The Similarities And Differences Of Fascism And Liberalism In Europe

While both Italian and German fascism in the interwar years were very similar, they were ultimately more different due to their political ideologies, foreign policies and the structure of their respective parties. Fascism, while not having a concrete definition can be defined by multiple attributes. Fascism usually consist of a ultra right wing, oppressive and authoritarian government that places a heavy emphasis on national identity. As such, fascist governments promote violence and the expansion through wars with the intent of imperialism.

Communism and fascism are two different ideologies of government, and are often seen as two sides of the same coin, if not the same ideology. One could respectively think of them as philosophically-oriented and action-oriented. Both are in favor of the collective, rather than the individual. Both are one party systems, with a strong governmental backing. Both heavily use violence and propaganda to control, to indoctrinate, it's people. Yet both are vilified by democracies around the world, of which Germany was, after World War I. Germany was also, however, in a rapidly declining state, due to the restrictions imposed upon them after the war. As such, the people looked to new ways of gaining their former grandeur, and so they looked to these two ideologies to do it.

Both the Bolsheviks and the Nazis sought to create a new type of human being or a “new man.” Compare and contrast Nazi and Soviet visions of this new human type.

Historians constantly discuss the establishment of communism in Eastern Europe following World War II, a major topic being the Soviet Union’s occupation of The German Democratic Republic (GDR). The governing of the GDR by the Socialist Unity Party (SED) is frequently analysed, particularly operations against any perceived resistance to the stability of a socialist state. Erica Riemann was one perceived enemy, serving over eight years as a political prisoner after drawing a bow on a picture of Josef Stalin when she was fourteen, and she provides oral testimony of her experiences nearly fifty years later (Molloy 2009). This essay argues that the main value of Riemann’s testimony is an insight into the lengths that the SED went to in order to

This essay will explore the various social, economic and political events and circumstances that arose in the early 20th century and together contributed to the emergence of fascism with reference to Germany specifically. The analysis will explore the impact of WW1, a change in social structures with ideologies and beliefs, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. The continual crisis year after year in all aspects pushed German society to turn to fascism as a way off counteracting everything that had carried the state down.

Upon the creation of the USSR, Lenin introduced new rule that would ensure greater totalitarian control. Only communists would be able to stand for the soviets, and so this meant that the communist party had the true control over the

After World War II the Soviet Union led by Stalin maintained a strong presence and influence in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically, Poland through the communist Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR). In this paper I aim to address the reason why communism and Marxist ideologies were unsuccessfully received in post war Poland. I will be arguing *that Marxism was made into a tool of oppression by the Soviet Union, and therefore became illegitimate in itself. I intend on arguing this theory by investigating the goal of the Soviet Union. In addition to this I will identifying instances where the Soviets and communist puppet parties in Poland had strayed from traditional Marxist ideologies. Finally I will recognize the opposition groups and parties that had formed against the Soviet oppression and instillment of inequality.

By the mid 19th century, the majority of Russians lived in rural communities, which limited economic growth. Russia’s economy and ideology were considered primitive to Western countries, whose advancements in technological development were far beyond those in Russia. Russia’s antiquated technologies restricted economic progression, and thus trailed the developed countries of the West. A deplorable Russian economy led to an extremely small upper class and a prevalent lower class. A Russian consensus in 1897 determined that peasants made up 82% of Russia’s population. After years of mistreatment, Russia’s middle and lower class espoused an idea developed by Karl Marx— Communism. Communism was a totalitarian governmental ideology that believed in equally distributed wealth and property, state provided services, governmental control of economy and the focus on the community. Communism became extremely popular because it seemed to promise political and social equality and end the many hardships of the 19th century. In November 1917, communist supporters lead by Vladimir Lenin overthrew tsarist regime and promised a national reform during the Russian Revolution. Subsequently, a government body called the Bolsheviks quickly seized complete power in the November Revolution. However, right-wing, anti-Bolshevik parties rose up against the Bolsheviks, resulting in civil war. In late 1917, the Red Army (pro-Bolshevik) fought the White

Vladimir Lenin was the founder of Russian Communism, better known as The Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It was founded in 1912 and was diminished in 1991. They were organized around the idea of democratic centralism. Vladimir Lenin conceived democratic centralism, and the main idea was that their

On June 22, 1941, the Nazis launched what they thought would be a quick and victorious war against the Soviet Union. Hitler believed that the Jews were responsible for Germany’s defeat in the first world war, and had the idea that Jews played a central role in bolshevism making this war more than strategic. He also believed that Russian territory would be better used as Lebensraum, or living space, for German citizens. Even before the invasion was launched, Hitler made clear to his officers how to handle the Soviets. In a March 30th meeting with advisors, Hitler said the war was a struggle of 2 ideologies, and that communism was a threat to German future. He said It is a “matter of struggle of annihilation... of Bolshevik commissars and communist intelligentsia.” The combination of these ideas would lead to policy aimed at destroying an entire generation of people. Through this essay, I will argue that the brutal Nazi policies in the east failed to pacify the civilian population, adding to the Partisan movement against Nazi occupation along with aiding the German resistance and ultimately did more harm than good.

This historical study will define the similarities of dictatorial nationalism that were present in the social conditions in the pre-WWII era in Germany and the Soviet Union. The primary focus of Shelia Fitzpatrick’s, Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Soviet Russia in the 1930s, provides a historical account of Stalin’s dictatorial regime during the 1930s. Stalin’s governing practices during the 1930s marked a trend away from the collective ideology of communist practices under Lenin, which Fitzpatrick defines as part of the increased anti-Jewish purge in Soviet society. This focus presents the increasing level of pro-Russian nationalism as part of the anti-Semitic culture of Stalin’s nationalistic pogrom. The fear of persecution often forced Jews to change their names:

The rise and subsequent take-over of power in Germany by Hitler and the Nazi Party in the early 1930s was the culmination and continuation not of Enlightenment thought from the 18th and 19th century but the logical conclusion of unstable and cultural conditions that pre-existed in Germany. Hitler’s Nazi Party’s clear manipulation of the weak state of the Weimar Republic through its continued failure economically and socially, plus its undermining of popular support through the signing the Treaty of Versailles all lead to the creation of a Nazi dictatorship under the cult of personality of Hitler. This clear take-over of power and subsequent destruction of any

The Nazi Party’s strength in three main areas allowed it to precipitate the failure of democracy in Germany. Ideologically, structurally and politically the Nazi party was superior to the Weimar Democracy especially in the period 1928-1934. Ideologically, historian Hans Mommson claims the Nazi Party was a “catch all party” in that the party’s nationalistic, socialist and racist policies

Nazi Germany was between the dates of 1933-1939. Throughout this essay, Conditions in Germany when Hitler came to power including the impact of the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression and the weakness of the Weimar republic, will be discussed. The Concept of a Totalitarian State and how Hitler and the Nazi party developed in Germany through the use of force, controlled education, militarism, propaganda, economic policies, and no political opposition. Some of the Positives that came from Nazi Germany were increased prosperity including full employment and economic growth, regaining lost territories, increased national prestige and pride, and the hosting of 1936 Olympics. Some of the Negatives that came from Nazi Germany were Persecution of minorities, loss of personal freedoms, economic growth focused on the military, and expansionism as a path to war. This essay will re-state weather Nazi Germany was an overall positive or negative experience for people in Germany.

At the start of the 20th century, the ruling Tsar of Russia had absolute power and his Government was corrupt, hence, the majority of the people were against him. Vladimir Ilich Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks Socialist Party wanted a revolution to overthrow the Government. Relative to these times, it was Lenin who directed the course of the oncoming Russian October Revolution.