Fascism

Fascism’s rise to power in Italy and Germany in the inter war years largely resulted from the consequences of the First World War”. To what extent do you agree with this verdict?

After enduring the hardships of war, participants are affected immensely concerning all aspects of their lives. Having been physically, psychologically, and economically affected, civilians are often left weary in search of an answer to all of their problems. Civilians want an end to all their suffering, thus they turn away from the turbulent political regimes that they blame for the hardships they endured. WWI had drastic effects on all of the countries involved, but it had immense psychological, economical, and hence political consequences on Italy and Germany.
After WWI, both the Italians and the Germans felt an extreme sense of loss both tangibly and intangibly, however the Germans more so than the Italians. The Germans having literally lost the war, returned to Germany to find economic losses among personal losses that only added to their hardship. Their morale was already low, however when the German government officially ended the war by signing a treaty, an overwhelming sensation of betrayal and indignation swept through Germany. The Germans felt that their government had ‘sold out’ too quickly and that all their war efforts were gone to waste. This was an extreme blow to German pride, which was only intensified after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The TOV placed the blame solely on German soldiers making them pay reparations adding up to obscene amounts of money. This infuriated the Germans as they saw that TOV was unjust to them, not only did they have to pay for the war with the lives of the thousands of soldiers who died, but they now had to literally ‘pay’ for the war. In addition, land was taking away from the Germans, hurting their pride even more. The Germans were treated outcasts as they were excluded from the League of Nations, increasing their sense of anger and betrayal towards the Weimar Republic, whom they blamed for signing the TOV.
During the post war years, the worsening of the economic conditions in Germany was intensified with the Great Depression of 1929. Six million people were unemployed in Germany at the peak of the depression, leading to even more resentment to the Weimar Republic. Soldiers who felt that they have fulfilled a duty to their country, where betrayed to find a jobless Germany awaiting them. The Germans continued to suffer after the War, and as after any war, turned to their government, the Weimar Republic, for assistance and security only to find worsening prospects awaiting them. The Weimar Republic was incapable of being the strong, forceful government that could unleash rapid change that could end German suffering. The Germans needed consolation for the hardships they endured during the war, but instead they were presented with other hardships. Many began to reminisce on Germany at is prime, especially the German youth and elders, hoping to restore national pride once again. Thus when Hitler’s forceful, extremist fascist party emerged, it seemed to provide the Germans with an answer to their problems.
Hitler’s fascist party themselves felt immensely betrayed by the Weimar Republic and thus their primary goal was to restore the German national pride that was usurped from them. Filled with contempt and resentment to the Weimar Republic, the Fascist party preached a return to Germany’s days of glory, thus helping mend the German wounds caused by betrayal. The German fascists spoke the language of national unity that the Germans were in desperate need for. In addition, they preached economic revival that would significantly decrease the unemployment rate. Most importantly, the Nazis strong, forceful rule provided the security and control the Weimar Republic was unable to provide the Germans with.
Although Italy emerged out of the war victorious, it really was not. The main reason Italy entered the war in the first place was to gain land, but however the TOV did not give the Italians the land they were promised with. Thus similar feelings of German betrayal and indignation swept through Italy as well. The Italians felt that the war ended unjustly and that they were ‘cheated’ out of a deal they were promised with; the Italian national pride was hurt. Italians felt that they were betrayed by their government and the Allies leading to contempt and resentment.
Following the War, inflation rates increased dramatically in Italy leading to a major increase in unemployment. Thus when soldiers returned to Italy in search for jobs and comfort, they were extremely disappointed. Not only were they unable to find jobs, but due to the worsening economic conditions, the level of social spending declined leaving the sick and hurt civilians even more affected. In addition, the war led to the worsening of the Italian trade sector, creating even more unemployment. The Great Depression further intensified this economic downturn. Exhausted by their war efforts, the Italians looked for strong leadership that could relieve them of their hardship. They needed someone to create jobs, they needed someone to restore order, they needed to be unified.
They needed the strong, forceful party that Mussolini offered. Mussolini’s fascists offered national revival accompanied with discipline. Mussolini’s fascists promised to restore order to a troubled Italy. Italy at this time was like a lost child, and Mussolini’s fascists acted as a strong father figure that could lead Italy into the light.
Both Mussolini and Hitler played on the worsening post war conditions to succeed. Hitler gave the Germans what they wanted to hear; Hitler blamed others for the hardships Germany endured. He blamed the Weimar Republic for the TOV, the communists for the way the war ended, and the Jews for the worsening economic conditions. As for Mussolini, he played on the feelings of betrayal by appealing to the conservatives. Depression usually produces political extremism on both the right and the left, but the fascists managed to emerge due to the forceful rule that promised to end the suffering of their people.

Samar Al-Ansari
12 IB
Feb 24. ‘06