fascism = strong nationalism, strong military, historic destiny 1992 King Victor Emmanuel III named Mussolini to the Cabinet

Mussolini promised stability; political opposition believed he could be used and then discarded Mussolini was the first political leader to make full use of modern communication, books, newspapers, films etc He was portrayed (falsely) as energetic, dynamic, virile, and hard-working He was lazy and unable to focus for long times Very little was done to improve the military Advisors only told him what he wanted to hear

Fascism was a product of class conflict, capitalist crisis, and post war upheaval a) Very nationalistic b) Very Militaristic c) Very anti-Marxist – anti-Communist d) Anti-Semitic Pro-business, anti-union (opposite of Communism) Male dominated, very masculine Rejected Parliamentary rule – nothing democratic about Fascism But Mussolini, like most successful leaders was very charismatic

Hitler and Nazism Very charismatic leader Average childhood Was wounded in the war, promoted, but not seen as leadership material He was fanatically nationalistic 1919 joined the right-wing German Worker’s Party, later renamed National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi)

He took the title Führer – leader Created a paramilitary unit – the Stormtroopers (S.A.) which attracted disillusioned war veterans Propaganda portrayed Hitler as energetic, tough, nationalistic, and uncompromising Weimar republic was seen as weak and ineffective Hitler (like Mussolini) appealed to the lower middle classes He criticized: a) the Versailles treaty (Dictated Peace) b) Weimar Republic c) Jews

Germany suffered from hyperinflation and a fear of the Bolsheviks – Hitler promised solutions

Dictators Only Britain and France retained parliamentary governments Other states remained democracies but had fascist elements 1922 Mussolini in Italy 1926 General Pilsudski in Portugal – shared power with the Church, the elites, and the army. But was anti-Bolshevik. Not a mass movement and not expansionist. 1929 Stalin in the Soviet Union 1933 Hitler in Germany 1939 General Franco in Spain – military dictatorship similar to Portugal. Not a mass movement and not expansionist.

Why? Failure of government The need for a scapegoat – Jews, socialists Communists, foreigners Great Depression Rising unemployment Red Scare in Europe A lack of trust Germans blamed British and French Americans blamed British and French British and French blamed Germans

Totalitarianism There is little difference between the old dictatorships and totalitarianism Dictatorships were believed to be expedient and temporary – a theory of government Modern totalitarianism started during WWI when everything was subordinate to victory – it was a permanent theory of life and nature Centralized control of political apparatus Deviation became a crime, use of secret police, no freedom of press or assembly, elimination of opposition Liberalism was seen as sentimental slop

Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini all used terror to enforce their will All 3 denied civil liberties Nazi and Communist philosophies definitely totalitarian – fascist probably diet totalitarian