Totalitarian Regimes: Stalinism, Italian Fascism, Nazi Germany

Stalinism in the USSR

System: A totalitarian government established in the USSR by Joseph Stalin that eliminated all possible political rivals and took control of the Communist Party (CPSU).

Politics

Political power: Held by Stalin. He gained control as CPSU General Secretary and as head of government. The system placed party leaders in control of the country. The 1936 Constitution was approved. The CPSU became the only legal political party and the Soviet state sought to spread communism via the Comintern (Third International).

Economy

Planned state economy: Means of production were state property and the state planned economic activity through Five-Year Plans.

• Five-Year Plans: Centralized planning to increase heavy industry and capital goods production.
• Collectivization of land: Expropriation of private property by force and the obligation for workers and peasants to cultivate land collectively.
• Sovkhoz and kolkhoz: Sovkhoz — state-owned farms where workers were paid wages; kolkhoz — collective or cooperative farms where members received a share of the harvest as payment. Crops and agricultural output were controlled by the state.
• Nationalization: Existing industries were nationalized; the state invested in heavy industry and capital goods while attempting to expand consumer goods production.
• Electrification and hydraulic projects: Large infrastructure projects increased electricity production and supported industrialization.

Social Policies

Social equality: The regime claimed to pursue social equality while enforcing strict political control and suppressing dissent.

Italian Fascism (Mussolini)

System: An authoritarian government in Italy under Benito Mussolini, who became head of government in 1922.

Background

Post‑World War I economic crisis and social unrest created fertile ground for Mussolini. Militias — groups of civilians trained as soldiers — and combat squads known as the Blackshirts (Fasci) played key roles.

The National Fascist Party was formed in 1921. On 28 October 1922 the March on Rome resulted in Mussolini's rise to power. Mussolini was known as Il Duce (the leader).

Politics

Political power: Mussolini concentrated power in himself as the leader of the only legal party, head of government and commander of national forces.

Economy

Autarky: Economic policy emphasized autarky — striving for a self-sufficient, independent national economy.

Social Policies

• Workers' rights were curtailed or removed.
• The population was indoctrinated through the education system and state propaganda.
• Policies promoted an increased birth rate.

Nazism and Nazi Germany

System: A dictatorship under Adolf Hitler that replaced the Weimar Republic with a totalitarian regime.

Background

The rise of totalitarianism in Germany was driven by humiliation over territorial and economic terms after World War I, hyperinflation, and very high unemployment.

Politics

Hitler was leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), commonly called the Nazi Party. The SS served as a major paramilitary and security organization.

After winning influence in elections, Hitler was appointed chancellor in 1933 (head of government) and established a dictatorship. In 1934 he consolidated power and became head of state, establishing the Third Reich. The Nazi Party became the only legal party. Foreign policy aimed to recover territories lost in World War I.

Economy

The economy experienced recovery and development: unemployment fell due to public works programs and massive development of the arms industry.

Society and Ideology

German society under Nazism was organized around racist and exclusionary principles. The regime implemented anti‑Semitic policies and persecution of Jews and other groups targeted by Nazi ideology.