The totalitarian government owned or supervised all industrial productions. All economic production served the interests of the state. The state controlled all economic production. For example, Mussolini set up twenty-two government-controlled corporations in Italy. Workers were not allowed to hold strikes. All corporations aimed to promote trade and supported the state. Hitler carried out a four-year plan to put all economic activities under state control. Stalin carried out three five-year plans in Soviet Russia – production targets were set up by the Soviet Union for the collective farms and factories to achieve. Workers in Germany were forced to join Nazi-controlled Labor Front. All economic production aimed to support the state.
An official ideology was promoted as state religion in the totalitarian state, for example, Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany and Communism in Soviet Russia. The leader had supreme power and demanded absolute obedience of the citizens.
The totalitarian state adopted an aggressive, expansionist foreign policy. The totalitarian states – both the Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany adopted an aggressive foreign policy to regain glory and prestige.
From the above, we can see that totalitarianism is an absolutism that emphasized the state’s importance. Individual freedom was not allowed. It was a one-party rule and one-man dictatorship, which developed in Europe after the First World War.
b)
After the First World War, there was a revival of totalitarianism in Europe: Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany and Communism in Russia. The revival of totalitarianism was due to post-war economic and social insecurity, post-war political problems, post-war nationalist discontent, post-war decline in religious faith, fear of communism and personal ability of the totalitarian leader.
After the First World War, there were many social and economic problems in Europe. In Italy, there was inflation, unemployment and a decline in trade. The First World War had ruined Italian overseas trade and led to economic decline. The demobilization also led to the unemployment of the returned soldiers. The Italians suffered greatly from the First World War. Thus they began to support a strong leader who would promise social and economic security. In Germany, the heavy reparation had led to economic decline. There was serious inflation and unemployment. Unemployment was at its peak after the Great Depression of 1929. Ruhr was occupied by the French troops in 1923 to the miners’ strike. Hence the Germans turned to support Hitler who promised economic recovery.
Post-war political instability also contributed to the revival of totalitarianism. The democratic governments in both Italy and Germany were not long established. They had weak foundations, therefore people found it easy to support a dictator who promised them stability. In Italy, the democratic government was weak, corrupt and incapable; it failed to solve the post-war economic problems. It had many political parties but none could win a majority. It was made of unstable coalitions thus led to political instability. It became more unpopular when it expelled an Italian nationalist who wanted to seize Fiume. As a result, the Italians turned to support Mussolini who was a nationalist. In Germany, the Weimer Republic was not a stable government because it had many political parties but none could win a majority. It was weak and inefficient. It was not a popular government since it accepted the harsh terms of Treaty of Versailles 1919. It also failed to solve the post-war socio-economic problems. As a result, people turned to support a strong leader whom they believe could free them from their sorrow.
Post-war nationalist discontent brought the revival of totalitarianism. The Versailles Treaty failed to treat the Italians and Germans fairly. Italy was promised by the secret Treaty of London (1915) territorial rewards after the First World War. However, it failed to get Dalmatia and Fiume after the First World War. Hence the Italians felt humiliated and supported a leader who could restore glory and prestige to the country. In Germany, the harsh terms of the Versailles Treaty made people felt hatred towards the Treaty, Germany had to bear the sole responsibility of causing the First World War and paid a heavy reparation. Hence they turned to support Hitler who promised to reject the Treaty of Versailles and restore glory to Germany.
The revival of totalitarianism was due to people’s fear of communism. Post-war economic problems led to riots of workers and peasants in Italy and Germany who were influenced by the 1917 Revolution in Russia. The middle class feared of a communist takeover and hence supported Mussolini and Hitler who were anti-communist and promised economic security.
Post-war decline in religious faith led to the revival of totalitarianism. After the First World War, people believed in physical strength and the domination of the strong over the weak, hence supported the dictatorial rule of totalitarianism, which adopted an expansionist foreign policy.
The personal ability of the totalitarianism leaders drew wide support from the people. Mussolini and Hitler had good oratory skills to build a good image of their political parties. They also had good organization skills, such as the Blackshirts of Mussolini and the Brownshirts of Hitler. They were able to make alternative promises to gain support from different classes. Hence make the revival of totalitarianism in Europe in the 1920s and 30s inevitable.
In short, the revival of totalitarianism in Europe in 1920s and 30s was due to a number of subjective and objective factors. The above reasons finally brought the revival of totalitarianism and hence brought Europe to the Second World War.
