Fascism and Nazism: Origins, Rise, and Impact

Fascism in Italy

Causes of Fascism

Dissatisfaction with the peace agreements established after the First World War and the post-war situation. Unemployment, inflation, and social unrest expressed through revolutionary movements that frightened conservative sectors of society.

Fascism was created by Benito Mussolini, who founded the National Fascist Party in 1921 using paramilitary groups (which were illegal) such as the Blackshirts. He gained support from large landowners, the small bourgeoisie, and Emmanuel III. In 1922, the intervention of the Italian Combat Squad against the trade unions and workers' strikes allowed Mussolini to claim power. To pressure the government, he organised a March on Rome with the Blackshirts.

Once he was in power, he established a Fascist dictatorship, taking control over the entire country, restricting freedoms, prohibiting political parties, trade unions, and any other opposition using the secret police (OVRA). He directed the economy and controlled every aspect of social life through propaganda and censorship.

Nazism in Germany

Causes of Nazism

Discontent during the Weimar Republic. Humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles, the post-war situation, economic crisis, unemployment, and social unrest expressed through revolutionary movements.

It arose around the ex-soldier Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (1920) and had a paramilitary group, the SA, who fought against the communists. Hitler won support from the middle class, who were devastated in the 1929 crisis. In the 1932 elections, the Nazi Party received millions of votes, and Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany.

Once Hitler was in power, he ended the Weimar Republic and founded the Third Reich, establishing a fierce dictatorship, eliminating rights, freedom, and trade unions with its creation. He also took control of the economy, directed education, culture, and art through propaganda and censorship, sought superiority of the Aryan race, and persecuted the Jews. He finally adopted a military policy based on rearmament and rejected the Treaty of Versailles as well as the territorial terms.

These actions would lead to the Second World War.