Fascism Rises in

Europe
Section 15.3

Learning Targets
1. Explain the term fascism
2. Discuss the ways in which fascist leaders
were able to take power.
Fascism’s Rise in Italy
-Italians were bitter about the results of World War 1
-Rising inflation and unemployment also contributed to
widespread social unrest
-Italians blamed these problems on their democratic
government
-Wanted a strong leader who would take action
Mussolini takes control
-Benito Mussolini boldly
promised to rescue Italy by
reviving its economy and
providing strong leadership
-As conditions worsened, he
gained popularity
-King Emmanuel III decided
putting Mussolini in charge was
best

Why did Mussolini gain popularity?

What was the result of his popularity?
Mussolini changes Italy’s government
-Mussolini adopts the nickname Il Duce (the leader)
-He outlaws democracy and all parties except the Fascists
-Never achieved the total control experienced by Stalin or Hitler

What was the effect of Mussolini taking control of the government?

The Rise of the Nazis in Germany
-Hitler joined a tiny political group called
the National Socialist German Worker’s
Party (Nazi for short)
-Adopted the swastika as the party symbol
-After noticing Hitler’s skills as a speaker
and political organizer, the party chose
Hitler to be their leader
-Hitler plans to lead the Nazis in seizing
power

Why did the party choose Hitler to be their leader?

What is the effect of Hitler becoming leaders of the
Nazis?
Hitler is sentenced to prison
-The Nazi plan to seize power fails
-Hitler is sent to prison for treason
-Hitler writes Mein Kampf, which outlines his goals for Germany
-Calls the Treaty of Versailles an outrage
-Declares that all “non-Aryans” (Jews, Slavs, Gypsies) were
inferior
-Believed that Germany should take over other countries
-Hitler was released from prison after 9 months

Why was Hitler put in prison?

What was an effect of Hitler’s prison sentence?
Hitler Becomes Chancellor
-The Nazi party becomes the largest political
party in Germany by 1932
-Hitler promises strong leadership and relief from
economic problems
-President Paul von Hindenburg names Hitler
chancellor
-Hitler uses his position to eventually take control
of the entire country
-He turns Germany into a totalitarian
state
Why does the President name Hitler chancellor?
What affect does this appointment have?
The Fuhrer is Supreme
-As leader Hitler adopts the nickname The Fuhrer (leader)
-Mistrusts any non-Nazi ideas
-Seeks to control all press, radio, literature, painting
etc. by turning them into tools for propaganda
-Burns all books that do not conform to Nazi beliefs in
huge bonfires.

Why did Hitler burn books?

What effect would this have?
Hitler Makes War on Jews
-Anti-Semitism (Hatred of Jews) was a key part of Nazi
ideology
-Nazis used Jews as a scapegoat for all of Germany’s
problems
-Widespread hatred of Jews spread throughout
Germany
-The Nazis passed laws depriving Jews of most rights
-Hatred of Jews increased

Why did the Nazis pass laws that deprived Jews of their rights?
What effect did these laws have?
Kristallnacht
-In 1938, Nazi mobs attacked Jews in their homes and destroyed
Jewish buildings. This attack was called Kristallnacht (Night of
Broken Glass)
-Signaled the beginning of the process of eliminating
Jews from Germany