Chapter 31 Section 3 Fascism Rises in Europe

Chapter 31 Section 3
Fascism Rises in Europe
Preview: Identify choices you make
everyday. How would you feel about a
government that decided what music you
could hear, books you could read, etc. ?

After WWI
In the two decades following World War I, a wave of
economic and political crises swept the globe. While
many people spent the 1920s trying to cope with the
uncertainties of the postwar world, by 1929 they
suddenly faced a much greater problem.
That year, the stock market in the United States
crashed. Because so many war-torn nations had come to
depend on financial help from America, the stock
market’s collapse triggered a worldwide economic
depression that left millions around the globe jobless and
hungry. In response to the turmoil, some nations turned
to fascist dictators, who promised order and stability.
Not content to merely rule a country, however, these
dictators soon looked to conquer other lands

Fascist Beliefs and Policies
• United States, Britain, and France remain democratic
• Millions turn to a new and extreme system of government
fascism loyalty to state and obedience to its leader
• restore economy
• punish those responsible for hard times
• revive national pride
• People who liked fascism were bothered by
peace treaties of World War I and the Great Depression
• Nationalism
- wore uniforms
- special salutes
- mass rallies

Nations must struggle in order to stay strong
Peaceful states were doomed to be conquered
FASCISM
•No clearly defined
theory or program
•believed each
social class had
own functions
-support came from
aristocrats, industrialists,
veterans, and the lower
middle class
• Nationalists
COMMUNISM
•Had clear theory and
program
•dictatorship of
working class
(classless)
• internationalists
SIMILARITIES
• dictators rule – one party
• no individual rights
• state was supreme
• no democracy

Mussolini Comes to Power in Italy
In Italy, fascism gains followers because
- 1919 Paris Peace Conference
- Rising population
- Inflation
- Unemployment
- Fear of Communist Revolution
The Rise of Mussolini
Promises:
- strong leadership
- improvement in government
- more powerful army

Founded the Fascist Party in 1919
- not popular at first, but later gains support from the
middle classes, the aristocracy and industrial leaders
Fascists in black shirts attacked Communists and Socialists in
the streets. (Campaign of Terror)
October 1922 30,000 Fascists march into Rome
- Demand Mussolini to be in charge of the government
- King Victor Emmanuel III let Mussolini take over
Il Duce “leader” (Mussolini) Leadership
- Demolishes democracy and other political parties
- Fascism; similar to totalitarianism Radio stations &
publications could only
broadcast or publish
Fascist work
Secret police jailed
“non-believers”
-Italy is a role model for Fascists in other countries
- Mussolini never gained as much power as Stalin or Hitler

Hitler Takes Control in Germany
Germany underwent great changes after World War I. Like
Mussolini and Stalin, Germany’s Adolph Hitler rose to power
during a time of conflict and political instability
Hitler’s Early Career
• Born Austria 1889
• High school drop-out - failed artist
• Served in German army World War I
-awarded Iron Cross twice

The Rise of the Nazis
After the war his job in the army was to keep tabs on
different political parties.
• Hitler already shows anti-Semitic views.
• Soon joined Nazi Party (National Socialist German
Workers Party) (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche
Arbeiterpartei) Nazism was the German form of fascism.
desire to overturn Treaty of Versailles
• and combat communism
supported by middle and lower classes
• Used Swastika as their symbol
• Had a private militia called storm troopers or Brownshirts.
Adolf Hitler’s skills as an organizer and speaker help him
become der Führer (the leader) of the Nazi party

• Mein Kampf (My Struggle) was written while Hitler was in jail
for failed attempt to over-throw government (served 5 years)
-sets forth his anti-Semitic beliefs and his plans for conquest.
Mein Kampf - The Plan of Action for the Nazis
Blond, blue-eyed Germans (Aryans) were a “master race.
Non-Aryan races-Jews, Slavs, Gypsies-were inferior or
subhuman.
Vow to regain Germany lands
Germany overcrowded and need lebensraum, or living space
-achieve this by conquering countries in eastern Europe and
Russia.
Slowly becomes more popular with the German people, starting
in 1928.
By 1932 half the German people seem to support Hitler and the
Nazis.

How does Hitler do this?
Knows who his audience is…
Knows what issues are important to the
audience, and addresses those issues
Spoke with passion and devotion.
Convinced the people of Germany that
they, and their nation could be great once
again, and he could do it.

Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) speaking at the Nazi Party Congress
in Nuremberg, 1935. The Depression that brought New Deal
experimentation and social change in the U.S. had more serious
political consequences in Europe. Germany, which was unable
to make the reparations payments demanded by the Treaty of
Versailles, suffered particularly severely from the worldwide
economic downturn of the late 1920s. In the Germany of 1933,
Adolph Hitler won a widespread following for his National
Socialist party by appealing to German national pride , and
denouncing the internal enemies, Jews and liberals, who he
claimed were responsible for Germany's defeat and humiliation
during and after WWI. He repudiated the Treaty of Versailles,
took Germany out of the League of Nations, and began
rearming. In this speech, Hitler announced the exclusion of
Jews from citizenship, the prohibition of marriage between
Jews and "Aryans," and the adoption of the swastika as the
emblem of Germany.

Hitler Becomes Chancellor
Germany’s economic problems and fear of the Communist party
help Hitler, who had revived the Nazi party in 1924, take power
legally (President Paul von Hindenburg named Hitler chancellor).
- called for new election
- fire destroyed Reichstag building and Communists blamed
- Nazi and allies win election by a skim majority
Demanded passage of the Enabling Act (a 4 year dictatorship)
and used his power to turn Germany into a totalitarian state.
Banned all other political parties and had opponents arrested and
created the SS (Schutzstaffel) Protection squad
-SS (Gestapo) wore black uniforms - loyal only to Hitler.

Hitler Controls Germany
Began to crush opposition
Many opponents arrested, others intimidated by Nazi thugs
Cult of personality built up glorifying Hitler as the Führer,
“leader”
Nazi youth organizations shaped minds of young Germany
Hitler’s Economic Programs
Began to rebuild German military
Improved German economy
Strict wage controls, massive government spending, reduced
unemployment – from 6 millions to 2.6 millions
Much spending for rearmament
Also new public buildings, roads

The Führer is Supreme
Hitler wanted more than just
economic and political power –
he wanted control over every aspect of
German life
- turned the press, radio, literature,
painting and film into propaganda tools.
Hitler Makes War on the Jews
Nazis mounted more direct attacks on Jews (scapegoats)
1933 passes laws to deprive Jews of most of their rights
November 9 and 10, 1938, anti-Jewish riots across Germany,
Austria
Attack known as Kristallnacht, Night of Broken Glass
- Nearly 100 Jews killed
- Thousands of Jewish homes, businesses and places of
worship damaged and destroyed

Nazi Anti-Semitism
A key component of the Nazi system was strong anti-Semitic
beliefs. Anti-Semitism is hostility toward or prejudice against
Jews. Hitler blamed Jews for many of German’s problems,
including its defeat in World War I.
Long History
Anti-Semitism had long history in largely Christian Europe
Nazi anti-Semitism combined this with false beliefs that Jews
were separate race
Combined religious prejudice with hatred based on ancestry
Laws Excluding Jews
Many laws passed excluding Jews from mainstream German life
1935 Nuremberg Laws created separate legal status for Jews
Eliminated citizenship, civil and property rights
Right to work was limited

In Hungary and Poland, the new democratic governments
formed after World War I fall to dictators.
•1919 Hungary Admiral Miklos Horthy
•1926 Poland Marshal Joseph Pilsudski
• + Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania
kings suspend constitutions and turn to strongman rule.
By 1935, Czechoslovakia is the only democracy in eastern Europe.
• Democracy only in Britain, France, Scandinavian countries
• Many saw dictatorship as a way to make their government strong
By Mid-1930’s
2 major government types:
democracy and totalitarianism

Method of taking power
Style of leadership
Handling of economic
crisis
Goals
Look at the graphic to help organize your
thoughts. Compare Mussolini and Hitler by
using the four categories listed below.
Hitler Mussolini
Appointed chancellor
Appointed by
king
Dictator Dictator
Revived economy Took control of economy
Sought to regain lost
lands and take over
more
Wanted Italy to return
to its ancient greatness

Fascism in Europe
Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler
• Invaded
Ethiopia in
1935.
• Italian
• Used economic unrest and fears
of communism to gain support.
• German
• Anger over the • Believed
Versailles treaty Germans were
a superior
• Formed a totalitarian
“Aryan” race.
government
• Blamed the Jews
for Germany’s
problems.
• Used nationalism to
gain support.