Fascism and Nazism: Origins and Rise to Power
The Rise of Fascism and Nazism in Europe
All right-wing authoritarian movements, including fascism, share common characteristics: the rejection of the bourgeois world, the repression of leftist political parties and trade unions (which they considered extremist), a tendency to rely on the armed forces of the state, the rejection of parliamentary democracy and its institutions, and the combination of strong nationalism with xenophobia and racism.
Fascist movements, such as those in Italy and Germany, presented themselves as modern and revolutionary. Their aim was to attract the masses to build a new society that would overcome both capitalism and communism. These movements were characterized by:
- Mobilizing the masses, adapting to a democratic society to attract crowds and organize them into modern political parties.
- Using propaganda and demagoguery to appeal to the masses, promising each person what they wanted to hear.
- Being led by a charismatic leader, often an outsider to conservative groups.
- Using aristocrats, capitalists, and other powerful groups to achieve their own ends.
The Rise of Fascism in Italy (1922)
In 1922, Italy witnessed the rise of fascism. The main driving forces were:
- Desire to revise the peace accords following World War I.
- The ongoing economic crisis.
- Fear of social revolution.
The first steps of fascism were fueled by dissatisfaction after World War I, caused by Italy not receiving the territory it desired, and the discontent caused by the economic crisis and political weakness.
In this context, Mussolini created the Fasci di Combattimento. His program combined rabid nationalism with anti-clerical revolutionary syndicalism to attract people. He attacked unions and workers, gaining the support of landlords and capitalists. He then organized the “March on Rome,” a mass demonstration of fascists who occupied the main public buildings in the capital and demanded all political power.
The fascist regime was imposed in 1925 after dissolving the legislature. With the fascists in power:
- Political parties and trade unions were dissolved.
- The press was suppressed.
- Communists were imprisoned.
- The Italian state reconciled with the Holy See.
In this corporate-totalitarian state, employers and workers were grouped together. The regime promoted protectionism and highly concentrated businesses, aiming to obtain the support of industry to create a more authoritarian and interventionist state.
The Weimar Republic and the Rise of Nazism in Germany
The Weimar Republic emerged from the social and economic discontent caused by World War I. This regime failed due to:
- Social unrest and unemployment, caused by the crisis that led to the imposition of harsh conditions on Germany after World War I.
- The division of parliament, resulting in unstable coalition governments formed under the German electoral system, which prevented parties from winning a sufficient majority to govern alone.
- The weakness of the system, caused by attempted revolutionary uprisings promoted by the Communist Party, attempts at secession by several states, and coups by far-right groups.
The Weimar Republic’s failures paved the way for the first steps of Nazism and, ultimately, Hitler’s regime on January 30, 1933. In 1933, Hitler declared a state of emergency, a measure that:
- Removed all democratic rights.
- Prevented political parties from campaigning without being harassed by the police and Nazi militias.
- Led to the banning of political parties and associations.
- Resulted in the creation of the political police, with the aim of exterminating all opposition and persecuting Jews and ethnic minorities.