Transcript Rise of Fascism in Italy Rise of Nazis in Germany

Rise of Fascism in Italy
Rise of Nazis in Germany
World History
Rise of Fascism in Italy
• First Fascist State
• Cult of the leader
• Corporate Economics
Impact of World War One
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Italy divided over war.
Treaty of London 1915.
600,000 killed – 1 million wounded
War debt of 85 billion lire (£85m)
Treaty of Versailles
D’Annunzio and nationalists occupy city of
Fiume.
7 Rising inflation as government prints money
to pay war debt.
Causes of Rise of Fascism
1. Resentment at Treaty of Versailles – Italy did not get promised
territory. Rise of nationalist feeling
2. Economic depression – rising inflation.
3. Social Unrest – strikes for higher wages, land seizures by
peasants in the South.
4. Weakness of parliamentary democracy – large number of parties
leading to unstable government.
5. Fear of Communism after Russian Revolution – Bolsheviks
supported by Socialist Party.
6. Use of propaganda and intimidation by blackshirts. Attacks on
striking workers.
Development of Fascism in Italy
1. 1919 - Mussolini established ‘combat groups’
– ‘fascio di Combattimento’
2. Used symbols from Roman Empire.
3. Uniformed blackshirts – ‘squadristi’
4. Support from ex-army officers, students,
middle classes.
5. 1921 – Mussolini forms National Fascist Party
Development of Fascism in Italy
6. Financial support from FIAT, Pirelli tyre
company and Italian banks.
7. 1921 elections – 35 seats.
8. 1919-1922 – 2,000 opponents killed by
fascists.
9. 1922 – Fascists help break a general strike.
10. 1922 – 300,000 members.
March on Rome
1. Oct. 1922 – Mussolini demands to be made Prime
Minister.
2. Announces ‘March on Rome’
3. Fascists occupy towns across North and Central
Italy.
4. King refuses to declare a State of Emergency and
use army to crush fascists.
5. King gives in and appoints Mussolini Prime
Minister.
6. Fascists stage ‘victory march’ in Rome.
Establishing a Dictatorship
1. 1923 Acerbo Law - the party that gained the greatest number
of votes in the election would get two-thirds of the seats.
2. In the election Mussolini used violence to make sure he won.
3. Mussolini established ‘rule by decree’ which allowed him to
make laws without going through parliament.
4. All other political parties were banned.
5. The press and radio were censored.
6. The secret police (established 1926) – the OVRA were used to
crush opposition.
7. Mussolini was called Il Duce and a cult of personality developed
around him -photographed in heroic poses.
Propaganda
1. Propaganda - The press, radio and cinema to
glorify Fascist successes.
2. Fascist education - The education system and
youth organisations used to indoctrinate or
brainwash young boys and girls. Textbooks were
changed to glorify Mussolini and fascism and
teachers were vetted. Young people had to join
Fascist youth organisations like the Ballila.
3. Mussolini called ‘IL DUCE’ - Cult of Leadership He wanted to be the ‘New Caesar’.
4. Huge Rallies.
5. Strict Press Censorship.
The Corporate State
1. Goal was to eliminate conflict between employers
and workers.
2. All were to work for common good
3. Trade Unions banned and Strikes forbidden.
4. Every profession and industry had its own corporate
body (corporation).
5. Problems to be solved by negotiation.
6. In reality fascists were in control and issued orders to
negotiating sides.
7. Wages fell and Living standards remained low.
Economic Policies
1. Mussolini improved the main road system by
building autostrada (motorways).
2. Mussolini reclaimed the Pontine Marshes near
Rome, which provided more land and helped
to prevent malaria.
3. Mussolini promoted the ‘Battle for Grain’ doubled grain production.
4. He promoted the ‘Battle for Births’ to
increase the Italian population.
Relations with the Catholic Church
•
•
•
•
Ongoing dispute over confiscation of
Church lands during unification of
Italy.
The
Catholic
Church
welcomed
Mussolini as a safeguard against
communism.
Religious instruction was allowed in
primary schools.
In 1923 the government rescued the
Catholic Bank of Rome from financial
difficulties.
Relations with the Catholic Church
• Mussolini had a Catholic marriage
and baptised his children in 1925.
• Obscene publications and swearing
in public were banned.
• 1925 - Pope Pius XI withdrew
support from the Catholic Popular
Party.
Lateran Treaty 1929
1. The treaty restored the pope’s control over the
Vatican City.
2. In return, the Church gave formal recognition to the
kingdom of Italy and the pope relinquished all claims
to any other Italian territory.
3. Mussolini paid 750m lira to as compensation for loss
of territory.
4. Catholicism became the state religion.
5. Clergy could not belong to a political party.
6. Divorce banned.
Foreign Policy
• “Make Italy Great, Feared and
Respected”
• Invasion of Abyssinia
• Spanish Civil War
• Rome-Berlin Axis – 1936
• Pact of Steel 1939
• World War Two
“Make Italy Great, Feared and Respected”
• 1934 – Opposed unification of Austria and
Germany.
• 1935 – Formed ‘Stresa Front’ with Britain
and France to oppose German rearmament
and expansion.
Invasion of Abyssinia
• 1935 - Italy invades Abyssinia.
• Revenge for Abyssinian defeat of Italy
in 1896.
• League of Nations apply limited
sanctions. Unsuccessful.
• 400,000 troops with tanks and planes
used.
• Hitler supported Mussolini – used crisis
to occupy Rhineland.
• Collapse of ‘Stresa Front’
• Weakness of League of Nations.
Spanish Civil War
• Mussolini supported the Fascist army of General
Francisco Franco. Met with Spanish generals
before the Civil War started and promised aid
(failed to deliver).
