The Rise of Fascism

Italy and Germany

(It could happen to you!)

Conceptual Introduction1) Reaction to the

philosophy of Enlightenment, French Rev, American and British democratic ideals! (like rights and freedoms of the individual?)

2) Unlike Marxism/Leninism, no clear cut philosophical or economical predictions or platforms.

3) Roots to be found in “ethnic” nationalism.

Conceptual intro continued

• Go back to point 1: Reaction to “spirit” of French, US, and English democracy. Why?

• Shape of Western Civilization. In 1920?

• Culture? Great War? Betrayal at Versailles?

• Ills of the IR? Economic upheaval in “certain” nations?

• Reaction to events in Russia! Marxism, Phui! German Hyperflation

Political prerequisites• Cultural, economic,

scientific and spiritual crisis of 1900 plus..

• Disillusionment of Great War (Italy? Germany? Japan?)

• Not fully socially and politically modernized (Italy? Germany? Japan?)

• Italy in 1920 50% literacy!

• Nationalistic disappointment… did someone say ethnic?

Fascism and Media

• 1st bunch to use radio, movies, and print media for propaganda.

• Censorship once in power.

• Mass rallies.• Ban on “negro”

music and “degenerate” art.

Die Internationale Otto Griebel 1928-1930

For example

• Hitler’s 25 points!

Italian Experience• Explain disillusionment

and delusion! (What didn’t happen and what wasn’t going to happen!)

• Caporetto! Liberal driven slaughter!

• Absolute fledgling industry and landed aristocracy v. Karl Marx: Did someone say “red scare?”

• Gabriele D’Annunzio, the Lord Byron of fascism, overruns Fiume (international city re: Versailles).

• D’Annunzio’s protégé is one Benito Mussolini! Cool name!

Benito!

Italian FascismThe Rise of “Irrational”Politics

Mussolini•Cult of personality•Part of all major fascist movements.•Ultra-ethnic nationalism needs a “face!”

Benito Mussolini and Politics

Mussolini’s Rise to Power

• Squadristi – “Black Shirts”

• Coalition with Liberals

• Elections of 1921 – 7% of Parliamentary Seats

• Politics of “Disorder”

• March to Rome – Mussolini named PM, October 1922

The Black Shirts

IV. Fascist SocietyThe Young Fascists

Fascist SocietyWomen and the State

Ascendancy of Mussolini• Influence of Nietzsche:

Force and Daring.• Attack of Blackshirts on

socialist caught eye of industrialists.

• Blackshirts create “red scare” and near political anarchy. Need for stability. (1919-1922)

• Oct 28, 1922 March on Rome. King invites Mussolini to form government.

• Slowly creates a dictatorship (bloodless purges).

Mussolini’s base of Power

• Corporate State: Socialist yet capitalist.

• 22 corporations under the Ministry of Corporations.

• Strikes and lockout illegal.

• Standard of living lowered for Italian worker under Mussolini!

• No choice left except to...

Invade Ethiopia1935 invasion put

Mussolini in opposition with the West and in line with Hitler.

Small peanuts!

Germany time!

Die Weimar Republik

Versailles and Germany!

• Capitulation in 1918 was huge psychological blow to proud Germany!

• Versailles a bitter pill.

– Unilateral disarmament

– Territorial dismemberment

– Punitive reparations

– Degradation to the point of 2nd class power.

• Establishment of the Weimar Republik.

How bad can we screw Germany!

Scheidemann Proclaims A RepublicBerlin, 9. November 1918 Time line

•October 1918: Revolt of the Fleet•Nov.7th - Abdication of Kaiser•11/9 Republic Proclaimed•11.11.11 Armistice•Now the fun begins

Weimar Republik: Disadvantages

• Had signed the “dreaded” Versailles treaty.

• Was a democracy. Think about past German governments.

• Economic hardships of Versailles.

• Depression of 1929.• Political party mess.

