5.3 - Fascism/Nazism

fascism vs communism masterchart

look

economic fascism vs communism

similarities:

• economic power is subservient to political power

• government has almost complete control over the economy

differences (in fascism):

• government ownership and control is focused on military purposes

• economic decision were made to benefit members of the ruling party and industrial elite rather than the workers

elements of a fascist regime

• Corporative economy – capitalism under government control

• Totalitarian government – controls all phases of life from cradle to grave

• Fanatical – irrational, sentimental; faith versus reason (promoting nationalism through emotion)

• Elitism – only a small minority are capable of learning; the leader is infallible

• Racism and imperialism – elite is superior and therefore entitled to rule

• Denial of human rights – inequality is affirmed as an ideal; major criteria is strength not intellect (men superior to women, soldiers to civilian, victors to vanquished)

• Black and white – enemies not just opponents; annihilated not just conquered

• Opposition to international law and order – war is an ideal, so international organizations that promote co-operation are opposed

nazi fascism politics

• Cult of the leader and elite rule.

•  Extreme nationalism.

•  Organized violence and military force.

•  Territorial expansion as national interest

nazi fascism economics

• Government directed private enterprise 

  economy to serve the needs of the state.

•  Anti-union and anti-workers’ rights.

nazi fascism social ideas

•  Inequalities b/w individuals & groups.

•  Racial purity.

• Racial/national superiority.

• National strength more important than individuals.

how did fascism get popular in Germany after WWI

• Fascism became popular in Germany & Italy after WWI.  

• Fascists saw liberal governments as weak, unstable and unable to solve social, economic and political problems.

• Fascists believe in domination of their state over others.

• They are aware of ethnic & cultural differences.

• Domination of other peoples through discipline, obedience and the creation of an all powerful state.

fascism rejects what?

Fascism rejects some parts of liberalism:

• Against democracy & individual rights.

• Rejected liberal political ideas.

Fascism rejects some parts of communism:

• Against egalitarianism and empowerment of the working class.

• Rejected communist economic ideas.

conditions in Germany that led to fascism taking hold

Crisis Theory: (dictators more likely to appear during a huge crisis)

• Political Instability

  • Dissatisfaction with the Weimar Government (people didn’t like it because it was imposed on them)

  • Fear of Communism

• Dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Versailles

• Economic Instability

  • Hyperinflation

  • The Great Depression

the treaty of versailles

• overall, very punishing

• German army of no more than 100 000 men and no tanks

• Reduce German navy, no submarines, limited vessels 

• No German air force

• Germany forced to recognize Poland and Czechoslovakia

• Germany had to sign the War Guilt Clause (Article 231) which said that Germany accepted sole responsibility for all damage caused by war

• A Reparations Commission decided Germany should pay $33 billion US, they eventually paid $713 million US.

• The manufacture, import, and export of weapons (tanks, submarines, aircraft, and artillery) were prevented.

why did people not like the Weimar Republic?

• Even though Germany had little choice in signing the treaty, much of the German population blamed the government for the humiliation and economic hardship the treaty would cause for years to come.

• This resentment would undermine German confidence in their liberal democratic government

• Furthermore, many Germans associated liberalism with the countries that defeated them in WW1

conditions leading to the rise of nazism

1. economic turmoil

2. a legacy of authoritarian rule in germany

3. nationalism, militarism and law and order

4. theories of racial superiority

5. 
   

economic turmoil as a precursor to nazism

• After WW1 the German economy was in ruins

• Germany had trouble with the reparation payments and 

massive inflation saw savings 

being wiped out

• Just when the economy started to improve, the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression plunged the country into economic hardship once again.

what’s hyperinflation

an extremely rapid, out-of-control increase in prices. It causes money to lose its value almost instantly, often stemming from excessive money supply (printing money) coupled with a loss of confidence in the currency.

did hitler actually reduce unemployment?

1. Public works spending (like the Autobahn) through deficit financing

2. Military spending— through deficit financing

3. Financing programs: use of dummy corporations and printed bills (Mefo-bills) = pay off debt and finance projects.

4. Compulsory labour service for young people

5. Sending citizens to concentration camps

6. Suppressing labour unions

7. forcing/encouraging women to leave the workforce

8. Use of confiscated Jewish property

so like i guess? but eliminating like a bunch of people from the statistic cuz they’re women or you don’t see them as human will really change that right?

a legacy of authoritarian rule in germany as a precursor to nazism

• Since the creation of the German Empire in 1871, the government had been authoritarian in many ways

• The Kaiser (emperor) and the Chancellor (prime minister) held power and created a welfare state with health, accident, old-age, and disability insurance. 

