– In response to political turmoil and economic
crisis, people in Italy and Germany turned to
totalitarian dictators who promised solutions to
their nations problems.
– Fascism
– What are some characteristics of life in a
totalitarian state?
• Widespread economic
hardships caused by
Great Depression
contributed to the rise
of dictators in Europe
– People gave power to
strong leaders who
promised to solve nations
problems
– Totalitarian
dictatorships replaced
gov’ts that could not
meet their peoples needs
• Fascist leaders
emerged in the
1920’s-30’s :
– Spain
– Germany
– Italy
• A political movement that
seeks to establish a
dictatorial government that
is nationalistic and
imperialistic
– Promoted extreme form of
nationalism
– A denial of individual rights
• The needs of the state outweigh
the needs of the individual
– Dictatorial one party rule
– were anti-communist
• Italy was
disappointed
by the
outcome of the
Treaty of
Versailles
– Had hoped to
gain territory
• Economic problems after
WWI contributed to
social unrest
–
–
–
–
–
High inflation
High unemployment
Trade decreased
High taxes
Workers strikes led by
communists
• Many Italians believed
democratic government
couldn’t solve problems
• Benito Mussolini
formed the Fascist
Party in 1919
– Had the support of
many war veterans and
dissatisfied Italians
• Mussolini promised
to strengthen Italy
and solve economic
problems
– Would end
unemployment
– Gain more territory
for Italy
– Would outlaw
strikes and
communist threats
• Mussolini and the
Fascists gained
power in Italy in
1922
– Fascist “Black
Shirts” used terror
and violence to
intimidate opposition
– Mussolini was known
as Il Duce (the
leader)
• Mussolini
consolidated control
of Italy
– Ended free elections
– Restricted free
speech and free
press
– Killed or jailed
political opponents
– Controlled economy
by allying with
industrialists and
large landowners
• Widespread Use of
indoctrination and
control of
education
– Convinced people to
put goals of state
before individual
rights
• Mussolini
began an
aggressive
foreign policy
– Invaded
Ethiopia in
1935
• What is Fascism?
• What conditions led many people in
Italy to support Mussolini and the
Fascist Party?
• How did Mussolini consolidate his
control over Italy?
– Many Germans blamed the Weimer Republic, the
new democratic government created in Germany
after WWI, for Germany’s defeat in WWI and
post war humiliation caused by the Treaty of
Versailles .
– Inflation
– How did did Mussolini gain power in Italy?
Strong
military
Use of
fear and
violence
Blind
loyalty to
a leader
censorship
& gov’t
control of
news
Fascism
Rule by
dictator
Extreme
nationalism
State
control of
economy
Secret
police
• Many Germans felt
that the Treaty of
Versailles was unfair
and humiliated
Germany
– German territory
taken to create new
countries
– Forced to pay war
reparations
– Limited the size of
Germany’s military
– Took away German
colonies
• Kaiser Wilhelm stepped
down from power in
1919.
– Germany was in chaos
• Germans created a new
democratic government
– Known as the Weimar
Republic
– Germany did not have a
tradition of democratic
government
• Many Germans
blamed the Weimar
government for
accepting the
harsh terms of the
Treaty of
Versailles
• Some Germans accused
Communists and Jews in
Germany of conspiring
against Germany during
the war
• Inflation and
unemployment was a
major economic problem
for Germany after the
war
– Germany had printed
money to pay for
expenses of the war
rather than tax citizens
– German currency became
worthless
• Ex: A loaf of bread cost
less than one German Mark
in 1918; A loaf of bread
cost 200 billion Marks in
1923
• Worldwide
economic
depression added
to economic
difficulties in
Germany
• Extreme right wing
political party that
believed that the
Treaty of Versailles had
to be overturned
– Nationalist Socialist
Workers Party
– German form of fascism
– Opposed Communism
– Blamed Jews and foreign
powers for Germany’s
problems
– Established a private
militia known as the
Brown Shirts
• Became the leader
of the Nazi Party in
1920
– “Der Führer” (The
Leader)
• Why did many Germans resent the
Treaty of Versailles?
• Why did many Germans not support the
Weimar government?