How similar were the Nazi dictatorship in Germany and the Fascist dictatorship in Italy to 1939?
How similar were the Nazi dictatorship in Germany and the Fascist dictatorship in Italy to 1939?
In the violent post-war years from 1919 to the start of the Second World War, Europe saw the rise of several totalitarian regimes and ideologies. Amongst these were German Nazism, and Italian Fascism. The Nazi regime was led by Adolf Hitler, who gained power in 1933 by becoming the German Chancellor, and ultimately gave himself the title ”Fuhrer”, and established a Nazi dictatorship. Fascism was a dictatorial movement formed by Benito Mussolini in Italy. Fascism is an illiberal and highly nationalistic dictatorial ideology, aiming to overthrow democracy and set up a dictatorship. Fascism favours centralized control of private enterprise and repression and control of all opposition. Nazism is sometimes considered by scholars to be a form of fascism, and the two are fundamentally very similar. It has been said that much of Hitler's fascist ideas came from his admiration of Mussolini.
Both Fascism and Nazism were popular political movements. Its respective leaders, Mussolini and Hitler, enjoyed absolute authority and were charismatic orators, having the notable ability of appealing to the masses by whipping crowds into frenzy. By exploiting the surge in nationalism following WWI, both posed as selfless patriots. Popularity was established by means of propaganda, and attractive promises meant to aid the general public. Both leaders headed mass movements whose uniforms, flags, rituals and comradeship appealed to nationalistic ex-soldiers in the aftermaths of the war. It promoted a sense of order, organization and uniformity that was missing from the Weimar Republic. The First World War had brought tremendous political, social and economic instability, and therefore, particularly to the middle classes, Hitler and Mussolini seemed to offer a return to stability and economic prosperity. Following the peace treaties of 1919, Germany in particular was filled with animosity towards the victors who lay such harsh terms on them. Hitler and Mussolini were quick to exploit their country’s resentments towards the Treaty of Versailles, and so gained support by pledging to reverse the terms, and retake lost territories. Italy had lost land in Africa, and Germany in Eastern Europe, and both were keen to reclaim them.