The Rise of Fascism
Essential Question
 What is fascism, and why was it successful in Europe?
What is Fascism?
Main Characteristics
Nationalism – Believed highest value was the
nation. Took this to extremes, claiming their
nation was superior to others. Strongly
opposed communism.
Unity of All Social Classes – Felt a single
party should unite all classes. The strong had a
natural right to dominate the weak. Strongly
opposed unions & strikes.
All-Powerful Leader – Believed a single, allpowerful leader could best represent the
national will & lead the nation.
Extreme Militarism – Used violence to
defeat their political opponents & prepared to
use war for national expansion. Saw war as a
glorious experience.
Roots of Fascism
 Several earlier European ideas helped prepare the way for the
rise of fascism
 Anti-Semitism – Hatred of the Jews
 Jews often faced prejudice & persecution
 Beliefs & customs made them easy targets
 Late 1800s – Blamed for disruptions caused by rapid industrialization
Roots of Fascism
 Racism – Contempt for people of other races
 Strengthened by overseas imperialism & spirit of nationalism
 Social Darwinism
 Racism & anti-Semitism were made respectable by applying Charles Darwin’s
theory of evolution
 Believed all human groups competed for survival, & stronger groups had right to
succeed over weaker groups
The Old Order Collapses
 Germany
 Kaiser Wilhelm II replaced by weak Weimar Republic
 Upper middle class opposed the change
 Wanted to give all power to single leader, & feared socialists might
follow Soviet path
 Weimar Republic blamed for accepting Treaty of Versailles
The Old Order Collapses
 U.S.S.R.
 Soviet Communists showed how to build totalitarian state, which
controlled all aspects of life
 Joseph Stalin replaced Lenin, & quickly eliminated rivals
 Opponents to Stalin’s ideas sent to prison
 Europeans feared communism would spread, which led to support of
extreme anti-communist leaders Mussolini & Hitler
The Old Order Collapses
 Italy
 Communism grew in Italy after WWI
 Tired of strikes, & were ready for strong leader
 Fascists, led by Benito Mussolini, took advantage of fear of
revolution & desire for national glory to take power
Rise of Nazi Dictatorship in Germany
 Weimar Republic Collapses
 Stability in Germany ended when Great Depression began
 6,000,000 Germans lost jobs
 Middle class turned to radical solutions offered by Communists
& Nazi Party
Rise of Nazi Dictatorship in Germany
 Rise of Nazi (National Socialist) Party
 Hitler outlined radical ideas in Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
Condemnation of Weimar
Party
Blamed them for Germany’s
humiliation at Versailles. Urged
Germans to abandon democracy &
return to glory under a strong
leader.
Aryan Race
Believed Germans were
superior race that should rule
the world. Planned to
eventually wipe out Slavic
peoples to make room for
German settlers in Eastern
Europe.
Anti-Semitism
Called Jews “evil race” that should
be destroyed for causing
Germany’s defeat in WWI. Saw
communism as a Jewish plot to
control the world.
 Important Nazi Belief – Fanatical loyalty to “Führer,” or leader, Adolf Hitler.
The Nazis come to Power
 Built power with private army
 Support grew when Great Depression reached Germany
 Hitler was appointed chief minister in 1933
 Acted quickly to secure complete control
 Determined to bring down republic & establish dictatorial
rule
 Use of chaos & violence led to Martial Law
 Took advantage of emergency rule & became absolute
dictator
Germany Under Nazi Control
 Nazi Party took over every aspect of German life
Human Rights Violations
People arrested & executed without trial. Rival
political parties, unions, & independent
newspapers replaced by pro-Nazi forms.
Economic Changes
Made use of public works projects like building
highways & military buildings to end
unemployment. Economic prosperity returned.
Persecution of Jews
Thrown out of government jobs, lost citizenship,
forced to wear yellow stars, & barred from
marrying other Germans. Jewish shops
vandalized, synagogues burned down, & people
forced to live in ghettoes & concentration camps.
Secret Police (Gestapo)
Nazi propaganda came from all media outlets, &
no other source of information was allowed.
Gestapo arrested opponents.