1. HIST2125 Hitler’s Germany Lecture 4: Italian Fascism 27 September 2012

2. Italian Fascism fasces (bundle): Ancient Roman symbol of authority ↓ fascio (bundle or union): symbol of Italian national unity (19th c.) Fasci di combattimento Fascist fighting leagues founded by Mussolini (Mar 1919) ↓ fascisti (Fascists) → fascismo (Fascism) ↓ Partito nazionale fascista (PNF) National Fascist Party with Mussolini as Leader (Nov 1921)

3. Mussolini’s Grip on Power PNF as mass movement with paramilitary squadrons of young men (320.000 members in 1922) ‘March on Rome’ by Mussolini’s Blackshirts + Italian King threatened (Oct 1922) ↓ Mussolini prime minister with fascist-dominated government = Grip on power not by revolutionary act but by threat + approval of ruling elites

4. Hitler: Admirer of Mussolini Proposed collaboration between Italian Fascists & German NS (Sep 1922) Proclaimed ‘Germany’s Mussolini’ by Nazi Hermann Esser (Nov 1922) → Invention of NS Führerkult (Leader’s Cult) = Lifelong friend of Mussolini = Deeply convinced of close similarity of Italian Fascism & German NS

5. F & NS: Interpretations Minimalistic approach (E. Nolte): Anti-Marxism, Anti-Liberalism, Anti-Conservatism Leader principle with party army Claim of totality Expanded minimalistic approach (R. Griffin): Political ideology with mystical core Populist ultra-nationalism Maximalist approaches (S. Payne, R. De Felice): Nationalism, syndicalism, imperialism, idealism, romanticism, militarism, mysticism, etc., etc.

6. F & NS: Common features Result of specific historical situation in weak democracies (I, G, E, H, F) Mainly young men esp. middle class, students, civil servants, military, non-industrial workers with strong affiliation with state & nation Paramilitary groups (squadre / SA) of young unmarried men exercising extreme leader cult & emotional comradeship Intellectuals as providers of ideas & visions on ‘people’ & ‘nation’ Modern trends in technology, management, social policies, biology, propaganda, mass media

7. Fascism and NS: Conclusion Only new & important ideology & movement in 20th c. Europe Especially European phenomena of period 1919-45 Alternative but failed visions of modernity