The Rise of Fascist Dictators

1. The Rise of Fascist Dictators

2. Dictatorship • A system of government with centralized authority under a dictator. • Usually involves terror, censorship, nationalism, and racism.

3. Problems after WWI • ???????? soldiers killed • Heavy debt • Britain and France took land from Germany and went back on the land they had promised to Italy • Governments were all coalitions that couldn’t make decisions • Rising unemployment led to unrest in cities

4. The Treaty of Versailles • Italy felt cheated. Why? • Central Powers treated them badly. • Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando left before the conference ended, feeling humiliated. “War guilt clause”

5. The Rise of Mussolini in Italy Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)

6. 1922 March on Rome • to establish Mussolini and the Fascist Party as the most important party in Italy • In 1921 the fascist parties in Italy joined together to form the Fascist Party • Mussolini said this at a party conference: "Either the government will be given to us or will shall seize it by marching on Rome."

7. Mussolini gains power • Mussolini set up a Fascist Party and promised to solve Italy’s problems • Promised to rebuild Italy and recreate the Roman Empire • Organized armed gangs called the “Blackshirts” • Came to power in 1922 and was appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel to prevent a Communist Revolution in Italy

8. March on Rome, 1922

10. Quote • “Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism as it is a merge of state and corporate power.”~ Benito Mussolini Fascism conceives of the State s an absolute, in comparison with

11. Do fascist governments believe in nationalism? How does the quote support ( or deny) your answer? • “Fascism conceives of the State as an absolute, in comparison with which all individuals or groups are relative, only to be conceived in their relation to the State.” ~Benito Mussolini

12. ANNEXATION OF ETHIOPIA Oct. 1935 – March 1936 restoration of colonial claims over the Ethiopian homeland

13. Mussolini and Hitler Hitler and Mussolini had a close relationship. In October 1936 they signed a non-military alliance. Mussolini signed a full defensive alliance with Nazi Germany in the Pact of Steel. Mussolini and Hitler

14. Italy during WWII Mussolini intended to annex Malta, Corsica, and Tunis. He wanted to create a “New Roman Empire.” He annexed Albania, straining the military. His troops were unprepared for the German invasion of Poland. Italy remained neutral. Mussolini during WWII

15. Italy during WWII cont’d Italy soon declared war on Britain and France but troops were unprepared. It was defeated by Greece and lost the world’s first carrier strike. Italy was defeated on all fronts of the Anglo-American landing. Mussolini

16. What is meant by the excerpt from Mussolini’s speech in Rome February 23, 1941? • “We are not like the English. We boast that we are not like them. We haven't elevated lying into a government art nor into a narcotic for the people the way the London government has done…when the enemy wins a battle it is useless and ridiculous to seek, as the English do in their incomparable hypocrisy, to deny or diminish it.”

17. What statement is the cartoonist making about Mussolini’s character? Be specific and use the cartoon to explain your answer?

18. Mussolini’s Execution Mussolini was taken prisoner by the partisans and was joined by his mistress, Clara Petacci. A few days later they were shot to death. In April of 1945, their bodies were hung at an Esso gas station along with the bodies of other fascist leaders. Mussolini and his mistress

19. Questions • What were some of the problems that Italy faces after WWI? • Why did Italians feel betrayed by the Treaty of Versailles? • What is fascism, and how did Mussolini gain control of the Italian government? • How did Italy fare during WWII? • What happened to Mussolini?

20. Rise of Hitler 1928 Hitler’s Nazi Party was a small, insignificant party enjoyed little success in elections

21. The economic situation was very bad Hitler was a great public speaker The SA and SS disrupted the work of political opponents The Nazi’s were funded by industrialists The other political parties wouldn’t work together Goebbel’s propaganda was effective People were fed up of ineffective coalition governments and the current situation The Nazi’s targeted certain groups of the electorate People didn’t want a return to the hyperinflation of 1923-24 Fear of communism How were the Nazi’s able to achieve this so quickly?

22. But the Nazi’s never had a majority! • The Nazi Party never had an absolute majority in the Weimar government • They did become the largest single party though*******************

23. Why was Hitler made Chancellor? • Public demanded improvements • Nazi Party were largest party in Reichstag • Hindendburg thought Hitler could be controlled • Hitler was a national figure after the 1932 Presidential campaign (he came second to Hindendburg but had a large proportion of the vote)

24. How did Hitler consolidate power? 1. The Reichstag Fire February 27, 1933 A dazed Dutch Communist is found at the scene and charged with arson. [He is later found guilty and executed]. February 28, 1933 President Hindenburg and Chancellor Hitler invoke Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, which permits the suspension of civil liberties in time of national emergency.

25. 2. National Elections March 5, 1933 National elections give Nazis 44% plurality in the Reichstag did not give him a majority in the Reichstag Hitler arrested the 81 Communist deputies (which did give him a majority).  

26. 3. Enabling Act March 23, 1933 The Reichstag passes this law giving Hitler the power to make his own laws Nazi stormtroopers stopped opposition deputies going in, and beat up anyone who dared to speak against it.  The Enabling Act made Hitler the dictator of Germany, with power to do anything he liked - legally.

27. 4.Gestapo April 26 1933 Nazis took over local government and the police replace anti-Nazi teachers and University professors set up the Gestapo (the secret police) and encouraged Germans to report opponents and 'grumblers Tens of thousands of Jews, Communists, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, gypsies, homosexuals, alcoholicsand prostituteswere arrested and sent to concentration camps for 'crimes' as small as writing anti-Nazi graffiti, possessing a banned book, or saying that business was bad.  

28. 5. Trade unions banned! May 2, 1933 trade Unions offices were closed their money confiscated, and their leaders put in prison Hitler put the German Labor Front which reduced workers' pay and took away the right to strike.  

29. 6. Opposition banned! July 14, 1933 Law against the Formation of Parties declared the Nazi Party the only political party in Germany All other parties were banned, and their leaders were put in prison

30. How did Hitler consolidate power? 7. The Night of the Long Knives a. June 30, 1934 b.Hitler, he still felt threatened by some in the Nazi Party c. worried that the regular army had not given an oath of allegiance d. the army hierarchy held him in disdain e. summer of 1934, the SA's numbers had swollen to 2 million men f. What was the SA? Who was Ernst Röhm ? g. power struggle within the Nazi Party h. the night of June 29th - June 30th 1934 i. Seventy seven men were executed on charges of treason j. Röhm was shot. Others were bludgeoned to death k. From that time on the SS became a feared force in Nazi Germany

31. What is the cartoonist saying about Hitler And how he controls his men?

32. 8. Fuhrer August 19, 1934 When Hindenburg died, Hitler took over the office of President and leader of thearmy (the soldiers had to swear to die for Adolf Hitler personally). Hitler called himself 'Fuhrer'.  

34. What image are the Nazis trying to Project at this rally in Nuremburg? Point out examples that demonstrate the definition of a fascist dictatorship?

49. Appeasement

50. led the Nationalist armies against the Loyalists during the Spanish Civil War in the 1936 - 39 Francisco Franco Spain