(a) Adolf Hitler.
(b) Rise of dictatorship in Germany and Italy: Dictorial regimes in Italy and Germany arose due to the following factors:
1. Dissatisfication with the Peace Treaties: Italy joined the War on the side of the Allies. Among Italians the feeling was that they had won the War but lost the Peace. Italy had much to contribute to the success of the Allies in the War. But when it came to dividing the spoils of War, her allies deserted her. So far as Germany was concerned, defeat in the War and conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, made Germans feel ashamed and helpless. Germany was forced to cede large chunks of her territory to France, Belgium, Poland and Denmark. Her overseas possessions and colonies were divided among themselves by the Allies (Britain, France, Belgium and South Africa).
2. Economic Factors: Economic conditions in Italy after the War were very bad. War debts and budget deficits caused lots of difficulty. The salaried employees, the farmers and the industrial workers felt the pinch of post-war inflation. Germany had to pay a huge sum as War Indemnity. The financial crisis forced Germany to borrow recklessly. German economy combined a high rate of inflation with a high level of unemployment. It was owing to this factor that the Nazi party had its ranks swollen by new recruits, especially youths.
3. Inefficient and Corrupt Democratic Governments: The post-war democratic governments were weak; they could not respond properly to the needs and aspirations of the people. The governments of Nitti and Giolitti were unable to control or influence things. In Germany the Constituent Assembly, which met at Weimar in 1919, established a liberal democratic government. But from the very beginning Germany was faced with a problem of unstable government.
4. Rise of Totalitarian Ideologies: The philosophy of Hegal had flourished in Italy for years before Fascism was thought of. His philosophy had a great intellectual depth. But his pupils used Hegelian arguments to justify an authoritarian regime.Infact, irrational and anti-intellectualist philosophy of Alfred Rocco had got the upper hand now. It appealed to the masses because it glorified power or even sheer force. In Russia, after the Revolution of 1917, the government had been using terror to enforce obedience. Political power in Russia was now monopolised by one political party. Totalitarian ideas or principles apealed to the masses in Italy and Germany also.
(c) It was from Poland now that Hitler demanded the port of Danzig. Britain retaliated, followed by France, by extending guarantee of security of Poland, Greece, Romania and Turkey on March 31, 1939. After May 1939, Hitler knew any attack on Poland would involve the Germans in war with the Anglo-French powers. Britain stuck to Poland. Hitler was undounted. With the ‘Pact of Steel under his arm, Hitler was ready to invade Poland. On September 1,1939 German troops stormed Poland. On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
The two similarities between Fascism and Nazism are :
1. Both Mussolini and Hitler aimed at restoring the status and dignity of their nations amongst the community of nations by making them strong powers.
2. Both aimed at providing strong, stable and efficient Governments.
3. Both uphold one party and one man rule, to believe in aggression, to glorify war, anti-democracy.
