Totalitarianism in Germany

Totalitarianism in Germany

Totalitarianism in Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union was brought upon by their respective leaders. In Italy, Benito Mussolini was able to persuade the king to declare him premier and to head a new coalition government by taking advantage of the countries vulnerability after the war. In Germany, Adolf Hitler rose to power through his hypnotic talent as an orator and like Mussolini, promised to protect Germany from communism. And in the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin secured himself as leader through a bitter power struggle with Leon Trotsky.
After World War I, heavy loss of life, crushing burdens of debt, high unemployment, and runaway inflation plagued Italy. One person who offered a clear response to Italy’s hardships was Benito Mussolini. Mussolini organized his own political party in Italy called the Fascist Party and called its doctrine fascism. Fascism is extremely nationalistic, and appeals to the middle class while promising to preserve existing social classes. Thus, Fascism began to stand for protection of private property and the middle class. This allowed Mussolini to become popular among his citizens. Mussolini found his first followers among the demobilized soldiers and discontented nationalists. Eventually the Fascists gained professionals, wealthy landowners, and businesspeople who were interested in blocking communist gains among workers. These new supporters provided the Fascists with financial support. The Fascists also gained support among the lower middle class, who had been severely hurt by inflation. Mussolini recognized the appeal of anticommunism, and used it in his program. He promised to protect against a proletarian revolution. From then on fascism stood for the protection of private property and the middle class. The Fascists began a violent campaign against their opponents. On October 1922, “Black Shirt” groups (the name Fascists became known as) from all over Italy converged on Rome, claiming they came to protect Italy against a...

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