Fascism and the Great Depression Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fascism and the Great Depression - Assignment Example Countries who had a long tradition and history of democracy and representative government were able to persist with freedom, while countries that did not have that history were quick to abandon the parliamentary process in favor of fascism. The totalitarian governments of Germany and Italy were made possible by the creation of a political void when the depression set in. There was no long history of cooperative politics to base a future of compromise and sacrifice on. Both Germany and Italy fit this mold. Germany became an extreme form of totalitarianism with the practice of genocide and a policy of ethnic cleansing. Italy was less authoritarian in that it did not have world domination as a policy goal. However, Italy did wish to dispose of capitalism and put the power into the hands of the working class. This called for extreme measures to push their socialist agenda. Mainstream and moderate political ideas were shut out and in the process, total control was given over to the fascist rulers. The Rise of Adolph Hitler Adolph Hitler was able to rise to unquestioned authority in Germany, which resulted in one of the most brutal dictatorships in the history of the world. He was able to rise to power as a part of the Nazi party machine. The Nazis had gained popularity after World War I and the resulting sanctions that were placed on Germany at that time. The Nazi party was based on an intense feeling of nationalism and patriotism. It emphasized that the German people stood alone against the rest of the world and the true Germanic race was superior. Hitler was able to exploit these feelings when he came to power at the beginning of the Great Depression. The time was right for a strong leader and Hitler capitalized on the economic misfortunes.