FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIP

FROM DEMOCRACY TO FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIPDICTATORSHIPThe Rise of Adolf Hitler and

Benito Mussolini

BENITO MUSSOLINIBENITO MUSSOLINITHE FIRST FASCISTTHE FIRST FASCIST

Fought for Italy in World Fought for Italy in World War IWar I

Newspaper writer and Newspaper writer and political agitatorpolitical agitator

ADOLF HITLERADOLF HITLERNAZI LEADERNAZI LEADER

Fought for Germany Fought for Germany in World War Iin World War I

Unsuccessful artistUnsuccessful artist

FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIP

Building a Political Party

Getting Elected Seizing Dictatorial

Power

3 VITAL STEPS

BUILDING A POLITICAL PARTYBUILDING A POLITICAL PARTY Mussolini created Mussolini created

‘Blackshirts’ – a ‘Blackshirts’ – a group of tough WWI group of tough WWI veterans veterans

Terrorized other Terrorized other political partiespolitical parties

• Appealed to:

Nationalists Former Soldiers

Landowners Business Owners

Italian Fascist Party

BUILDING A POLITICAL BUILDING A POLITICAL PARTYPARTY

Hitler joined the Hitler joined the Nazi party in Nazi party in 19191919

Hitler became Hitler became Nazi party leader Nazi party leader in 1921 in 1921

Hitler became Hitler became nationally known nationally known during his during his treason trialtreason trial

National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi)

Appealed to:VeteransNationalistsAnti-SemitesFarmersMiddle Class

GETTING ELECTEDGETTING ELECTED Italy was a Italy was a

constitutional constitutional monarchymonarchy

Mussolini led the Mussolini led the ‘March on Rome’‘March on Rome’

King Victor Emmanuel King Victor Emmanuel named Mussolini named Mussolini Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Benito Mussolini

GETTING ELECTEDGETTING ELECTED Germany was a democratic Germany was a democratic

republic with a President and republic with a President and a Chancellor (Prime Minister)a Chancellor (Prime Minister)

The Nazi party became the The Nazi party became the majority party in the majority party in the German Parliament German Parliament (Reichstag) in 1932(Reichstag) in 1932

Hitler was appointed Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933Chancellor in January 1933

1932 Election Poster

SEIZING DICTATORIAL POWERSEIZING DICTATORIAL POWER Mussolini forced Parliament Mussolini forced Parliament

to pass the Acerbo Lawto pass the Acerbo Law Acerbo Law gave political Acerbo Law gave political

party with most votes a 2/3 party with most votes a 2/3 majority in Parliamentmajority in Parliament

National election of April 6, National election of April 6, 1924 gave Fascist Party 1924 gave Fascist Party power in Parliamentpower in Parliament

Mussolini was now a Mussolini was now a dictator, not a Prime dictator, not a Prime MinisterMinister

Benito Mussolini

SEIZING DICTATORIAL SEIZING DICTATORIAL POWERPOWER

Reichstag Fire – German Reichstag Fire – German Parliament building burns Parliament building burns one week before new one week before new electionselections

Hitler blames fire on Hitler blames fire on Communists and spreads Communists and spreads fear throughout Germanyfear throughout Germany

Reichstag Fire

SEIZING DICTATORIAL SEIZING DICTATORIAL POWERPOWER

Hitler convinces Reichstag to pass Hitler convinces Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act, granting dictatorial the Enabling Act, granting dictatorial powers to the Chancellor, Hitlerpowers to the Chancellor, Hitler

• When the German President dies in 1934, Hitler takes command of military and truly becomes the dictator of Germany

Picture CreditsPicture Credits http://ghostline.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mussolini-image004.jpghttp://ghostline.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mussolini-image004.jpg http://ming.tv/flemming2.php/__show_article/_a000010-001414.htmhttp://ming.tv/flemming2.php/__show_article/_a000010-001414.htm http://www.dictatorofthemonth.com/Mussolini/pictures_of_mussolini.htmhttp://www.dictatorofthemonth.com/Mussolini/pictures_of_mussolini.htm http://www.sigruneuk.com/pictures/DC128%20A.jpghttp://www.sigruneuk.com/pictures/DC128%20A.jpg http://ui29.gamespot.com/220/fascism.jpghttp://ui29.gamespot.com/220/fascism.jpg http://homepage.eircom.net/~finnegam/war/images/greeting_hitler.jpghttp://homepage.eircom.net/~finnegam/war/images/greeting_hitler.jpg http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nazi_propaganda_gallery_01.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nazi_propaganda_gallery_01.shtml http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/Germany_Reichstag_fire.jpghttp://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/Germany_Reichstag_fire.jpg