- Began in 1914
- Fought across Europe, Asia, Africa & Pacific
- Global-scale war
- New weapons used
- Civilians involved
- Major turning point in world history
Key Points
Key Points: The First World War and Its Global Impact
Key Points: Fascism
- Fascism comes from the Italian word fascio, meaning union or league.
- It stands for dictatorship where all power is concentrated in one leader.
- Fascism is strongly nationalistic and believes the State is supreme.
- It is anti-democratic and anti-communist in nature.
- Fascism influenced dictatorial regimes in Italy and Germany.
Key Points: Causes for the Rise of Fascism
- Italy was dissatisfied after the Treaty of Versailles as it gained very little despite fighting in World War I.
- Severe economic problems like unemployment, inflation, and food shortages created public anger.
- Political instability and weak coalition governments failed to solve strikes and riots.
- Fear of socialism and communism made people and industrialists support Fascism.
- Mussolini’s strong leadership and promises of national glory attracted mass support.
Key Points: Aims of Fascism
- Fascism was a dictatorial and anti-democratic system based on one leader and one party.
- It arose in Italy after World War I due to economic crisis, political instability and fear of communism.
- Benito Mussolini led Fascism and came to power after the March on Rome (1922).
- Fascism stressed extreme nationalism, State control and aggressive foreign policy.
- It ended with Italy’s defeat in World War II and Mussolini’s execution in 1945.
Key Points: Impact of Fascism
- Improved economy, infrastructure and reduced unemployment.
- Expanded education and strengthened the military.
- Signed Lateran Treaty with the Pope (1929).
- Followed aggressive foreign policy.
- Ended democracy and established dictatorship with no freedoms.
Key Points: Nazi Dictatorship in Germany
- After World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and Germany became a democratic republic under the Weimar Constitution (1919), but political instability continued.
- Frequent coalition governments failed to solve economic and social problems, leading to unrest and riots.
- Adolf Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party, renamed it the Nazi Party, and built a strong private army (Brown Shirts and Black Shirts).
- In 1933, President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor; later Hitler assumed dictatorial powers and became Fuhrer.
- After Germany’s defeat in World War II, Hitler died in 1945 and Nazism ended.
Key Points: Causes for the Rise of Nazism
- The humiliating Treaty of Versailles caused national shame, economic loss, military weakness, and resentment among Germans.
- Fear of Communism grew after the Russian Revolution, and Hitler projected Nazism as the only force to stop it.
- Severe economic crisis, unemployment, and farmers’ distress made people support Nazi promises of recovery.
- Hitler promoted aggressive nationalism and blamed Jews through anti-Semitic propaganda for Germany’s problems.
- Weak opposition parties and Hitler’s charismatic leadership helped the Nazi Party gain mass support.
Key Points: Aims of Nazism
- To promote extreme nationalism.
- To establish one-party rule under a strong leader.
- To reject democracy, peace, and internationalism.
- To use force and violence to achieve goals.
- To glorify war and military power.
- To believe in German racial superiority and oppose Jews.
Key Points: Impact of Nazism
- Established a totalitarian dictatorship by abolishing democracy, opposition parties, and civil liberties.
- Revived the German economy through state control, public works, rearmament, and removal of unemployment.
- Promoted militarism with compulsory military training and large-scale rearmament.
- Rejected the Treaty of Versailles and followed aggressive expansionist foreign policy.
- