Fascism, Fascism, Mussolini, and Mussolini, and

HitlerHitler

What is Fascism?

What is Fascism?

Fascism is….• Not all of the Fascist parties

that sprung across Europe had the same beliefs, but they all had similar ideologies:

• Term comes from the word fasces– Not tied to an international

identity, not aiming to end all class differences

– One strong leader who represented all the desires and dreams of the nation

– Agnostic towards the modern world

Why Fascism?• Spread across Europe because of the unstable

conditions of Post WWI, only completely new force among radical post war movements

• There are 5 key variables in the historic situation of the countries with fascist movements:– National: military defeat, frustration,

disunity, status deprivation– Political: countries just beginning the

transition to a direct political democracy– Cultural- influence of new philosophies,

idealism, material, rationalism – in a nation’s cultural life

– Economic- depression or underdevelopment

– Social- widespread discontent not merely among the young and sectors of the lower class, but the middle class as well

• NEED all 5 of these variables present at the same time to get fascism

• “Interventionist crisis”

• Outcome of involvement in war

• Inflation

• Paris Peace Conference

• Mussolini's rise to power

Fascism in Italy

Mussolini’s Résumé

• 1901 member of the Socialist party

• Switzerland- helped organize workers and gave speeches on behalf of the Italian Socialist party (PSI)

• Il Popolo- newspaper he published– Gabriele D’Annuzlo- where

Mussolini learned about the setup of political propaganda

• Volunteered for military service

Rise to Power• Politically Italy was unstablePolitically Italy was unstable

– Fascism Fascism

– Mussolini founded a movement in Milan on Mussolini founded a movement in Milan on March 23March 23rdrd, 1919 – rally of 100 followers , 1919 – rally of 100 followers (Fascists of the first hour)(Fascists of the first hour)• Members: Veterans, nationalist Members: Veterans, nationalist

intellectuals, futurists, former intellectuals, futurists, former interventionist socialistsinterventionist socialists

–Most active: Young veterans and Most active: Young veterans and lower middle classlower middle class

» Inspired by bravery and Inspired by bravery and comradeship, and bound by loyalty comradeship, and bound by loyalty and disciplineand discipline

The Black ShirtsThe Black Shirts

• Fascist squads – added a new Fascist squads – added a new dangerous element to dangerous element to European PoliticsEuropean Politics– ““Squadristi” – led these Squadristi” – led these

movements aimed against movements aimed against perceived pacifists with perceived pacifists with weaponsweapons• Went against socialists and labor Went against socialists and labor

unionistsunionists• Terrorized peasant groups and Terrorized peasant groups and

broke up strikesbroke up strikes– Why do you think this force was Why do you think this force was

necessary to fascism? necessary to fascism?

Fascist victory• 1921- attacked the state raiding

halls, councils, railroad and telegraph stations- threaten to take over the government itself– Had grown rapidly from 1000 in

1919 to 250,000 in 1921

• 1921 elections- Mussolini and 34 other fascists won seats in the chamber of deputies

• “March on Rome”- attempt to seize power- forced the King into appointing a fascist government– Mussolini appointed Prime Minister

• Not a dictator ½ of cabinet were not fascist

• Giacomo Mattetti- bold popular socialist that Giacomo Mattetti- bold popular socialist that manipulated the election – like fascist didmanipulated the election – like fascist did– Fascists murdered him- lost public support, Anti-Fascists murdered him- lost public support, Anti-

fascist leaders withdrew from the parliamentfascist leaders withdrew from the parliament

• January 3, 1925- Mussolini delivered the January 3, 1925- Mussolini delivered the most import speech of his live where he took most import speech of his live where he took full responsibility of what happened and full responsibility of what happened and claimed he would restore orderclaimed he would restore order– Released the second wave of Black ShirtsReleased the second wave of Black Shirts

• Between 1925 and 1929 rebuilt the fascist stateBetween 1925 and 1929 rebuilt the fascist state

The Decline?The Decline?

German FascismGerman Fascism• A more through fascist reordering took place in Germany

– Nazi regime in January 1933 marks the final stage in the collapse of the Weimar Republic

• Like Italy also experienced an unstable political system after the war– Muller>Hindenburg>Bruning (assistant)

• all leaders either socialist or part of the Catholic party

• Article 48– Emergency decree that enabled Bruning to govern under a presidential

decree• Backfired- Nazi party which used to have only 12 seats gained 102

– The following November it became the largest party with 196 seats – Hindenburg ask Hitler to be the chancellor

Adolf Hitler• Rejected artist• Being appointed was a

great accomplishment• Was living in Vienna • 1919- joined the German

Worker’s Party• 1923 strong enough to

size power– Beer Hall Putsch- thought it

would set stage to a revolt throughout Germany – prison

• Mein Kamph- outlined his extremist views and desires shared by German’s to overthrow the treaty of Versailles

Nazis

• Realized he needed a coup

• Nazis- corps of armed thugs to support political rallies and disrupt opposing groups meetings

• Enabling Act• Joseph Goebbels

– Hitler Youth