Fascism Rises in Europe
Fascism—political movement that is
extremely nationalistic, gives power to
a dictator, and takes away individual
rights
The economic crisis of the Great Depression
led to the loss of democracy in some
European countries. In these countries,
millions of people turned to a strong ruler
to try to solve some of their economic
problems. These leaders followed a set of
beliefs called fascism—which is very
nationalistic. They believed in authority
and built powerful militaries. The country’s
governments were controlled by one party
which was controlled by one leader—the
nation’s dictator!
Rise of Fascism in Italy
• Bitter disappointment
over not getting land in
WWI Treaty of Versailles
• Rising inflation and high
unemployment led to
social unrest
• Many Italians felt the new
democracy could not
handle economic
problems
• Many Italians wanted a
strong leader
Benito Mussolini
• Newspaper editor and
politician
• Made bold promises to fix
economy and rebuild armed
forces (military)
• Promised to provide strong
leadership
• Created Fascist Party in 1919
• Popularity rose as economy
improved
• Stirred up fears of workers’
revolt
• Won support of middle class,
aristocracy, industrial leaders
• Fascist mob marches on Rome
and puts Mussolini in power in
1922
Benito Mussolini
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Il Duce (the leader)
Abolished democracy
Outlawed all other political parties
Created secret police (terrorized opposition)
Censored news media (radio, newspapers,
magazines) to spread fascist doctrine
• Outlawed worker strikes
• Allied fascists with industrial leaders
• Never achieved total control like Stalin in Russia
Review Questions
• Define fascism
• What factors led to the rise of fascism in
Italy after World War I?
Hitler Rises to Power in
Germany
• 1919 Hitler joined a
right-wing political
group that wanted
Germany to overturn
the Versailles Treaty
• Group names itself—
National Socialist
German Workers’
Party (NAZI)
• Nazis form basis of
fascism in Germany
Nazi Germany
• Adopt swastika as symbol
• Form militia (brown shirts)
who act as storm troopers
• Elect Hitler as Fuhrer
• Attempt to seize power in
Munich failed, Hitler
imprisoned; Nazi’ weak
• Hitler writes Mein Kamf where
he outlines his beliefs and
goals for Germany
• After release, Hitler revives
Nazi Party
• Hitler gains national attention
when US loans stop during
Great Depression
Mein Kampf
• Hitler’s Declaration
– Aryans (blond blue eyed
Germans) to be the “Master
Race”
– Non-aryans are inferior (Jews,
Gypsies, Slavs
– Versailles Treaty is an outrage
– Vows to regain lost land
– Germany needs more
“lebensraun” or living room
due to overcrowding
– Promised to get more land by
conquering Europe and
Russia
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
• Nazis became largest political party in
Germany by 1932
• Conservative leaders thought they
could control Hitler
• Hitler named Chancellor in 1933
• Hitler called for elections, parliament
building burns down
• Nazis blamed communists and win
elections
• Hitler turned Germany into a
totalitarian state
Hitler takes control of Germany
• After election, Nazis take
control of economy
• Strikes banned
• Labor unions dissolved
• Gov’t controls biz, labor
• Hitler puts nation to work
building factories, roads,
weapons, serving in army
• Unemployment drops sharply
The Fuhrer is Supreme
• Hitler
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wanted total control of every aspect of people’s lives
Turns media into propaganda machines
Non-conforming books are burned
Churches forbidden to criticize the gov’t
Hitler Youth Groups
Emphasized continuous struggle for victory
Anti-Semitism gains gov’t support and violence
against Jews erupts (Kristallnaght) signifying process
to completely eliminate the Jewish people
Review Questions
• Define Nazism
• Why is Mein Kampf important?
• How did Hitler maintain power once he
became chancellor of Germany in 1933?
Other Countries Fall to Dictators
• Nations formed after WWI also turn to
dictators to solve economic problems
– Hungary
– Poland
– Yugoslavia
– Albania
– Bulgaria
– Romania
Democratic Nations in Europe
• Only nations with strong traditions of
democracy able to hold onto democracy
– Britain
– France
– Scandinavia
By mid 1930s, two opposing groups dominate
Europe—democratic and totalitarian states.
Totalitarian states are willing to use violence
and military aggression to achieve their
goals—including eliminating civil rights.
Review Questions
• Why did leadership of many eastern European
countries fall to dictators ?
• Why did the movements of fascism and Nazism
and leaders like Mussolini and Hitler come to
power during the crisis in Europe?
• What emotions did Mussolini and Hitler stir up in
their followers?
• Why did Hitler make children join Nazi youth
groups?
• What is lebensraum?
Complete the following Chart
Totalitarian Regimes
Country
Leader
Ruling Party
Methods of
Control
Segment of
Society
under
control
Scapegoats
Russia
Italy
Germany
Totalitarian Regimes
Country
Russia
Italy
Germany
Leader
Stalin
Mussolini
Hitler
Ruling Party
Communist Party
Fascist Party
NAZI Party
Methods of Control
Secret police, police
terror, spy,
propaganda,
indoctrination,
Censorship Outlawed
other political parties,
strikes and unions
Secret police,
Censorship,
propaganda,
Outlawed other
political parties,
strikes and unions
Secret police,
Brown shirts,
censorship, Youth
groups,
indoctrination.
Outlawed other
political parties,
strikes and unions
Segment of Society
under control
Total private and
public control by
gov’t
Not total control
Total control
Scapegoats
Russian Orthodox
Church, Jews
Versailles Treaty,
workers
non-aryans, jews,
slavs, gypsies, Treaty
of Versailles