Mussolini and Hitler Essay

Fascism was a totalitarian political movement that developed after 1919 as a reaction against the political and social changes brought about by World War 1 and the spread of socialism and communism. It flourished between 1919 and 1945 in several countries, mainly Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan. Fascism is a form of totalitarian dictatorship that had ideals such as extreme nationalism, economic self sufficiency and military strength. The dictators abolished all opposition against them and basically took complete control of the lives of everyone in their country.

There is no doubt that Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini shared many similar characteristics. They shared movements that were typical of National Socialism: they adopted a radical nationalism, militaristic hierarchies, violence, the cult of charismatic leadership, contempt for individual liberties and civil rights, an anti-democratic and anti-socialist orientation, and a refusal to socialize industries.

Within Italy, The Great War caused many problems and a great amount of distress. As a result of this, hundreds of new fascist groups started to emerge. In October 1922, Benito Mussolini became the Prime Minister of Italy and contributed a lot to the nation. He developed his power by forming the Fascist National Party in 1923 and eliminating political opposition. Mussolini and his followers ruled Italy through an authoritarian dictatorship. He made it clear that the war was a turning point for Italy and the returning of combat soldiers would form a new elite and bring about a new type of state to transform Italian politics and society. Mussolini set many

War waged violently for a long time across many fronts before the United States entered the World War II, beginning with Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Adolf Hitler and his Nazism rose to power in Germany, while Benito Mussolini and his fascism gained control of Italy. Great Britain and France adopted appeasement policies, allowing Hitler to invade and take control without much resistance. This changed when Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France finally entered the war as the Allied Powers. In September of 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan began the Axis Powers.

During the Second World War, Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was the leader of the Italian Nationalist Fascist government. He was head of the Italian government from 1922 till 1943. The significance of Mussolini is that he played a key role acting as the Italian Prime Minister and established a totalitarian regime, during this time, as the unchallenged supreme leader, known as ‘Il Duce’. Fascism consisted of many contributors of which Mussolini with all his quirks was the key to most of its failures and successes, making him the most significant player that is worthy of being investigated. This topic is worthy of being investigated as Mussolini made a lot of decisions that lead to the death of many, but the question as to

There is no doubt that Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini shared many similar characteristics. They shared movements that were typical of National Socialism: they adopted a radical nationalism, militaristic hierarchies, violence, the cult of charismatic leadership, contempt for individual liberties and civil rights, an anti-democratic and anti-socialist orientation, and a refusal to socialize industries.

As the war broke out in Europe in 1940, Mussolini did his best to stay away from the fighting. He preached to his people that his army was ready to fight in the war, and was prepared to defend himself, and conquer land for his country. (6) Benito Mussolini’s main objective in the war was to gain land, and claim the land for Italy. His idea was to create the ultimate empire, and rule over millions of people. "As World War II approached, Mussolini announced his intention of annexing Malta, Corsica, and Tunis." (7) His intentions increased as he captured Albania in April of 1939. His rise to the

War is inevitable, as it is simply the manifestation of the strength and vigour of the Italian people that wishes to expand itself, never looking back. Peace was considered as merely a “mask to surrender and cowardice.” Mussolini stressed that Italians required “forces, duty, and sacrifice” in order to rise again to their former greatness, that of the Roman Empire. This is also Mussolini’s rationale for harsh and severe actions against any who would resist or try and undermine fascism.

Hitler and Stalin will probably go down in history as two of the greatest known evil leaders of the 20th Century. You might ask what could bring two men to become the menaces they were. What kind of upbringing would cause someone to turnout the way they did?

Mussolini and Hitler’s time in power was around the time its countries were most vulnerable. Their power was so successful because of their full and unconditional support from its people. If they were failing somehow, through their use of propaganda they made it seem like they were booming, socially, economically and politically. Adolf Hitler, born and raised in 1889, Austria. Dying in April 1945 Germany, he commit suicide just two days after Mussolini died by firing squad alongside his mistress, in Italy. Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 Italy where he bullied many kids (Downing, 2001). Hitler was able to successfully work his way up from the inside of government, which overall explains why Hitler’s 12 years in power went more smoothly than Mussolini’s 18 years. Due to both leaders having fascist policies allowed their countries to be alike. Their personality cults did not necessarily help them rise to power but it certainly consolidated their positions once ‘Fuhrer’ or ‘Duce’. Also, their propaganda use strongly encouraged the people to support their leader and gain respect for them. The events prior to their rise played a significant role when analysing their personalities, ideologies, and propaganda. To a large extent, their

In 1936, Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland by marching 30,000 troops[8] into Cologne on the 7th of March 1936. To prove that the remilitarisation was popular and warranted, a plebiscite was held and the results were 98.8%[9] in favor of the move. Hitler’s confidence was at an all time high by this time. Showing his power to Britain and France and discounting the Treaty of Versailles placed Germany in a commanding position. Also by 1936, the formation of the Axis occurred. It meant that the two fascist powers in Germany and Italy were to work together on matters of mutual interest.[10] The formation of the Axis later developed in May 1939 into a military cooperation which was named the

Fascism was first detected after World War I in Italy. After the war, the people of Italy were ready for a new political aspect. Benito Mussolini was the man who brought this fascist ideology to Italy. Mussolini has been looking for the perfect opportunity to take complete control of a country and now was the time to do so. “In 1919 Mussolini and his followers, mostly war veterans, were organized along paramilitary lines and wore black shirts and uniforms.”(Halsall pg.2) After defeats at the polls Mussolini used his new financial backing to clothe a gang of thugs who

Other social factors, such as “The March on Rome” and the murder of Giacomo Matteotti, not only effected Italy but also assisted in the rise of fascism. Mussolini’s famous “March of Rome”, which is known for popularizing fascism, took place in October 1922. Later that month Mussolini became the youngest prime minister in Italian history, at the age of 39, when he was appointed by King Victor Emmanuel III. The newly founded fascist party experienced conflict, in what Mussolini described as the greatest crisis of his regime, in 1924 with the murder of socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti. Matteotti was the fascist regimes greatest enemy, denouncing its terror and corruption. On June 10, 1924, Matteotti was sieged by six men pushed into an automobile and stabbed to death. The men took his body and threw it into a grave they had dug about 14 miles north of Rome. Once word leaked out about the murder, there were violent revulsions and Mussolini’s army refused to report for duty. A state of siege was declared as the government directed

'I want to make Italy great, respected and feared' said Mussolini in 1925. Mussolini's foreign policy included a number of positive and negative factors which all contributed to the rise, and the ultimately to the downfall, of both Mussolini and the Italian empire. Mussolini was intent on revising the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles and was very keen to show off Italy's power. He felt that Italy had been hard done by at the end of world war one and sought to claim what he felt Italy deserved. Mussolini's foreign policy clearly reflected his ambition to reinstate the Italian empire.

Another reason that led to Mussolini’s rise to power was the Biennio Rosso which took place in the years