Dictators Come Of Age Europe in Distress

The Modern Dictator Defined A leader who holds an extraordinary amount of personal power Often associated with brutality and oppression Cults of Personality rather than ideology Common link to military Rise to power through coup d’état or revolution against an unstable government

Mussolini

The Black Shirts

Paramilitary group formed by Mussolini in 1919 Most discontented ex-soldiers – ultrantionalists Attacked Communists, socialists, trade unionists, and progressives Led March on Rome in 1922

Mussolini – Early Life Named for Mexican revolutionary by radical father (a blacksmith) Was Socialist and later a Marxist Coined the term Fascism Drafted in WWI – wounded in training Organized Fascist Party, motivated others to act, and awaited outcome. Became Italy’s youngest premier

Fascism Exalts nation and race above individual Uses propaganda and censorship Severe economic and social control Nationalism Anti-Liberal, opposed socialism and communism Italy was first Fascist nation

Reason for Political Success Played on fears of economic collapse Played on fears of Communism and Trade Unionism Pushed nationalism and internationalism Through force of personality Fascism was the dominant political doctrine of the first half of the 20 th Century

The Lateran Treaties February 11, 1929 Vatican and Italy (Mussolini negotiated) Created State of Vatican City Pope would submit names of potential bishops to government, and require them to swear allegiance to Italy Gave Vatican control over education Marriage laws conformed Italy’s to the Vaticans’

Mussolini and Hitler The Pact of Steel October 1936

Hitler The Second Leg of Fascism

Hitler – The Early Years Born in Austria to dysfunctional family Moved to Vienna to study art – failed Developed Anti-Semitic passion – part of south German culture Saw Aryan-Jewish conflict 1913 – to Munich, service in German army Veteran of World War I with distinction

Nazism Refers to politics of the dictatorship that ruled Germany from Commonly associated with Fascism, The nationalist totalitarianism socialism Appealed to moderates seeking German economic recovery Designed to meet Hitler’s goals Outlawed in modern Germany German National Socialist Party

Hitler’s Strategy Outlined in Mein Kampf (My Struggle) Appealed to national pride based on anger over the Versailles Treaty Argued for the unification of all German speaking peoples Stressed German right to more land Used the ‘Bully Pulpit’ to advance ideas

Hitler and Politics Sought support of the middle-class (hard hit by Depression) Gained Reichstag position in 1930 Chancellor by 1933 But a Reichstag fire justified limiting individual civil rights 1933 – Enabling Act – gave Hitler dictatorial powers through legislative approval

The ‘Reich’ Revisited Germany, (1)Holy Roman Empire to 1871 (2)German Empire to Nazi Era (3)Nazi Era Hitler referred to the Nazi Era as the “Thousand Year Reich” - an effort to link past to future

The SS Hitler’s Bodyguards The SA The Nazi’s version of the Black Shirts The Gestapo Secret Police

Names of Note Himmler Roehm Goebbels Goring Rudolph Hess

Night of Long Knives, et al June 29-June 30, Roehm and other real and potential enemies were murdered by Himmler’s ‘Brown Shirts’ August 2, 1934 – Hindenburg dies and Hitler declares himself Fuhrer Oath of personal loyalty to Hitler from armed services is required

Origins of the Holocaust 1935 – Nuremberg Laws. Jews lost status as German citizens and most economic rights May 21, Nazis ban Jews from serving in the military Nov 9/10, 1938 – Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass

Kristallnacht

The Spanish Civil War

Fought between rebels (Popular Front/ Falange) and Republican government As many as a million people died Fascists test weapons Republicans supported by international brigade (also tested weapons) Republicans are defeated Franco takes power Spanish Civil War - Specifics

Lincoln Battalion

Franco Dysfunctional family Army officer and hero General at 34 Not political Headed Nationalist army during Civil War Elected Head of State Supported by European fascists Lost political powers in the 1970s

World War II