Worth about $1

Instability of Weimar Republik

• 1919 Spartacist revolt

• 1920 Kapp putsch

• 1923 Beer Hall putsch (Hitler and the Nazis)

• Continued existence of the German General Staff… banned by Versailles.

• Untouched civil service and judicial system.

German Army still king!

• Rapallo treaty with Russia– Versailles circumvented– Structure and organization

of German army intact!!• Dictated domestic policy

by helping or not helping against various crisis situations.

• 1925 Hindenburg became President.

• President could rule by decree.

The Nazis: Phenomena of the 20th Century

What did they want?

Now listen Benito!This is what I came up

with back in 1923...My 25 point program!

Who were the Nazis: Origins?Anti-• Anti-

liberalism• Anti-

rationalism• Anti-

Marxism• Anti-

parliamentarianism

• Anticlerical• Anti-Semitic• Anti-

Versailles

Nazis: Pro• Nationalism• Nordic• A longing

for the simple and heroic

• Pseudo-biological racism

• Social Darwinism

Who was Adolf Hitler?• Born April 20, 1889 around Linz, Austria• From 16 to 25 was a “drifter” in Linz and

Vienna.• 2 times rejected by Vienna Academy of Fine

Arts• Rejected 02/1914 by Austrian Army for

service as unfit (go figure!)• “Down and out” times exposed AH to “red

neck” ultra-conservative thinking (from above slides)

• Salvation came with Great War-Jubilation!• Enlisted in 16th Bavarian Infantry-served on

Western Front the whole war!

Great War Experience• 2 times decorated for bravery: Iron Cross

2nd class and 1st class (rare for enlisted men)!

• 2 times injured on the front. Similar experiences as Paul Baumer. Regiment decimated again and again.

• While wounded 1st time, he witnessed “stab in the back.”

• Last days of the War in the hospital blind from a gas attack. Pastor announces abdication and the immanent armistice, Hitler cried long and loud in his blindness.

Munich: 1918-19• Post war job: Army intelligence. Spy on socialist,

communist, pacifist, and unknown political organizations for Army. Think about this! (US Bill of Rights?)

• Stumbles upon the tiny German Workers Party.• At a meeting gets mad and starts arguing with some

members.• Invited to join as an officer of the “DAP.” (hmmm!)• After some thought, becomes the 7th officer

(September, 1919) of the DAP.• Resigns from the Army!

Beer Hall Days: 1919-1923• Hitler organizes larger and larger

meetings.• Small debate club becomes an ever

growing force.• Hitler’s sense of drama…• 25 point plan put forward

– Key points: Pan-Germanism, Anti-Semitism, and Anti-Versailles (1920!)

• SA formed to protect and bully!• Symbols adopted

– Flag and standard.– Arm band for members!– Real sense of pageantry!

Beer Hall Putsch: November 1923 • Wild attempt by AH

and Ludendorff to take over Bavarian government. Nearly worked, but…

• Hitler arrested and sentenced to 5 years for treason!

• Served only 6 months but wrote Mein Kampf.

Simmering: 1924-29• AH understands that revolution must be legal.• Although votes go down (with some Weimar

stability), membership continues to grow.• Infamous SS founded as a Praetorian Guard under

the murderous Himmler.• Nazis expand into northern Germany and Berlin.• Bad for Germany, great for Hitler and the Nazis…

Wall Street Collapse. • Post collapse election: Nazis poll 6.4 million

votes!

Elections• Hitler becomes German

citizen 02/25/32.• Ran 2 times against

Hindenburg garnering 30% and 36%

• In 1932 the Nazis were the largest party with 230 of 608 seats in the Reichstag.

• September (‘32) elections saw a drop of 34 seats!

• Through shrewd politics and intrigue, Hitler appointed Chancellor on January 28, 1933.

• Stop!

Gallery(great URL:http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/biografien/HitlerAdolf/index.html)

1933

Looking ahead! Analyze these 2 images!

This takes us to January, 1933!