1. Fascism rises in Europe
Chapter 15: Section 3

2. Setting the Stage
Millions lost faith in democratic forms of gov as a result of the Gt Depression and post-WWI political problems.
They turned to extreme forms of gov known as fascism in Italy, Germany and Spain.
Fascist govs promised to:
Restore the economy
Punish those responsible for hard times and;
Restore order and national pride

3. FASCISM Militant, political movement that emphasized:
Loyalty to the state
Obedience to authoritarian leader in one-party state
Extreme form of nationalism
Belief that nations must struggle militarily to get what they want
Social Darwinism

4. How was it similar to Communism?
Both systems were ruled by dictator
Both denied individual rights
In both the state was supreme
Neither practiced any democracy
Unlike Communists fascists did not seek classless society.
Fascists believed that each class had its place & function
Also Fascists were nationalists not internationalists

5. Mussolini – Il Duce
Rise of Fascism due in part to bitter disappoint over failure to win large territorial gains at end of war
Rising inflation and unemployment contributed to social unrest and strikes
Democratic gov seemed helpless to deal with problems
Wanted a leader who would take action
Musso promised to revive the econ & rebuild armed forces

6. Mussolini - continued As econ problems worsened his popularity rose
He organized groups known as Black Shirts who fought with Communists & Soc’lists on the streets
Musso played on fear of a workers’ revolt and won support from the middle classes, the aristocracy and industrial leaders.
In ,000 fascists marched on Rome & demanded that Musso be put in charge of the gov
King Victor Emmanuel agreed
After widespread violence and threatened uprising Musso took power legally

7. Hitler Joined Nazi party in 1919
Shared beliefs to overturn VT and combat comm’m
Created private militia called Brown Shirts
Hitler quickly became Der Fuhrer
Plotted to seize gov power in 1923
Was jailed and wrote Mein Kampf
Asserted Aryans were master race
Anti-Semitic
Argued for Lebensraum

8. What the critics are saying about Mein Kampf

9. Hitler Most Germans ignored Hitler until after the Great Depression
American loans stopped
The German economy collapsed and suddenly the Nazis were more appealing.
Looked to Hitler for security and firm leadership
See visual on next slide

11. Nazis
Largest party by 1932
Conservative leaders mistakenly believed that they could control Hitler and use him for their purposes
President Hindenburg named Hitler as chancellor (he came to power legally)
Once in office Hitler turned Germany into a totalitarian state
Reichstag fire

12. Totalitarian State He banned political parties
Had political opponents arrested
Created the SS (Schutzstaffel)
Established the Gestapo
Took command of the econ – strikes were banned
Labor unions outlawed
Gov had authority over business & industry
Put millions to work – unemployment went from 6 m to 1.5m

13. To shape public opinion & win praise for his leadership Hitler turned the press, radio, literature, painting and film into propaganda tools.
Books that did not conform to Nazism were burned
Churches forbidden to criticize the gov
Schoolchildren were forced to join Hitler Youth groups

14. Anti-Semitism Hatred of the Jews was key part of Nazi ideology
Although Jews made up only 1 % of German pop they were blamed for all of Germany’s problems
Nuremberg laws were passed in 1935
1938 Kristallnacht
Hitler did all he could to get Jews to leave Germany but few countries would agree to accept Jews.

15. Other Countries Fall to Dictators
Nations in E. Europe were becoming dictatorships.
Only one E. European nation was a democracy and that was Czechoslovakia
Only in countries with strong democratic traditions did democracy survive (Br, Fr, Scandinavia)
Two antagonistic camps in Europe – democ & total.
Fascist dictatorships were willing to use military aggression