Fascism, Nazism and Communism: Events leading up to WW2
FDR and the
people of the United States saw the emergence of European dictators
such as Hitler, Mussolini and Franco and the rise of ideologies of
Fascism and Nazism. Meanwhile, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR) adhered to Communism led by Joseph Stalin, the
Soviet dictator. These powerful dictators, and the aggressive,
expansionist and totalitarian governments in Germany, Italy, Spain and the USSR all played a major role in the events leading up
to WW2. Japan sought to establish a colonial empire led by
Militarists, for additional facts refer to Japanese Militarism.
Summary and Definition of
Fascism: WW1 - WW2
Definition of Fascism:
Fascism combined the ideologies of nationalism, imperialism and and
militarism. The key traits and characteristics of Fascism were based
on authoritarian principles with complete obedience or subjection to
authority as opposed to individual freedom and the denial of
individual rights. The ideology of Fascism was founded by the
Spanish dictator Mussolini and
was supported by the military and secret police Fascism was
favored by Industrialists and the Middle Classes with economic
functions controlled by the state, Fascism included the widespread
use of indoctrination and censorship.
Summary and Definition of Nazism: WW1 -
WW2
Definition of Nazism:
Nazism was the Fascist movement that evolved in Germany under the
dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and included the belief in the racial
superiority of the German people and that other races, especially
those in Eastern Europe, were inferior. Adolf Hitler wrote 'Mein
Kampf' meaning "My struggle" which detailed his goals and beliefs
which formed the basis of Nazism. Hatred of Jews, or anti-Semitism,
was a key part of Nazism.
Fascism, Nazism and Communism: Totalitarian Governments
The ideologies of Fascism
and Nazism and the rise of the dictatorships in Germany, Italy and
Spain threatened the democratic countries of Europe such as Britain,
France and the Netherlands. Communism posed another threat to
democracy as did the rise of Militarism in Japan. All of the
these countries adhered to
Totalitarianism asserting
absolute control over the public and private lives of its people.
Comparisons between
Fascism, Nazism and Communism
The following descriptions and examples of
Fascism, Nazism and Communism provide comparisons and
contrasts between the aggressive and anti-democratic countries who
followed expansionist polices in the period between WW1 and WW2.
Examples of Fascism: Italy,
Mussolini and Fascism
Italy, Mussolini and Fascism - Benito
Mussolini (1883-1945) rose to power in Italy following World War I.
Mussolini sought to re-create the glory of the Ancient Roman Empire,
increasing the power and the prestige of Italy. It was Benito
Mussolini who founded the ideology of Fascism, the anti-communist
political movement. ● Fascism: Fascism is a
highly aggressive form of nationalism by which the nation is
more important than the individual. Individualism is seen to
make countries weak and that a strong anti-democratic
government, led by a dictator, is needed to impose order.
Anti-Communism is central to the ideology of Fascism holding the
belief that the aim of Communists, allied with labor unions, is
to bring down their governments.
● Fascism: The term fascism
(or fascismo) derives from the word 'fascio' for "group,
association" literally meaning "bundle". In Ancient Rome a
'fasces' was bundle of sticks featuring an axe that were carried
by bodyguards to symbolize authority the power over life and
death
● Fascist symbols were
highly significant. Mussolini used the eagle and the 'fasces' as
a symbol for fascists in Italy. Italian Fascism utilized the
color black as a symbol of their movement and Mussolini was
supported by uniformed militia known as the 'Blackshirts'.
● Benito Mussolini was first
appointed Premier (Prime Minister) of Italy but quickly
established himself as dictator. He took the title of "Il Duce"
meaning "The Leader" and established an aggressive and
expansionist government. Mussolini and his expansionist
government led Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 (then
commonly known as "Abyssinia" in Europe)
Example of Nazism: Germany, Hitler
and Nazism
Germany, Hitler and Nazism - Adolf Hitler
(1889 – 1945) was a great admirer of Mussolini and a fervent
nationalist and anti-communist. He rose to power when the
president of Germany, Paul von Hindenburg, stepped down. Hitler
assumed the role of dictator and took the title of "Fuhrer"
meaning "Leader".
● Adolf Hitler was the
leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party,
better known as the Nazi Party. Hitler was supported by Nazi
paramilitary units called 'Stormtroopers' or Brownshirts.
Racism, and particularly anti-Semitism, was central to the
ideology of Nazism.
● Nazism: Nazism was a
form of national socialism featuring racism and territory
expansion with obedience to a strong leader. Nazism shared
many features of Fascism rejecting democracy and communism.
