The Rise of Fascism

1. The Rise of Fascism

2. The Rise of Fascism • Fascism refers to a new political system that appeared in Europe in the disturbed conditions after World War I • The term is taken from the political party formed by Benito Mussolini in Italy, but is used by historians to identify similar systems such as Nazism in Germany

3. Main Characteristics of European Fascism • Nationalism • Fascists were extreme nationalists, who believed that the highest value was the nation. They took this belief to extremes, claiming that their nation was superior to others. Fascists were also strongly opposed to Communism • Unity of All Social Classes • Fascists felt a single national party should unite all classes. They also believed that the strong had a natural right to dominate the weak. They opposed worker unions and strikes

4. Main Characteristics of European Fascism • All-Powerful Leaders • Fascists believed that a single all-powerful leader like Mussolini or Hitler, could best represent the national will and lead the nation • Extreme Militarism • Fascists used violence to defeat their political opponents and prepared to use war for their national expansion. Fascists saw war as a glorious experience.

5. The Roots of Fascism • Anti-Semitism • Hatred of Jews, or anti-Semitism, was common among some Europeans • Jews frequently faced prejudice and persecution • Their unique beliefs and customs made them easy targets in times of social unrest and economic difficulty

6. The Roots of Fascism • Racism • This is a form of contempt for people of other races • European racism was strengthened by the experiences of overseas imperialism and by the spirit of nationalism

7. The Roots of Fascism • Social Darwinism • Racism and anti-Semitism were made respectable by applying Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to human society • Social Darwinists believed that all human groups competed for survival and that stronger groups had the right to succeed over weaker groups, who deserved to die out

8. Apply it! • What are the main characteristics of Fascism? • What are the roots of Fascism? • Do you see Fascism fading away or getting stronger in our society?

9. The Old Order Collapses • Old Europe had been shaken to its core by World War I • Immense political changes had taken place—new countries had been created, and old ruling families had lost their former power • Often, the people running the government in the new European democracies were unaccustomed to holding political power

10. The Old Order Collapses • Germany • Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced out when the war was lost • The new German democratic republic, known as the Weimar Republic, was weak and many landowners, industrialists, military leaders and professionals opposed it • They would have preferred to give all power to a single leader rather than to entrust it to the common people • They feared that German socialists might follow the example of Soviet Russia • They also blamed the leaders of the Weimar Republic for accepting the Treaty of Versailles

11. The Old Order Collapses • U.S.S.R. • The Soviet Communists had demonstrated how to build a totalitarian state, controlling all aspects of life • When Lenin died, Stalin quickly succeeded him and moved to eliminate other rivals in a series of “purges” accusing them of disloyalty to Communist ideals • Many Europeans feared that Communism would spread • This fear led to some in Europe to support extremist anti-Communist leaders like Mussolini and Hitler

12. The Old Order Collapses • Italy • Following WWI, Communists were making inroads in the Italian government • The growing “Red Menace” frightened Italian industrialists, landlords and other property owners • Italians were tired of strikes and riots and ready to submit to a strong leader • Fear of revolution and the desire for national glory were exploited by a new political group, the Fascists led by Benito Mussolini (a former socialist) • Mussolini copied many Bolshevik practices while denouncing their ideas

13. The Old Order Collapses • Italy (continued) • Like the Bolsheviks, Mussolini had a party newspaper, organization and a private army known as the “Black Shirts” • Members pledged absolute obedience to their leader • Mussolinipassed laws controlling the press, unions were abolished, strikes were outlawed • He used violence against opponents, murdering opposition leaders • Within 3 years, Italy had become a totalitarian state

14. Apply it! • Why were so many fearful of Communism? • Why were Germans mad about the signing of the Treaty of Versailles? • How is it ironic that many of these leaders adopted socialist policies while denouncing Communism? • Why were so many willing to go along with and even support guys like Mussolini?

