A Comparison Between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini

“Hitler achieved full control over the legislative and executive branches of government.”(Adolf Hitler). As a result, he had total power over Germany and could make decisions as he chose. “As the 1920s drew to a close, Adolf Hitler's Nazis became a cohesive political force that was spreading its tentacles through Germany.” (Lace 51) In 1940 Hitler's army were able to invade that nations of France, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium (Adolf Hitler). These are just a few of Hitler’s major achievements during his time of power. In summary, Hitler was able to rise to power due to the citizens of Germany he had on his side and the strategy he had for gaining power.

Mussolini and Hitler are two of the worlds most famous destructive and controlling leaders that have ever had the privilege of coming to power. Both worked their way up to power with the help of the people who were unfulfilled with their government system. Both promised freedom but turned around and ruled with a dictatorial feeling, and made the people worship them with fear. Some people question what history would be like today if neither of them came to power. Some believe that the 20th century while others believe that things may have been worse for the world.

In Italy and Germany especially, Hitler and Mussolini gave the people tasks in order to make them believe that they were significant. All of the events that transpired because of these two men played out when the leaders targeted the emotions of the people. Two men changed the face of history forever with powerful oratories, intricate parades, and clever propaganda meant to make the people of their respective countries feel in control, significant, and powerful. To understand why Fascism gained such popularity after WWI, it is essential to find a working definition of what Fascism actually is. According to Benito Mussolini and his document What is Fascism, Fascism is “the conception of the state, its character, its duty, and its aim.” It is concerned primarily and totally with the affairs of state rather than those of the individual.

According to the lecture, Hitler’s plans were to make it known the Germans were the superior race, Jews and Gypsies were subhuman, Hitler promised to take back the land taken from the after the war, and Lebensraum. Both men had their countries became a part of the Axis powers, and along with Japan became Fascist nations. Mussolini’s rise to power came through his influence on the fascists people. According to the lecture it was fascists that marched to Rome in October 1922, and the people demanded that the king put Mussolini in charge of the government. It was through fear that Mussolini gained his power.

From the military all the way to the industrialists, he guaranteed an answer for everybody. He promised to reconstruct the army, to develop the businesses and to offer a job to everyone. Hitler made promises about bringing Germany to its former glory so that they would have hope, which was vital in order for Germany to recover, but it could not have been done without charisma that only Hitler as a politician had. Through Hitler’s numerous speeches, he had influenced people into approving of his ideology of post war Germany. During that time, the Germans looked up to Hitler as his promises and charisma transformed him f... ... middle of paper ... ...y seen in his renowned book, the Mein kampf.

He died, however, b... ... middle of paper ... ...Nazis, now more organized and efficient, were ready for this opportunity to gain power and made promises of jobs and bread. Von Papen was Chancellor and when he lost the support of Von Schleicher it became easy for Hitler to take over. Von Papen secretly agreed to work with Hitler and when Hindenburg wanted Von Papen back as Chancellor, he suggested Hitler with himself as vice-Chancellor. Hitler was appointed giving the Nazis control. The weaknesses of the Republic and the strength of the Nazis led to Hitler to becoming Chancellor in 1933.

Hitler and Mussolini both had very similar techniques in achieving power; most likely due to the fact that Hitler had been inspired by Mussolini to take over the government. Both used the characteristic of fascism (the glorification of emotion) to take hold of the people in each country and impose their ideals upon. By manipulating the minds of people, Hitler and Mussolini both convinced their people that dictatorship would deliver them from all of their problems. This was not a hard task for Mussolini in Italy; Hitler did have some difficulties which slowed him down (being sentenced to jail, etc) and overall, the result was the same. Total dictatorship.

With this encouragement, he created a fascist, anti-democratic government in Italy. Once he had the power, he invested a lot of money on his army. By now, a dictator would have usually been overruled. However, Mussolini used his skill in propaganda to make opposition to him very small. Then, he presented himself as the only man capable of restoring order as his own Black Shirts tore up the country.

“At the same time, the media allowed authoritarian rulers and would-be dictators such as Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler to shape uniform political thought and to control citizens’ behavior far beyond what previous rulers had been able to do” (Hunt & Martin, 829). Adolf Hitler has made a substantial effect on society during his time, and still has today. Hitler was possible due to a high-ranking authoritative position. Adolf Hitler made it seem as if he was going to make everything better. The economy during his time period was substandard.

A fascist state needs a strong leader who can motivate the nation to feel a huge sense of nationalism and thus increase the army’s size, have a nostalgia for the past, show a hatred of communism, no opposition parties or even perhaps create a scapegoat of the opposite party. A fascist state would also require state control over production and major banks to ensure control. In the beginning of 1933 when Adolf Hitler was given the chancellorship he began implementing these fascist ideals into the German society through propaganda speeches, passing legislation that banned certain practices and ignoring the binding clauses of the Treaty of Versailles and rebuilding the army to its former glory. Many historians have argued that the Nazi ruled Germany was a fascist state. This report will show that Nazi Germany was infact a fascist state in regards to women, children and the control of the government.