Rise of Dictatorial Regimes

17-2

1939 – only France and GB were democracies in Europe

Rise of Dictators

Government controls people’s lives◦Economic, social, intellectual, cultural

Wanted to conquer minds of the people◦Mass propaganda and modern communication

Single leader of single party Rejected idea of limited gov’t

◦Individual freedom not allowed

Totalitarian Regimes

People lose faith in democracyTurn to Fascism

◦an extreme system of gov’t◦Promise to revive economy◦Punish those responsible for hard times

◦Restore order and pride◦Attracted frustrated and angry

Consequences of Depression

Militant political movement◦Emphasized loyalty to state and obedience to a leader

◦Extreme nationalism◦Nations must struggle Peaceful states doomed to be conquered

◦Pledged loyalty to authoritarian leader Brought order to the state

Fascism

Similar to communism◦Rule by dictators Allowed only their party to exist

◦Denied individual rights◦State was supreme◦No democracy of any kind

Different from communism◦No class-less society Each class had place and function

◦Fascists were nationalists Communists wanted to unite workers worldwide (internationalists)

Basic Principles◦Authoritarianism◦State more important than individual◦Charismatic leader◦Action oriented

Cultural◦Censorship◦Indoctrination◦Secret police

Characteristics of Fascism

Social◦Supported by middle class, industrialists, and military

Economic◦Economic functions controlled by state corporations or state

Political◦Nationalist◦Racist◦One-party rule◦Supreme leader

The Rise of Mussolini in Italy

Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)

1. 460,000 soldiers killed2. Heavy debt3. Britain and France did not give Italy

the land they promised4. Governments were all coalitions that

couldn’t make decisions 5. Rising unemployment led to unrest

in cities

Problems after WWI

Italians believed that it treated them badly.

Italy had not been given the land promised at the Secret Treaty of London.

Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando left before the conference ended, feeling humiliated.

The Treaty of Versailles

• Newspaper editor• Known to change political positions to gain favor• Created Fascist Party in

1919• Once considered himself a Socialist

• Used general terms, such as “power and action” to explain political motives

Mussolini’s Background

The Fasces SymbolComes from the Latin word fasces.In ancient Rome, the fasces were cylindrical bundles of wooden rods, tied tightly together around an axe.They symbolize unity and power.

Mussolini gains powerPromised to revive the

economyPromised to rebuild

armed forcesGained support of

middle class, aristocrats and industrialists

“Blackshirts” attacked Socialists and Communists

1922 March on Rome

30,000 fascistsKing Victor Emmanuel III put Mussolini in charge in response to Communist opposition

***Mussolini obtained power legally***

March on Rome

Il Duce “Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism as it is a merge of state and corporate power.”~ Benito Mussolini

Abolished democracy

Outlawed all political parties except Fascism

Secret police – the OVRA

Outlawed strikes Controlled the economy by allying with industrialists and landowners

Censored radio stations and newspapers

Life under Il Duce

The individual had no significance except as a member of the state.The fascists were taught:◦Credere! [to believe]◦Obbedire! [to obey]◦Combattere! [to fight]

“Hail to Italy, hail to Mussolini”“Mussolini is always right”

Cult of State Worship

Mussolini never gained control like Hitler and Stalin◦Did not completely destroy old power structure Armed forces retained some control Victor Emmanuel III remained king

Compromise w/Catholic Church◦Recognized independence of Vatican City

◦Gave Church $◦Catholicism as “sole religion of the state” Church urged Italians to be Fascists

Wanted to preserve existing order Eastern Europe

◦Parliamentary systems failed No traditions of democracy

◦Rural and agrarian◦Illiterate peasants◦Dominated by landowners

Authoritarian States in the West

Democracy fails by 1931 Francisco Franco rises to power

◦1936 - Leads military forces against democratic government

◦Led to brutal and bloody civil war Franco aided by fascists in Italy and Germany

Spain

Spanish Civil War ends in 1939◦Franco establishes dictatorship Favored landowners, businesspeople, Catholic clergy

Authoritarian