Rise of MussoliniMs. Garratt

Italian nat’lists felt betrayed by Paris peace treaties.• Yugoslavia

Veterans returned to econ & pol chaos• Strikes• Unemployment• Conflict between workers & industry• Feuding political factions

Mussolini responds to these problems by creating the Fascist party

Upper class was very nervous – Musso got grass roots support as well as from the upper classes who feared Communism and Socialism

Extreme form of aggressive nationalism

Race used to justify aggression & Social Darwinism.

Individuals subservient to the state - strict obedience demanded

Children were indoctrinated

Anti-communist

Anti-democratic

(1) Single party dictatorship. (2) State controlled economy. (3) Use of spies & state terrorism. (4) Strict censorship & control of the

media. (5) Use of schools & media to indoctrinate

& mobilize citizens. (6) Civil rights are sacrificed for strict

obedience to the state. (7) War & militarism are glorified

Organized the Fascist party 1919

Mussolini was its dictator

Spoke of reviving Roman glory

Result(s)?

Organized “black shirts” (combat gangs)

Used violence & terror against political opponents such as communists and socialists.

Results?

Citizens bombarded with slogans glorifying the state & Musso.

“Believe, obey, fight” were blasted from loudspeakers.

“A minute on the battlefield is worth a

lifetime of peace” was the fascist position.

RESULTS?

Economy under state control. Preserved capitalism but state directed

econ policy The economy improved HOWEVER, came at labor’s expense

• as strikes outlawed & • wages dropped.• ANTI- Communist

• RESULTS?

Revive ancient glory of Rome

Aggressive Social Darwinist approach to world affairs

Will justify foreign aggression and pact with Hitler.

RESULTS?

Alliance between Germany & Italy

Both pursue very aggressive military policies

Both justify action on social Darwinism.

Hitler will have to bail out Mussolini out militarily often

Musso built the 1st totalitarian state which was never as extreme as Germany’s or Soviet Unions.

What was its appeal?• Promised strong, stable gov & to end political &

econ paralysis that came with democracy.

• Revived national pride.• Promised to restore the former glory of the

Roman Empire

• Projected sense of power during times of despair & disorder

Both flourished during difficult economic times.

Both promoted extreme programs of social change.

Both had totalitarian governments to bring about a social revolution.

Both were dictatorships. The USSR, Italy, & Germany were all

totalitarian regimes.

Communism sought to:1. Destroy capitalism

2. Promote world revolution through COMINTERN

3. End class conflict.

4. Race not important

Fascism sought to:

1. Maintain capitalism but destroy communism

2. Engage in foreign aggression based on Social Darwinism

3. Preserve class differences

4. Race extremely important

Three ideologies vied for power during the postwar years.• Democracy in Brit & Fr was challenged by

difficult economic challenges & labor.• Communism in USSR – attractive to some

workers but seen as a threat to capitalist govs• Fascism in Germ & Italy attractive for its appeal

to national unity & patriotism. As the Great Depression deepens fascist ideology will become more attractive.

Scrapbook Assignment• Create a newspaper editorial (propaganda)

that glorifies Mussolini and fascism.• This editorial would have to pass the fascist

censors• Reference all of the following:

The economy National pride Political stability

Demands change in gov

King ( V.E. II) succumbs

Allows him to become the prime minister