The Rise of Fascism

• The rise of Fascism coincided with the collapse of governments & economies.

• Fascism emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader

• They promised to restore the economy, punish those responsible, and restore national pride (a throwback to nationalism), and stop communism

• Appealed to those who were still angry with the peace treaties from WWI

• Their core supporters would be unemployed veterans and violent youths

The Caption says, “One People, One Country, Our (or

One Leader”

• Fascists believed in extreme form of Fascists believed in extreme form of nationalismnationalism

• That struggle was inevitable – peaceful That struggle was inevitable – peaceful countries were doomed to be conquered.countries were doomed to be conquered.

• They pledged loyalty to an authoritarian They pledged loyalty to an authoritarian leaderleader

• They pledged loyalty to an authoritarian leaderThey pledged loyalty to an authoritarian leader• Like communists (whom they hated) the ruler was Like communists (whom they hated) the ruler was

a dictator, only 1 political party allowed, denial of a dictator, only 1 political party allowed, denial of individual rightsindividual rights..

Benito Mussolini• Italy was experiencing

rising inflation & unemployment after WWI.

• There was fear of a communist revolution

• The government appeared to be helpless, so the people looked to a strong leader to right their country

• Mussolini, a newspaper editor promised to rescue Italy by improving the economy & rebuilding the armed forces

• He used references to the glory of Rome to get people on his side

• Their slogan was, “Il Duce (the leader) is always right”

• His support started slowly, but increased His support started slowly, but increased as conditions in Italy got worse.as conditions in Italy got worse.

• In 1922 he and 30,000 fascist followers In 1922 he and 30,000 fascist followers wearing black shirts marched on Rome and wearing black shirts marched on Rome and demanded that King Victor Emmanuel III demanded that King Victor Emmanuel III put Mussolini in charge of the government.put Mussolini in charge of the government.

• ””

• Trying to protect his dynasty, he agreed. Luckily. Mussolini thought he had gone too far and was ready to flee the country!

• Historians point to the fact that the one good thing Mussolini did was he got the trains to run on time

• One diplomat described him as “an actor, a dangerous rascal, and possibly slightly off his head

Adolf Adolf HitlerHitler

Born in this house in Braunau, Austria in 1889Born in this house in Braunau, Austria in 1889

Dropped out Dropped out of high of high

school (see school (see who says you who says you

need an need an education)education)

• Tried his hand as an artist (failed)

• Volunteered for the army – fought in WWI , gassed / twice awarded the Iron Cross, a medal for bravery

His favorite style – landscapes (and dogs!)

Can you pick out which one is Hitler?

Hitler

• After the war, Hitler joined a right-wing political group called the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NAZI in German)

• They adopted the swastika, or hooked cross, as their symbol (which is actually a Sanskrit symbol (Indian) meaning well being. This is a lso to their misguided belief of a connection to their ancient ancestors, the Aryans.

• They created a private militia called the brownshirts (because of the color of the shirt they wore – How cleaver!)

• Hitler’s group tried to seize power in the city of Munich in 1923 but failed.

Sentenced to prison for 5 years (he only served 9 months) he

wrote the book Mein Kampf (My

Struggle)

• The book described what his goals for Germany were and the process to get there.

• He also said the Treaty of Versailles was an outrage and vowed to regain the lands taken from Germany.

• He said the Germans were

the master race, and the sub humans

were the Jews, Slavs, and

Gypsies

• He said Germany was overcrowded and needed Lebensraum, or living space. They could get this by conquering Europe & Russia.

• Germany’s economy was in bad shape and Germans were turning to Hitler’s message.

• In 1933, the Nazi party got the President to name Hitler chancellor, saying only he could stand up to the Communist Party.

• Hitler called for a new election once in power. The parliament building was

destroyed by fire and the Communists were blamed (historians believe it was the Nazis)

• The Nazis and their allies won a slim victory due to fear of the Communists.

• Hitler 1st got dictatorial power for 4 years

• He then banned all political parties• He banned strikes and unions• The government took control of

business & labor and put millions to work constructing factories, highways, weapons, and military. Unemployment dropped 75%

• He created the SS, or protection squad, loyal only to him

• In 1934, the SS arrested & murdered hundreds of Hitler’s enemies

• He created a secret police called the Gestapo.

• The Nazis controlled the press, radio, literature, painting and used them as propaganda tools. The head of this department was Joseph Goebbels.

• The German people were willing to give up some of their liberties for economic improvement

1933Many books were banned, churches weren’t allowed to

criticize

• Children were recruited into the Hitler Youth groups – they were

indoctrinated with Nazi propaganda

Germany was actually chosen to host the 1936 Olympics. Hitler hoped to show the world that Germany was the master race

The “racially inferior “African-American Jesse Owens, won 4 gold medals. Hitler refused to put the medal around his neck nor shake hands

Owens won gold in the 100, 200, 4x100, and the Long Jump

Kristallnacht

• Kristallnacht, (Night of the Broken Glass) occurred Nov 9, 1938. Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes and on the streets and destroyed thousands of Jewish-owned buildings

• This signaled the beginning of the elimination of Jews from Germany

• On the right is a tax bill to a Jewish business

that was forced to pay for the clean up of the city after Kristallnacht

Sino-Japanese War 1937-45

• Again this was instigated by Japanese army officers• Although they had a large army, the Chinese were no

match for the Japanese• One of the most violent chapters was the Nanking

Massacre, AKA The Rape of Nanking

Estimates are between 2-300,000 deaths committed by the Japanese. 20,000 rapes were committed. 150,000 bodies were exhumed so the numbers are not exaggerated. Most of those had their hands tied behind their backs

• This is a newspaper clipping. It says they were competing to see who could kill 100 people first. The headline shows the score and says “Incredible Record – they go into extra innings!”