Fascism Rises in Europe

1
Fascism Rises in Europe

• Fascismpolitical movement that is extremely
  nationalistic, gives power to a dictator, and
  takes away individual rights

2

• 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 fascismwhich is
  very nationalistic. They believed in authority
  and built powerful militaries. The countrys
  governments were controlled by one party which
  was controlled by one leaderthe nations
  dictator!

3
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

4
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

5
Benito Mussolini

• 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

6
Review Questions

• Define fascism
• What factors led to the rise of fascism in Italy
  after World War I?

7
Hitler Rises to Power in Germany

• 1919 Hitler joined a right-wing political group
  that wanted Germany to overturn the Versailles
  Treaty
• Group names itselfNational Socialist German
  Workers Party (NAZI)
• Nazis form basis of fascism in Germany

8
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

9
Mein Kampf

• Hitlers 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

10
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

11
Hitler takes control of Germany

• After election, Nazis take control of economy
• Strikes banned
• Labor unions dissolved
• Govt controls biz, labor
• Hitler puts nation to work building factories,
  roads, weapons, serving in army
• Unemployment drops sharply

12
The Fuhrer is Supreme

• Hitler
• wanted total control of every aspect of peoples
  lives
• Turns media into propaganda machines
• Non-conforming books are burned
• Churches forbidden to criticize the govt
• Hitler Youth Groups
• Emphasized continuous struggle for victory
• Anti-Semitism gains govt support and violence
  against Jews erupts (Kristallnaght) signifying
  process to completely eliminate the Jewish people

13
Review Questions

• Define Nazism
• Why is Mein Kampf important?
• How did Hitler maintain power once he became
  chancellor of Germany in 1933?

14
Other Countries Fall to Dictators

• Nations formed after WWI also turn to dictators
  to solve economic problems
• Hungary
• Poland
• Yugoslavia
• Albania
• Bulgaria
• Romania

15
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
  Europedemocratic and totalitarian states.
  Totalitarian states are willing to use violence
  and military aggression to achieve their
  goalsincluding eliminating civil rights.

16
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?

17
Complete the following ChartTotalitarian Regimes
Country Russia Italy Germany
Leader
Ruling Party
Methods of Control
Segment of Society under control
Scapegoats
18
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 govt Not total control Total control
Scapegoats Russian Orthodox Church, Jews Versailles Treaty, workers non-aryans, jews, slavs, gypsies, Treaty of Versailles