Notes on the Rise of Mussolini and Hitler

Notes on the Rise of Mussolini and Hitler

Mussolini

Early History-

-son of a blacksmith

-first job was an elementary schoolteacher

-WWI veteran

-founder of the fascist party

Symbols-

-fasces- a small axe surrounded by a bundle of rods (ancient Roman Empire symbol)

-Black Shirts- loyal followers of Mussolini and intimidators of opponents

Rise to power-

-founder and leader of the fascist party

-premier in 1925 (this is like a prime minister)

-dictator by 1928- people called him il duce (the leader)

Hitler

Early History-

-born in Austria

-tried to be an art student in Vienna, Austria, but failed out- most successful students were Jewish- this is a starting point for his anti-semitism (anti-Jewish feelings)

-WWI veteran

-early recruit in the Nazi Party- arrested for a Nazi uprising and while in prison wrote the book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) which was his blueprint for Nazi Germany

Symbols-

Swastika- Aryan symbol which meant goodness

Brown Shirts- loyal followers of the Nazi party and the intimidators of opponents

Rise to Power-

-member of Nazi Party

-leader of the Nazi Party

-Chancellor of Germany in 1933 (like a prime minister)

-dictator by 1934-1935- called der Fuhrer (the leader)

Signs of a Dictatorship-

Common signs in a dictatorship often include-

-no opposition- usually only one political party

-secret police (like Gestapo in Germany)

-censorship of published materials

-no organized religion

-loss of civil liberties

-purge of political opponents (purge is a removal often by death)