• Sent 80,000 troops during the war.
• Hoped a Fascist victory would increase his
international prestige and his reputation at home.
• Intervention had the opposite effect. Italian
troops were poorly equipped and trained.
• Franco blamed Italians for some Fascist defeats.
• Italy drew closer to Germany.
Rome-Berlin Axis – 1936
• Mussolini becoming more dependent on
the Nazis for strength.
• Nov. 1936 – first treaty with Germany
signed by Count Ciano (Foreign Minister
and Mussolini’s cousin).
• European power revolved around an
axis connecting Berlin and Rome.
• 1937 – Italy, Germany and Japan sign
the Anti-Comintern Pact. United Fascist
countries in their aim to crush the
USSR.
The Rise of the Nazi Party
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Beginning of the Nazis
The Munich Putsch 1923
Aftermath of the Munich Putsch
‘Mein Kampf’
Support for the Nazis Declines
Hitler Reorganises the Nazis
The Beginning of the Nazis
• In 1919 Hitler joined the German Workers
Party as a spy for the German Government.
• In 1920 the party changes it’s name to
NSDAP (Nazis) and adopts the 25 point
programme (nationalist and anti-semtic)
• Hitler became leader in 1921 and adopted the
swastika emblem.
• Hitler then set up the SA (brownshirts) as
private "army" under the leadership of Ernst
Rohm.
• The Brownshirts break up left-wing meetings
and attack communists and anti-Nazis.
The Munich Putsch 1923
• When the French invaded the Ruhr, Hitler saw an
opportunity and decided to try and seize power.
• He planned to first take the Bavarian government
and then march on Berlin.
• He was supported by a right-wing politician,
Ludendorff, and declared himself President of
Germany.
• Hitler took over a Bavarian government meeting but
couldn't get enough support
• His attempted coup was stopped by armed police.
• The attempted coup was easily put down.
Aftermath of the Munich Putsch
• Hitler tries to escape but was later
arrested and charged with treason.
• He used his trial to make long public
speeches which were widely and
sympathetically reported.
• He gets a very lenient sentence of 5 years
in Landsberg Prison from the sympathetic
judge.
• While in prison he writes "Mein Kampf"
(My Struggles)
‘Mein Kampf’
Main Ideas –
• The Aryan race is the master race
(Herrenvolk).
• Aryans should have "lebensraum" (living
space) in a new German Empire (expanding
to the East).
• All other races inferior (especially Jews).
• Treaty of Versialles should be reversed, and
Germany and Austria should unite
(Anschluss).
Hitler Reorganises the Nazis
• In 1925 Hitler re-launched the NSDAP .
• Power was concentrated in the leader.
• Special sections set up for students, teachers, youth
and farmers.
• Party branches in all major towns - soon 100,000
members.
• Hitler decided to use elections and works to exploit the
weaknesses in German democracy and the constitution
to gain power rather than through revolution.
• The Nazis work to get support from industrialists –
both financial and political. Industrialists see the Nazis
as a bulwark against communists and trade unions.
Nazis use of Violence
• Hitler's SA or brownshirts were used to
intimidate opponents and drum up support.
• Running battles were fought with rivals - the
Communist party.
• Violence and rivalry were central to Nazi
philosophy of survival of the fittest.
• Ernst Rohm led the SA for the Nazi party.
• The Nazis claim that they are the only party
capable of restoring ‘law and order.
Hitler’s Abilities
Some of the claims made –
• Hitler had an ability for public speaking and
an understanding of ordinary peoples desires.
• Hitler had 'his finger on the pulse of Germany'
(Walden).
• His vision as highlighted in Mein Kampf.
• He demonstrated single-mindedness in his
efforts to get into power.
• He stated the Nazis 'Enter the Reichstag
holding our noses'.
Hitler’s Political Strategy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hitler appealed to many sections of
society.
'Rip up the Treaty of Versailles'
'Work, freedom and bread'
Sort out the communists.
Guaranteed farm prices
Regain national pride.
Hitler is 'the last hope' for Germany.
Hitler’s Opponents
• Hitler should have been kept from power, he
never gained an overall majority in an
election.
• Communists and Socialists were divided. The
Stalinists attacked other Socialists as ‘social
fascists’. Stalin declared ‘After Hitler, our turn’
• Parties squabbled over how to deal with the
depression.
• In 1933 January Hitler is invited as Chancellor
in an attempt to control him and the Nazis
Hitler Consolidates Power
• Hitler in a weak position because he could be
dismissed by President Hindenburg (other
Chancellors hadn't lasted long!)
• He cooperates closely with Hindenburg.
• February 1933 - concentration camps are
opened.
• Political opponents were put in these camps,
beaten and forced to do hard labour unless
they agreed to cooperate with the Nazis.
• Mainly Communists arrested.
Hitler Consolidates Power
• On 27 February 1933 Reichstag burns down a week
before a general election.
• Dutch Communist arrested.
• Hitler says it is a Communist plot and arrests 4000
Communists.
• Communists banned from the election.
• The ‘Enabling Act’ gave Hitler emergency powers to
pass laws without the Reichstag.
• SS & SA surrounded the building to intimidate politicians.
• Hitler could pass any law he wanted.
• On 14 July 1933 - Hitler rules that the Nazis were the
only legal party in Germany.
Axis Powers
• In 1936 Italy, Germany, and Japan sign a peace
treaty and become the Axis Powers.
• In March 1938 Hitler annexed Austria and made it
part of The Third Reich (German Empire)
• In September 1938 The Munich Conference was
held and gave Hitler more land.
• France and GB practiced the Policy of
Appeasement and let Hitler have the land.
• The US was still an Isolationist Nation.