Fascist in Italy and Germany

1. Fascist in Italy and Germany 18.4

2. Fascist in Italy • Benito Mussolini, a former socialist, organized the Fascist Party. • Fascism was a doctrine that relied on dictatorship and a totalitarian regime. • Fascism was the opposite of communism. • Communism promised a society without social classes in which property is shared. • Fascism promised to preserve social classes and private property.

3. Italy and Black Shirts • Fascists were called Black Shirts for the color of their uniforms. • They conducted violent campaigns against opponents, breaking up strikes and intimidating voters. • Appointed Mussolini as premier. • Once in office Mussolini destroyed democracy, suspended basic liberties, and became dictator. • Uniformed and secret police spied on everyone.

4. Corporatist State • He made Italy a corporatist state. • Major economic activities, such as agriculture, transportation,manufacturing, and commerce, were organized into corporations. • They preserved social classes, private property, and limited profits.

5. German Change • Delegates drafted a constitution in the city of Weimar (VY·mar). • The government became known as the Weimar Republic. • Germans despised the Weimar Republic for signing the Treaty of Versailles • Germany faced the same economic, political, and social problems as other European countries.

6. Nazi Party • The new National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or Nazi Party • extremely nationalistic and anticommunist. • By 1921 Adolf Hitler was head of the party. • He called the Germans the “master race.” • outlined his plan for racial purity through elimination of Jews and other “impure” races. • Hitler promised to restore Germany’s power and its lost lands.

7. Taking Over • In 1933 the president of the republic appointed Hitler as chancellor. • Someone set fire to the Reichstag. • Hitler blamed the communists • he made himself dictator. • took the title der Führer (FYOOR·ur) • He made Germany a police state, banning opposition parties and newspapers. • He gave the Gestapo, a secret police force, wide-ranging powers.

8. Jewish Question • Jews suffered persecution. • forced them to live in separate neighborhoods called ghettos. • Jews had to wear the Star of David, • sent them to concentration camps.

9. Third Reich • Hitler reminded Germans of their nation’s former glory. • He called his rule the Third Reich, or “Third Empire.” • He violated the Treaty of Versailles. • Germany began secretly rebuilding its military. • Neither France nor England reacted.