Section 3: Fascism Rises in Europe

Main Idea: In response to political turmoil and economic crisis, Italy and

Germany turned to totalitarian dictators

Setting the Stage• Many democracies around the world

remained strong despite the crisis caused by the Great Depression

• Still, millions of people lost faith in democratic governments and turned to an extreme system of government called fascism

Fascism • Fascism: a militant political movement

that emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader– Extreme nationalism– Competition between nations; survival

of the fittest– Loyalty to one leader who guided and

brought order to the state

Fascism• Dictators, one party• Denied individual rights• No democracy• Totalitarian• Fanatical/nationalist• Each class has its place and function

Fascism in Italy: Mussolini• After the war, Italians were bitter because they did

not gain any land from the war. • They were also upset about the economic situation

(depression); the inflation and unemployment• Italians felt that their democratic government was

helpless to deal with Italy’s problems

Mussolini• So the Italian people wanted a

leader who would take action• Benito Mussolini promised to

rescue Italy– Founded the Fascist Party in 1919– Promised to revive the economy

and the armed forces; promised strong leadership

– Criticized Italy’s government and warned of the risk of communists taking over

Mussolini: Il Duce• October 1922: 30,000

Fascists marched on Rome demanding that King Victor Emmanuel II put Mussolini in charge of the government

• Violence on the streets, threat of an uprising

• The king gave in, thus Mussolini took power “legally”– Abolished democracy,

outlawed all other parties, censorship

Fascism in Germany: Hitler• After the war, Hitler joined a political group

called the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, Nazi for short. They formed Nazism, which is the German brand of fascism

• Because of his organizational and oratory skills, the Nazi party made Hitler its leader

• The Nazis attempted to seize power, but they were arrested

• Hitler spent less than 9 months in jail. While there he wrote Mein Kampf in which he outlined his beliefs and his goals

Hitler Rises to Power• The Nazis became the largest political party by

1932• German President Paul von Hindenburg

named Hitler Chancellor of Germany• Hitler called for new elections (parliament),

hoping the Nazi party would win a majority. They did.

Hitler: The Fuhrer• Hitler turned Germany into a

totalitarian state• Banned all other political

parties• Took command of the

economy• Censorship • Indoctrination• Anti-Semitism– Unemployment dropped from 6

million to 1.5 million by 1936