15. The Nazi Rise of Dictatorship in Germany • The leaders of the Weimar Republic were blamed for signing the Treaty of Versailles which forced Germany to pay crippling reparations to Britain and France • To pay the debt, the government printed large amounts of money, leading to inflation • Common items cost millions of German marks and middle class families saw their savings wiped out

16. The Weimar Republic Collapses • By the late 1920s, the Weimar Republic created a new currency and achieved some measure of stability • This ended when the Great Depression spread in 1930 • Six million Germans lost their jobs—more than 1/3 of the work force • The leaders could not agree how to cope with this catastrophe • In the elections, the farmers, unemployed and middle class turned to the more radical solutions offered by bot the Communists and Nazi Party

17. Hitler’s Vision for Germany In his book Mein Kampf(My Struggle)… • Condemnation of the Weimar Republic • Hitler blamed Germany’s humiliation at Versailles on the Weimar leaders • He urged Germans to abandon democracy and return Germany to glory under a strong leader (fanatical loyalty and obedience to the “Fuhrer”) • Aryan Race • Hitler believed that Germans were a superior “Aryan” race that should rule the world • He planned to eventually wipe out Slavic peoples like Poles to make room for German settlers in Eastern Europe • Anti-Semitism • Hitler called the Jews an “evil race” that should be destroyed Germany’s defeat in the war • He saw Communism as a Jewish plot to control the world

18. Nazis Come to Power Control • Nazis built power with a private army of “Brown Shirts” made up of former soldiers and unemployed workers • They beat up political opponents and Jews and staged rallies and parades • When the Depression hit, support for the party increased and they became the largest party in the Reichstag (legislature) • With this support, Hitler was appointed chief minister in 1933 (Conservatives thought they could control Hitler, but he acted quickly to secure complete control)

19. Nazis Come to Power Control • Hitler and his fellow Nazis were determined to bring down the republic and establish dictatorial rule in Germany • They created chaos, used violence and murder and thus Martial law was proclaimed in Berlin • The Reichstag building was burned down, possibly by the Nazis themselves • Hitler blamed the Communists for the fire and used the incident to take emergency powers, becoming an absolute dictator whose will was Law

20. Apply it! • Did Hitler have a plan? How do you know? • Why was he able to take power…and then keep it?

21. Germany Under Nazi Control • Human Rights Violations • People were arrested and executed without trial • Rival political parties, unions and independent newspapers were closed and replaced by pro-Nazi ones • Persecution of Jews • Jews were thrown out of their government jobs, lost their citizenship, barred from marrying other Germans and were forced to wear yellow stars on their clothes • Jewish shops were vandalized and synagogues were burned down • Later, Jews would be forced into special ghettoes and concentration camps

22. Germany Under Nazi Control • Economic Changes • Hitler made use of public works projects like building highways and military rearmament to secure full employment • Economic prosperity returned to Germany • Secret Police • Newspapers, radios and films blared out Nazi propaganda • No other sources of information were permitted except those under Nazi control • The Gestapo (secret police) arrested suspected opponents, who were thrown in concentration camps • They were mistreated, tortured and killed • Dachau was the first such camp, opened outside Munich in 1938

23. Apply it! • Why did many Germans support Hitler? • Why were they willing to look the other way when the happened to see bad things? • What did he use to keep power?

24. Germany Under Nazi Control • Many Germans admired Hitler because he restored full employment, told Germans they were superior, overturned the humiliations of the Versailles Treaty and restored German Military power • Hitler's opponents were arrested, killed or went into hiding • They were terrorized by the Gestapo • Propaganda played as great a role as terror in the early success of Nazism • Young children enrolled as “Hitler Youths”; all art and theatre was directed towards celebrating Nazism and no other ideas were tolerated

25. Nazi Propaganda

26. Apply it! • What other era/administration of history is similar to the way things were run in Nazi Germany?

27. Differing Reactions • While Hitler used government agencies to create public works projects and rearm Germany, President Franklin Roosevelt in the United States also increased public spending and introduced massive public works projects • He pushed Congress for the creation of new government programs and Social Security to help combat the Great Depression and get American workers back to work • In the Soviet Union, Stalin used terror tactics similar to those used by Hitler • However, the soviets did not suffer from the Great Depression since they lacked a free market economy

28. Apply it! • Explain Hitler’s rise to power • Compare Hitler to Mussolini • Compare Hitler to FDR