ITALY, GERMANY, SPAIN

The Rise of Fascism

Fascism vs. CommunismFascism Both Communism

Believe in social classes

Dictators Want classless society

Nationalists One-party politics Internationalists

No individual rights

Strong nationalistic feelings

Fascism Definition: a political movement that

promotes an extreme form of nationalism, a denial of individual rights, and a dictatorial one-party rule

Reasons for Rise Economic distress Fear of Communism Appeal to nationalism Weak government

• No democratic tradition

Fascism in Italy Fascism begins in Italy under the

leadership of Benito Mussolini Focuses on loyalty to country and

leaders Eventually spreads to other countries

• Spain: Francisco Franco• Germany: Adolf Hitler

More Mussolini

“Il Duce” = the leader

Abolished democracy

Secret police galore Created a model

Fascist State

Militaristic Expansion Desire to create colonial empire

• Invaded:Ethiopia (1935)Albania (1939)

• The League of NationsCondemned Italy’s actionsbut didn’t do anything to stop it.

The Rise of Adolf Hitler

The Rise of the NAZIs National Socialist

German Workers’ Party• Swastika for a symbol• Brownshirts = storm

troopers (militia, not star wars)

Hitler became der Führer of NAZI party

Attempted coup failed• Lesson learned: Had

to take power legally

Hitler’s Plans for Germany Hitler imprisoned for

treason• Wrote book Mein Kampf (My

Struggle) Germans were master

race (called them “Aryans”)

Non Aryans were inferior Vowed to reverse the

Treaty of Versailles Conquer eastern Europe

and Russia• Gain “lebensraum” or “living

space”

Hitler’s Rise to Power… 100% Legal

During depression, Hitler rose in prestige and prominence• Widespread fear of communism

President appointed Hitler chancellor Hitler asked for dictatorial powers for

4 years

Totalitarian Regime Banned all other political parties SS (schutzstaffel)- elite military force

loyal only to Hitler Gestapo = secret police Took control of economy Propaganda Book burning Hitler Youth and League of German

Girls

The German Scapegoat Targeted the Jewish

population for failure in WWI

Anti-Semitism already engrained in German (and all European) society

Deprived Jews of their rights

Kristallnacht- “Night of the Broken Glass”• Attack on Jewish owned

businesses• A “pogrom”- gov’t

sponsored violence against Jews

German Expansion- Today Germany Tomorrow the World!

1935- began rebuilding military 1936- took the Rhineland 1938- Anschluss 1938- Munich Conference

• Germany, French, and British leaders met to discuss the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia

• GB & F said G could have Sudetenland if Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia

• Policy of appeasement

1939- took Czechoslovakia 1939- invaded Poland, start of

WWII

Rise of Japanese Militarism 1920’s- government struggled Depression hit Japan hard

• Relied on exports to foreign nations• Drought which led to extreme famine• Government efforts to boost economySpent less on the military

Right-winged military leaders mad Throughout the 1930’s a series of

militaristic Prime Ministers• Hideki Tojo

Extreme nationalism• Belief in “chosen-ness” of

Japanese people• Asia should be dominated by the

“superior” Japanese• “Asia for Asians”- anti-European

Imperialism Belief that Emperor is god on

Earth• Emperor had little political power

Desire to save economy by foreign expansion

1931- Japan invaded Manchuria• Sought resources Iron and coal

1937- Japan invaded China