2020thth Century Dictators Century Dictators

Part 1: Hitler, Mussolini and Part 1: Hitler, Mussolini and FrancoFranco

Fascism in EuropeFascism in Europe

FascismFascism is the totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life.

In the 1920’s and 30’s fascism became increasingly popular in Europe, with Germany, Italy, and Spain eventually becoming fascist

• 1925- Benito Mussolini seizes power in Italy

• 1933- Adolf Hitler become Chancellor of Germany

• 1936- 1939 Spanish Civil War. General Fransisco Franco’s Nationalists win the war.

Origins of FascismOrigins of Fascism

Theo word comes from the Theo word comes from the Latin Latin fascesfasces, a symbol of , a symbol of unity and powerunity and power

After the humiliation and After the humiliation and defeat of WWI, people were defeat of WWI, people were looking for ways to recapture looking for ways to recapture their national strength and their national strength and pride- most fascist pride- most fascist movements featured myths movements featured myths of “rebirth’”, promising to of “rebirth’”, promising to return countries to their return countries to their glorious past. Fasicts were glorious past. Fasicts were seen as an alternative to the seen as an alternative to the extreme left wing groups extreme left wing groups that were also trying to that were also trying to consolidate their power at consolidate their power at this timethis time

Fascism v. Socialism and Fascism v. Socialism and CommunismCommunism

Socialism and fascism are located at the extreme opposite ends of the political continuum, but many of the methods they employed were the same.

Fascist propaganda- ItalyFascist propaganda- Italy

Fascist propaganda- Fascist propaganda- GermanyGermany

Fascist propaganda- SpainFascist propaganda- Spain

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

His positions:His positions:The war was a turning The war was a turning

point for Italy.point for Italy.The returning combat The returning combat

soldiers would form a soldiers would form a new elite and bring new elite and bring about a new type of about a new type of state.state.

This new elite would This new elite would transform Italian transform Italian politics and societypolitics and society

Mussolini Consolidates Mussolini Consolidates PowerPower

New laws passed to create the legal basis New laws passed to create the legal basis for Italy’s official transformation into a for Italy’s official transformation into a single-party state:single-party state: Independent political parties & trade unions Independent political parties & trade unions

were abolished.were abolished. Freedom of the press was curbed.Freedom of the press was curbed. Special courts created to persecute any Special courts created to persecute any

political opposition.political opposition. National police force created [with a secret National police force created [with a secret

police component].police component].

Italian TimelineItalian Timeline

1925- Mussolini Seizes Power1925- Mussolini Seizes Power 1925-31- Fascists consolidate power1925-31- Fascists consolidate power 1935- Italy attacks Ethiopia1935- Italy attacks Ethiopia 1936- Mussolini signs the tripartite 1936- Mussolini signs the tripartite

Pact with Germany and JapanPact with Germany and Japan 1943- Mussolini ousted from power, 1943- Mussolini ousted from power,

Italy capitulatesItaly capitulates

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

A corporal in WWIA corporal in WWI Believed Germany was Believed Germany was

“stabbed in the back” by “stabbed in the back” by Jews, leftists, and non-Jews, leftists, and non-Germanic peoples in the Germanic peoples in the governmentgovernment

Joins the National Socialist Joins the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi) German Workers Party (Nazi) party in 1920party in 1920

In 1923, Hitler leads the In 1923, Hitler leads the abortive Beer Hall Putsch, is abortive Beer Hall Putsch, is jailed, writes jailed, writes Mien KampfMien Kampf while in jailwhile in jail

Appointed chancellor in 1933Appointed chancellor in 1933

Nazism and Anti-SemitismNazism and Anti-Semitism

Within the context of the economic depression of the 1930s Within the context of the economic depression of the 1930s and using not only racist but also older social, economic, and and using not only racist but also older social, economic, and religious imagery, the Nazi party gained popularity and, after religious imagery, the Nazi party gained popularity and, after seizing power, legitimacy, in part by presenting "Jews" as the seizing power, legitimacy, in part by presenting "Jews" as the source for a variety of political, social, economic, and ethical source for a variety of political, social, economic, and ethical problems facing the German people. problems facing the German people.

