Rise of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism: Causes and Impacts

Fascism in Italy

Fascism arose in Italy due to widespread dissatisfaction with government policies after World War I and the prevailing economic and social instability. Fascists aimed to combat communism, directly intervening in social life and suppressing individual freedoms. Led by Benito Mussolini, Fascism proposed land reform to address economic and social issues.

Nazism in Germany

Nazism was a German political movement that emerged during a critical period of instability after World War I, when the government was unable to resolve the nation's problems. Led by Adolf Hitler, the Nazi party advocated for racial supremacy and the establishment of an authoritarian regime to eradicate communism. Nazism asserted that one man should hold absolute power and implemented state control over the economy and industry.

Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism restricts freedom and consolidates all power within the state. It emphasizes the role of a leader with unlimited authority, exercised hierarchically.

First World War (1914-1918)

The assassination of the Archduke of Austria and his wife in 1914 triggered World War I. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, leading to Germany's involvement, while Russia, France, and Great Britain sided with Serbia. The United States proposed a peace plan, accepted by all members, and the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1918. Results: Europe lost its central position on the world stage, replaced by the U.S., which strengthened its economy by supplying food and raw materials to Europe. Germany, deemed the war's loser, was forced to pay reparations, cede territories, and disarm.

Interwar Period

The Interwar Period, following the end of World War I, saw the rise of new ideologies and the desire for new political regimes.

Communism

Following the Bolshevik Revolution, Communism emerged in Western Europe, advocating for social revolutions to create an egalitarian society where the means of production would not be privately owned. This ideology evolved until the death of its leader, Joseph Stalin.