THE SECOND WORLD WARDAY ONE – FASCISM AS A POLITICAL RELIGION

Class ObjectivesI. Understand the course of events that launched Mussolini and Hitler to power.

II. Understand the political concept of Fascism (I/FWP).

III. Understand how Fascism subsequently functions as a political religion.

Start with a QuestionQuestion: What caused the Second World War?

Proximate Answer: Invasion of Poland in 1939

Ultimate Answer: Social unrest resulting from the aftermath from the Great War that fostered far-right ideologies against a worldwide economic crisis

Aftermath of the Great WarWorldwide economic depression

Social unrest in Europe

Italy – thrown aside after the Great War◦ Unemployed Veterans

◦ Unstable Royal Government

◦ Fear of Communism

◦ Rise of the Fascist Party (Blackshirts)

Mussolini Comes to PowerFascist Party founded in 1919, after the Great War

Appealed to common fears and desires◦ Reject class warfare

◦ Desire for greater meaning

◦ Offered direct alternative to Communists

Blackshirts – Squadrismo enforcers

October 27-28, 1922 – March on Rome◦ King Vittorio Emanuele III assents, averting civil war

1925 – Il Duce

The Platform of the Nationalist Fascist Party (Nov. 7-10, 1921)Fundamental Elements◦ Individuals are merely transient

◦ National Society is predominant

Foreign Policy◦ Historical and geographical precedent – Rome

◦ “Italian-ness” must be diffused throughout the world

Fiscal Policy◦ Broad appeal to economic hardship

Social Policy◦ Focus is on state

Cultural PhilosophyCULTURE

Ideas

Folkways

Work

Place

FASCIST CULTURE

Folkways

Ideas

Work

Place

Political Religion UnpackedThink of a rock concert.◦ What do you experience?

◦ What feelings emerge when surrounded by people all there for the same purpose?

◦ How does music appeal to you emotions?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Ev4mtH930

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Ev4mtH930

Total EnculturationThe Social and Political Doctrine of Fascism (1932)◦ Individual is “Nation and Fatherland”

◦ “Completely Spiritual Existence”

◦ “Religious Conception”

◦ Response to Socialism and Marxism◦ Everything is the state, and has no value outside it.

◦ Stability in the midst of chaos

◦ Solidarity of the Church◦ Faith of Fascism, United with God

Total EnculturationThe Fascist Decalogues (1928, 1936, 1942)

The Fascist Family (1937)◦ Understanding that family is the

nucleus of society

◦ Critical for society to function – also critical to control it

Fashioning off MussoliniNationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party – Nazi Party founded 1919

Failure of Weimar Republic◦ Versailles reparations

November 8, 1923 - Beer Hall Putsch◦ Hitler attempts to take control of government in Munich

Renewed economic crisis in 1929◦ Nazis take 100 seats in Reichstag

1932 – Hitler elected Chancellor

1933 – Day of Potsdam SA - Brownshirts

Nazi PropogandaCharisma of Hitler’s Speeches

Massive Party Rallies –Nuremberg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ceLnMT0rps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ceLnMT0rps

Image 1What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?

What is the purpose of the artist?

Image 2What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?

What is the purpose of the artist?

Image 3What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?

What is the purpose of the artist?

Image 4What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?

What is the purpose of the artist?

Image 5What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?/

What is the purpose of the artist?

Image 6What do you see? (What is the image’s subject)

What ideas or feelings does this image invoke?

What is the purpose of the artist?