Essay about Fascism and Hitler

Submitted By danipenny1234
Words: 7127
Pages: 29
Open Document
Compare and contrast the rise to power of both Hitler and Mussolini

Following the end of World War One, Europe endured a number of political changes which would serve to impact the history of the world. Within Italian politics, the world saw a shift from a liberal government, to a Fascist dictatorship run by Benito Mussolini, while Germany jumped from a democratic government, to the infamous Nazi dictatorship ruled by Adolf Hitler. Both rulers were fascist dictators who shared similar ideologies, aims and ruling strategies. This essay seeks to examine the conditions which allowed the Italian Fascist Party and the German National Socialist party to emerge and grow, and will compare and contrast the methods and manipulations used by the two leaders and their parties during their rise to power. In both Italy and Germany, World War One played a pivotal role in producing the conditions under which extremism could flourish. Within Italy, one of the biggest post war problems that the government faced was the impact that the war had upon the economy. During the war, Italy made great strides in developing its production levels for wartime necessities. The government established large budget schemes, and began borrowing money from countries such as Britain in order to pay for the production of weapons and machinery. The economy saw subsequent rapid growth and increased concentration on industries that were linked with war production, such as engineering and ship building, while local businesses contributed to the war effort by receiving cheap loans in order to re-equip factories and mass produce vehicles. As a consequence, many companies became too dependent on wartime demands for making them profits, and when the demand for wartime munitions ceased, many businesses found themselves without a market or consumers.
1

In addition to foreign loans, the

government also used printing money as a means of financing the war. This had a catastrophic effect on the Italian economy, with the price of basic commodities quadrupling since the start of the war, and severe cases of unemployment following. This greatly reduced the pensions and the savings of Italian citizens, provoking bitter resentment for those who invested in war bonds, or lost relatives in the war. After the war ended, many Italians were so exasperated with the consistent failures of the liberal government, that in desperation, they turned their support to a party which promised to fix all that the liberal government had failed to do; the Fascist party. With a strong emphasis on nationalism and the desire to restore
1

John Gooch, ‘Army, State and Society in Italy, 1870–1915’ p77

Italian power and prestige, the Fascist power was unlike anything Italy had ever experienced before. The party focused on developing the economy and sought to re-establish a strong leadership within Italy. The Fascist operation was very popular, with its membership boasting around 281,000 members during the 1920's. 2 This figure evidences the impact that world war one had on the Fascist party’s popularity, indicating how the government’s failure to rectify the problems caused by the war generated mass resentment amongst the Italian population, forcing many Italians to abandon their faith in the liberal government, and seek assurance from the Fascists. Within Germany, the war had a far greater impact on German society. The scale and duration of the war had such a catastrophic impact on the German economy that it impoverished Germany. In order to fund Germany's role within the war, German leaders resorted to heavy borrowing, which triggered mass inflation throughout Germany. By the end of 1918 the German mark had lost almost three quarters of its pre-war value, while the national income had decreased to only two thirds of what it had been in 1913. 3 By the end of the war millions were suffering from starvation, resulting in violent strikes and social unrest. While the
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about Fascism and Hitler

Fascism: Hitler In Germany, Mussolini, And Italy

Fascism is the idea of an extreme disciplinary that believes that there is one dominate commanding party. They usually urges nationalism, and have very stern social and economic leadership over the nation. They usually use brutality and forces to control and subdue the nation. This is a very significant term because many nations were becoming fascist nations during the time of World War II. For example, you have the nazi’s and Hitler in Germany, and Mussolini in Italy. These nations are instituting…

Words 201 - Pages 1

Rise Of Totalitarian Dictators Essay

agricultural output B. Benito Mussolini in Italy 1. Fascism a. Not all totalitarian dictators were Communists b. In ____________, ___________________, & Spain, people turned to an extremely nationalist gov’t called fascism i. _________________ gov’ts were controlled by dictators who demanded _____________________ from citizens ii. Fascists did not offer _____________________________ & used one-party to rule the nation c. Fascism vs. Communism i. Unlike Communists, fascists believed…

Words 730 - Pages 3

Essay on Fascism in Germany

Fascism In Germany The word 'fascism' comes from a man named Benito Mussolini, who was in charge of Italy by a fascist regime. This man created a new governing system with three principles of a fascist philosophy; "Everything in the state", "Nothing outside the state", and "Nothing against the state." Mussolini believed in the absolute control of everyone and everything, and held Italy to the highest value. He dictated each and every individual's rights, including what people could read and…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

The nature of the State: As Understood in Communism vs. Fascism Essay

Comparative Government The nature of the State: As Understood in Communism vs. Fascism A government is a natural expression of a country’s identity of who they are. In comparing governments, the basic knowledge of what is government is a key foundation. Studying different ideas of government and comparing them can expand minds to view things in different perspectives and can illuminate how diverse societies understand themselves and each other. Evolving governments, result in the rising…

Words 1437 - Pages 6

Benito Mussolini Liberal Fascism Analysis

Edit with the Docs app Make tweaks, leave comments, and share with others to edit at the same time. NO THANKSUSE THE APP Liberal Fascism- OSRP Reyes-Ayala Heryann Reyes Ayala Mr. Montalbano AP English Period 4 3 November 2015 Jonah Goldberg’s Liberal Fascism Main Characters Benito Mussolini is seen as the “father of fascism” because of how he decided to begin the practice of this ideology through how he ran his government. He had certain radical ideas that lead him to dedicate himself to the Socialist…

Words 1108 - Pages 5

How Did Benito Mussolini Contribute To The Rise Of Fascism

Fascism, a simple and seemingly harmless ideology of bringing a group back to its glory days, had managed to rip apart the world, killing millions, spreading hatred, and giving birth to some of the world's most feared dictators: Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Post WWI, much of Europe felt lost and were looking for guidance. Millions of people had died from the war and millions more were displaced, unable to find their way home or unable to find work. Countries were in economic decline, feeling…

Words 1375 - Pages 6

How Did World War 1 Contribute To The Rise Of Nazism

The outcome of World War One contributed greatly to the rise of Italian Fascism and German Nazism. Its consequences put economy strains, social strains, and heightened political divisions in both Italy and Germany. The results of this great war was that the Central Powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey were defeated by the victorious allies, France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Many Europeans never imagined that this war would last as long as it did and cause…

Words 1959 - Pages 8

Essay about Fascist: Fascism and Political Authority Exercises

The Fascist regime created by Hitler is a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, controlling all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. The Totalitarian system under Stalin is an imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural…

Words 380 - Pages 2

Anti-Democracy Essay

Anti-Democracy The Communism, Fascism and Nazism seemed to be great political systems, yet each one has proved to be failure from the beginning. These three types of government systems had the intentions of making people’s lives better, but the Communist regime realized that everyone could have a good life without a class system; moreover, the government will gradually get out and everyone will live in sort of heaven on earth. Fascism and Nazism intended to make a better life for anyone by expanding…

Words 1492 - Pages 6

Essay COMPARISON BETWEEN FASCIST ITALY And NAZI GERMANY

COMPARISON BETWEEN FASCIST ITALY and NAZI GERMANY The reasons for the rise of Fascism in both Germany and Italy had three common denominators:1. Frustrated nationalism 2. Fear of the spectre of communism 3. Distrust/disillusionment with democracy 1. Frustrated nationalism In Italy; Italy had entered WWI in return for promises of land but she only received S.Tyrol at Versailles (much resentment as poverty-stricken Italy had made great material sacrifices i.e. 600,000 dead, which she could ill-afford)…

Words 2058 - Pages 9