Free masons, knight’s templar’s and ruslerucians all grew to become the German order. They believed in racism and admiration for old pagan traditions. Hitler attended secret society pagan meetings. These Toule meetings encouraged him to form his worldviews on paganism, mythology, and the master race.
The symbol of the swastika is linked to ideology. The Nazi party or swastika is not a new discovery. The swastika is a pagan symbol used by Adolf Lynes magazine. The symbol was adopted by the Nazis and was used as their official symbol.
After WW1, Germany was hit by many sanctions. One of which was financial, limiting business and hopefully preventing German capabilities of future war. The sanctions were put in place to ‘punish’ Germany. This backfired, the sanctions were way to harsh and the German citizens suffered financially more than there European neighbours. Through these chains of events Hitler gained popularity, he promised prosperity for Germans. He blamed many of Germanys problems on the Jews.
Fascism was always around in Germany; Hitler was just the catalyst for it. Another factor that caused fascism was fear of communism. Germany had seen what communism had done to Russia. Hitler needed a way for the government to control capitalism more directly because of there failing economies caused by post-war stress. The two options were Communism and Fascism and Germany chose Fascism out of fear of turning into another Russia.
All in all fascism in Europe after WW1 come about from many reasons. Some of the main reasons being financial, broken promises of land not given and fear of communism.
When Hitler came to power he was determined to make Germany a great power again and to dominant Europe. Hitler had three main aims for his foreign polices.
Hitler wanted to abolish the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans hated it, especially: the tiny armed forces they were allowed. The Rhineland was demilitarised, Anschluss (union) with Austria was forbidden. Germans were forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) and Poland (including Danzig). The Treaty was a constant reminder to the Germans of their humiliation in World War I. Hitler did not accept that the German army had lost the war, and he was determined to make Germany great again.
Hitler’s second aim was to expand German territory. The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation needed more Lebensraum (‘living space’). He was determined to get Lebensraum by conquering land in Eastern Europe.
Hitler’s third aim was to defeat Communism. The Nazis were Fascists: the exact opposite of the Communists who ruled Russia. Hitler blamed the Communists for Germany’s defeat in World War One, and he feared that the Communists were trying to take over Germany. He was determined to destroy Communism, and this meant a war with Russia.
Mussolini’s foreign policy revolved round making Italy, great, feared and respected.
Mussolini wanted to acquire territory rich in resources this would give Mussolini more cash and power. He especially needed iron ore and oil. He wanted to acquire new lands for cultivation, grow grain, and make bread Autarky. Mussolini wanted to Unify lands they already have. Having a big army was important in Mussolini’s policy and he wanted to increase his military.
Mussolini wanted to expand the Italian Empire. He wanted to do this by taking over Abyssinia. He also wanted to restore pride after Italy was beaten in Adowa in 1886. Mussolini wanted Italy to be “free from the slavery of foreign bread”, so wanted to make Italy self-sufficient.
To conclude Hitler fascist views lead to a war, which cost many lives. The way Hitler gained power was scary as this kind of thing can happen again, for example with the BNP who have a few seats in politics now. It just shows when times are hard people make radical decisions which are not always the right one, as they are made at the spare of the moment. Hitler more or less brain washed the German people to think that they was this superior race to everyone else. I can understand that the sanctions set upon Germany where harsh but there are correct ways of sorting things out. On the other hand Mussolini like Hitler was deluded into thinking he could change his country’s status through the use of fascism. In the end Mussolini could not escape from Hitler and probably regretted his alliance with Hitler.
