Fascism Rises in Europe
Characteristics of Fascism
• Extreme Nationalism – the state over the
individual
• Indoctrination
• Secret Police
• Authoritarian
• Supported by
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Middle class
Industrialists
Military
workers
What factors led to the rise of fascism in
Italy?
• Perceived betrayal at the Paris Peace
Conference
• Rising inflation
• Unemployment
• Social unrest
• Fear of communism
How did Hitler maintain power?
The Terror State
Secret police called
the Gestapo would
spy on and arrest
enemies of the state
SS were responsible
for running the
concentration
camps
Everyone was
scared of being
arrested by the
Gestapo and put
into a concentration
camp
Propaganda
Mass rallies, posters
Keeping
Control of
Germany
Popularity
Ripping up the
Treaty of Versailles
and propaganda
films
Nazis controlled and
censored the radio
and newspapers
School children were
indoctrinated with Nazi
ideas at school
Hitler Youth
Creating Jobs
Enemies of the State
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Communists
Social Democrats
Jews
Trade Unionists.
Work Shy
Homosexuals
Gypsies
Intellectuals
The handicapped
Enemies of the State
• A list of German
women who were still
purchasing goods
from Jewish shops.
• Printed to scare or
terrorise other people
into not buying from
the Jews.
How did a terror state work?
You are imprisoned for
up to six months doing
hard physical labor
When you are
released you tell
everyone what
happened to you.
Gestapo spies
inform on you
“Terror is the best political
weapon for nothing drives
people harder
than
a
fear
Fear
of sudden death.”
You are woken up
by the Gestapo at 1
am and told you
have 5 minutes to
pack
You are handed over to
the SS who run the
concentration camps
By signing the form you
are giving your consent
to be put into a
concentration camp
Days or weeks later
you are interviewed
and asked to sign
form D11
You are arrested
and thrown into a
cell at the police
station
How did the terror state work?
• Everyone knew someone who knew
someone else who had been in a
concentration camp.
• 800,000 Germans were imprisoned from
1933 – 1945 as ‘Enemies of the State.’
• 500,000 were executed by being shot in
the neck.
Why did the leadership of many eastern
European nations fall to dictators?
• Lacked experience with democracy
• Economic problems and social unrest led
these countries to question the ability of a
democratic government to solve their
problems
• Looked for a strong leader to provide
stability
Why did people like Hitler and Mussolini
come to power during a period of crisis?
• Hitler and Mussolini blamed others for the
country’s problems and offered simple
solutions
Why did Hitler have children join the Nazi
organization?
• They were impressionable
• They would create a future generation of
followers
What emotions did Hitler and Mussolini stir
in their followers?
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Fear of outsiders
Pride
Loyalty
Patriotism