● Adolf Hitler made
significant use of Nazi symbols in his propaganda campaigns
and pageantry. The swastika is synonymous with the Nazis and
the eagle atop of the swastika was the formal symbol of the
Nazi Party. Gargantuan red banners with the distinctive
black swastika on a white field dominated Nazi parades,
rallies and events and was reminiscent of Germany’s imperial
past.
● The Nazi's used the
term the "Third Reich" as they sought to re-create the power
and glory of the German Empire. The Holy Roman Empire, or
First Reich, was from 962 to 1806; the German Empire, or
Second Reich, was from 1871 to 1919, the Weimar Republic was
from 1919 to 1933 and the Third Reich was from 1933 to 1945.
● On 15 March 1939 Adolf
Hitler ordered German troops to invade Czechoslovakia. The
Germans also took over Bohemia, and established a
protectorate over Slovakia. On September 1, 1939, German
forces invaded Poland.
● Britain and France
responded by declaring war on Germany. World War II had
begun
● In the Spring of 1940,
Hitler turned his attentions towards Western Europe,
conquering Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Norway, and France.
Examples of Fascism:
Spain, Franco and Fascism
The general
and dictator Francisco Franco (1892-1975) rose to power when
his Nationalist forces, consisting of the Falangists (Spanish
Fascists) and the military, provided by arms sent by Germany and
Italy, overthrew the democratically elected government, deposed King
Alfonso XIII and ushered in the 'Second Republic'.
● In 1936 the Spanish Civil
war (1936-1939) erupted led by the fascist forces of General
Francisco Franco who received support from the fascist
dictatorships in Italy and Germany
● In a matter of months
Franco was named head of the Nationalist government and
commander-in-chief (generalísimo) of the armed forces
●
Francisco Franco
assumed the role of dictator and adopted the title of "El
Caudillo" meaning "The Leader" exerting absolute control over
the country
●
General Franco persecuted political opponents and
repressed the culture and language of Spain’s Basque and Catalan
regions
● Franco and the Spanish
Fascists used the yoke and arrows as their symbol, representing
a united Spain and the "symbol of the heroic virtues of the
race". They wore uniforms of blue shirts and red berets
● General Franco largely
kept out of World War II but he eventually sent nearly 50,000
volunteers to fight alongside the Germans on the Soviet front
Example of Communism: USSR, Joseph
Stalin and Communism
USSR, Communism and Joseph Stalin -
Following the Russian Revolution in 1917 the Bolshevik Party,
led by Vladimir Lenin, established Communism in the Russian Empire.
Russia was renamed the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922 and in 1926 Joseph Stalin
became the Soviet Dictator.
● Communism: Communism is a
social system based on collective ownership of property and by
the organization of labor for the common advantage of all
members. The term is taken from the French word 'communisme'
meaning a communal society.
● Under the dictator Stalin,
the USSR was transformed from a peasant society into an
industrial and military superpower
● Stalin steadily increased
his power and ruled using terror tactics eliminating anyone who
opposed him, establishing the Gulag system of forced labor camps
● Between 1934 and 1939, the
paranoid Joseph Stalin instituted the Great Purge, or the Great
Terror, a series of campaigns against anyone suspected of
disloyalty including members of the Communist leadership, the
armed forces and the Communist Party. It is estimated that over
1 million people were killed in the Great Purge
● On August 23, 1939 Stalin
and Hitler authorized a Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact that
divided Eastern Europe among the two powers. Both leaders
promised not to attack each other. The pact was broken when Nazi
Germany attacked the USSR less than two years later, on June 22,
1941.
Fascism, Nazism and
Communism
The above descriptions and examples of
Fascism, Nazism and Communism provides
comparisons between the aggressive and
anti-democratic countries whose ideologies played a
major role in the events leading up to WW2 and
The Cold War
that followed..
Fascism, Nazism and Communism for kids - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
The article on the Fascism, Nazism and Communism provides
an interesting comparison. The following
Franklin Roosevelt video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.
Fascism, Nazism and Communism
●
Interesting Facts about Fascism, Nazism and Communism for kids
●
Summary of the Fascism, Nazism and Communism in US history
●
Fascism, Nazism and Communism and WW2
●
Franklin Roosevelt
Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
●
Fast facts about Fascism, Nazism and Communism
● Rise of the Dictators and
Fascism, Nazism and Communism
●
Fascism, Nazism and Communism for
kids, schools,
homework and children studying WW2 |