• Hence, many Germans saw authoritarian system as generous

nationalism, militarism, and law and order as a precursor to nazism

• When the Weimar Republic failed to provide Germans with any hope in hard times, they looked back to authoritarian rule

• Hitler capitalized on their fears 

• Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party 

  • promoted absolute nationalism, which called for the unification of all German-speaking peoples

  • Used paramilitary organizations to stifle dissent (the act of disagreeing politically) and to terrorize the opposition

  • Centralized decision making in a single leader to whom everyone owed loyalty\

• The Nazis’ advocacy of law and order appealed to many Germans who were tired of years of instability

theories of racial superiority as a precursor to nazism

• Nazi ideology included a racial theory that claimed that Germans formed a superior race.

• They also used Jews as a scapegoat; they claimed that the Jews were the cause of many of Germany’s problems

• Anti-Semitism was not unique to Germany; many Christians blamed the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus

social darwinism review

• Some thought his (darwin’s) ideas applied to societies, cultures, and races. 

• This is where social Darwinism comes from.

• Groups achieve power and affluence over others because they are naturally stronger. 

• Governments that interfere with this are disrupting the natural order of life. Natural inequalities exist among peoples.

eugenics

The improvement of the human species through selective breeding or genocide.

Fascists of the time used these ideas to justify their policies of discrimination and violence against undesirable groups in society... (people with illnesses, mental or physical disabilities, etc.) Fascists wanting to strengthen their nation state used the theory “survival of the fittest” to go after other countries.   They believed that there was a struggle of survival b/w cultures.

nazi eugenics

• Nazi ideology promoted the superiority of the Aryan race and eugenics-controlling human reproduction so that desirable genetic traits are encouraged and undesirable traits are eliminated

• 9-11 million people, including 6 million Jews, who were considered Untermenschen (sub-humans) and were killed by the Nazis

how did the fascists gain power

Vision:

• used the Charisma of Hitler

  • First gained the support of the workers (socialist party), then turned to wealthy/elite who could finance his campaign

  • called him the Fuhrer (“guide“) to already give that sense of “hes got this”

Force:

• hitler would use force on anybody, including his own people

  • SA/SS (“Storm Troopers” and secret police)

  • Night of the Long Knives (internal purge of left-wing side of nazi party), Kristallnacht (first night of violence against the Jews)

Indoctrination:

• propaganda posters, the "poisonous mushroom” (how he referred to the Jews)

Controlled participation:

• Hitler elected and becomes Chancellor

• Reichstag Fire: Article 48 of Weimar Constitution (like Canada’s War Measures Act)

• Enabling Act (enshrine dictatorial powers for 4 years)

Direction of Popular Discontent:

• Used Reichstag fire to prove the need to abolish the Communist party (many initial election campaigns focused on communists)

• Blame other groups like the Jews for German problems

Hitler’s consolidation of power

• A fire in the Reichstag was used by Hitler to spread fear of a communist takeover.  Although it is believed the Nazis actually started the fire he used the incident to solidify his power

• Hitler used the Enabling Act to eliminate opposition

• Germany was a dictatorship by 1933

• The Nazis purged Germany of opposition to them

• When President Hindenburg died August 19, 1934, Hitler declared himself Führer

German economy after Hitler becomes dictator

• While individual rights suffered, the economy benefited: 6 million Germans were unemployed in 1932; in 1936, only 1 million were unemployed (sort of)

• Foreign imports were restricted to promote German products designed to achieve autarky (self-sufficiency and independence from other nations)

• The strict enforcement of law and order gave people a sense of security

• Transportation improved

• Rallies and propaganda brought hope and confidence

women and youth under Hitler

• Nazi Germany was a patriarchal society.  Women were primarily to stay at home and raise children

• Couples were rewarded for having children

• The Nazis also saw the importance of young people as the future of the Reich

• Children were active participants in Nazism and were even encouraged to report anti-Nazi acts even by their parents

international responses to Hitler’s takeover of germany

• Fascist Movements

  • popular in Britain and other countries (great depression had everyone questioning liberalism)

• Appeasement

  • Britain did not see Germany as a serious threat and there was strong anti-war sentiment

  • France was more concerned with defense and re-building their economy

  • U.S. remained isolationist