Inspired by Adolf Hitler's theories of racial struggle and the Inspired by Adolf Hitler's theories of racial struggle and the "intent" of the Jews to survive and expand at the expense of "intent" of the Jews to survive and expand at the expense of Germans, the Nazis, as a governing party from 1933-1938, Germans, the Nazis, as a governing party from 1933-1938, ordered anti-Jewish boycotts, staged book burnings, and ordered anti-Jewish boycotts, staged book burnings, and enacted anti-Jewish legislation. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws enacted anti-Jewish legislation. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws defined Jews by race and mandated the total separation of defined Jews by race and mandated the total separation of "Aryans" and "non-Aryans." On November 9, 1938, the Nazis "Aryans" and "non-Aryans." On November 9, 1938, the Nazis destroyed synagogues and the shop windows of Jewish-destroyed synagogues and the shop windows of Jewish-owned stores throughout Germany and Austria owned stores throughout Germany and Austria ((KristallnachtKristallnacht). These measures aimed at both legal and ). These measures aimed at both legal and social segregation of Jews from Germans and Austrians. social segregation of Jews from Germans and Austrians.

Nazism and the OccultNazism and the Occult

A specific interest of Hitler A specific interest of Hitler concerning the Spear of Destiny is concerning the Spear of Destiny is alleged. With the annexation of alleged. With the annexation of Austria in 1938, the Hofburg Austria in 1938, the Hofburg Spear, a relic stored in Vienna, Spear, a relic stored in Vienna, had actually come into the had actually come into the possession of the Third Reich and possession of the Third Reich and Hitler subsequently had it moved Hitler subsequently had it moved to Nuremberg in Germany. It was to Nuremberg in Germany. It was returned to Austria after the war. returned to Austria after the war.

The SS, Hitler’s elite secret police The SS, Hitler’s elite secret police organization, purposely used organization, purposely used images and symbols that were images and symbols that were associated with supernatural associated with supernatural powerpower

Heinrich Himmler apparently Heinrich Himmler apparently consulted pendulum diviners and consulted pendulum diviners and astrologers, even employing them astrologers, even employing them to try to find Mussolinito try to find Mussolini

Lebensraum- “Living Room”Lebensraum- “Living Room”

Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo

Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde, Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde, Salgado y Pardo de AndradeSalgado y Pardo de Andrade (4 (4 December 1892 in Ferrol – 20 December 1892 in Ferrol – 20 November 1975 in Madrid), commonly November 1975 in Madrid), commonly known as known as Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco or or Francisco Franco y BahamondeFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was the dictator and Head of State of was the dictator and Head of State of Spain from October 1936, and Spain from October 1936, and de factode facto regent of the nominally restored regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in 1975. in July 1936, Franco death in 1975. in July 1936, Franco participated in a participated in a coup d'état coup d'état against against the elected Popular Front government. the elected Popular Front government. The coup failed and evolved into the The coup failed and evolved into the Spanish Civil War, a war that involved Spanish Civil War, a war that involved many international forces (including many international forces (including an American contingent- The Abraham an American contingent- The Abraham Lincoln Brigade), the elected Lincoln Brigade), the elected government, and the Nationalists government, and the Nationalists (Fascists). Franco emerged as the (Fascists). Franco emerged as the leader of the Nationalists against the leader of the Nationalists against the Popular Front government. After Popular Front government. After winning the civil war with limited help winning the civil war with limited help from Benito Mussolini's Italy and Adolf from Benito Mussolini's Italy and Adolf Hitler's Germany, he dissolved the Hitler's Germany, he dissolved the Spanish Parliament. He then Spanish Parliament. He then established a right wing authoritarian established a right wing authoritarian regime that lasted until 1978, when a regime that lasted until 1978, when a new constitution was drafted. new constitution was drafted.