Fascist DictatorshipsFascist Dictatorships

Fascism was one attempt to solve Fascism was one attempt to solve the problems after WWIthe problems after WWI

There was no fascism before There was no fascism before 19181918

Yet during the 1920’s and 1930’s Yet during the 1920’s and 1930’s fascist dictators emerged in Italy, fascist dictators emerged in Italy, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and for Germany, Portugal, Spain, and for a short time during WWII in some a short time during WWII in some German conquered territoriesGerman conquered territories

DICTATORSHIP - DICTATORSHIP - a form of a form of government in which the ruler is an government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition constitution or laws or opposition

TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP - TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP - a a concept used to describe political concept used to describe political systems where a state regulates systems where a state regulates nearly every aspect of societynearly every aspect of society

Fascism is a doctrine which sanctifies the Fascism is a doctrine which sanctifies the interests of the state and minimizes the interests of the state and minimizes the

interests of the individualinterests of the individual

Fascists are for:Fascists are for:

– NATIONALISMNATIONALISM– RACISMRACISM– IMPERIALISMIMPERIALISM– DICTATORSHIPDICTATORSHIP– PARAMILITARY PARAMILITARY

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION

Fascists are Fascists are against:against:

– DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY – SOCIALISMSOCIALISM– COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM

Fascist’s believe the Fascist’s believe the democracy creates democracy creates class conflict and that class conflict and that individual freedom individual freedom weakens the nation weakens the nation state.state.

Fascism and Nationalism From the beginning the fascist movement

has been a form of extreme nationalism based on pride in the allegedly unique characteristics and achievements of one’s own people and country.

Fascism and Racism

Fascist national pride often implies hostility towards other people usually vented against particular minority groups.

Fascism and Imperialism

Fascist national pride often expresses itself in aggressive imperialism since military and economic conquest strengthen the nation-state

Fascism and Dictatorships To hold the nation state together fascists

believe in the kind of strong government a dictatorship can provide

Such dictatorship is achieved and maintained through the power of a paramilitary organization. That is, private police forces and armies which do not hesitate to employ violence.

Fascism is a movement supported by military leaders, big industrialists and others generally labelled right wing. Its mass support comes mainly from the lower middle class.

What distinguishes the fascist movement from other right wing parties is its revolutionary air to replace the existing structure with a new organization the one party totalitarian state.

Fascism is a Fascism is a movement based on movement based on extreme extreme nationalismnationalism

Italian FascismItalian Fascism Fascism takes its Fascism takes its

name from the name from the Italian Fascisti - a Italian Fascisti - a movement led by movement led by BENITO MUSSOLINIBENITO MUSSOLINI

He came to power He came to power in 1922 and in 1922 and became the first became the first fascist dictators in fascist dictators in EuropesEuropes

In the wake of war Italy suffered acute depression and mass unemployment, social unrest spread.

In the cities strikes broke out in heavy industries. In the country side peasants burned crops and destroyed livestock.

In the 1924 elections the fascists used In the 1924 elections the fascists used intimidation and strong arm methods to intimidation and strong arm methods to

suppress oppositionsuppress opposition..

From 1924 on Mussolini From 1924 on Mussolini consciously set out to consciously set out to establish a TOTALITARIAN establish a TOTALITARIAN STATESTATE

The Fascist party needed to The Fascist party needed to have complete domination have complete domination over all facets of Italian lifeover all facets of Italian life

IL DUCE Mussolini adopted the

title IL DUCE – the leader

The Fascists quickly abolished all political opposition

Censorship was complete, trade unions were banned and culture had to conform to the party line

PROPAGANDA Skillful propaganda bred a sense of

identification between the nation and the fascist party. Mussolini had given the common people a sense of commitment

This was expressed in numerous uniforms and the fascist youth movement which indoctrinated young people in the ideology of the party. It was expressed in mass political meetings and in total identification with IL DUCE – the symbol of Italian greatness

FASCIST FASCIST DICTATORSHIPS PART IIDICTATORSHIPS PART II

RISE OF HITLERRISE OF HITLER

Adolf Hitler used Adolf Hitler used many of the same many of the same methods employed by methods employed by the Italian Fascists; the Italian Fascists; combined STRONG combined STRONG ARM tactics with skill ARM tactics with skill full propagandafull propaganda

Hitler took office in January 1933 In February just 6

days before a national election was scheduled the Reichstag or Parliament building mysteriously burned to the ground. The Nazi’s blamed the Communists.

The Third Reich In the frenzy that

followed Hitler was granted temporary dictatorial powers. These powers were to last 12 years until his death at the end of WWII.

HIS THIRD REICH

Fascism in Europe adopted a German and therefore anti-semetic tone.

But by the end of WWII (1939-1945) Hitler and Mussolini were dead and their armies defeated…The Age of Fascism had come to an end.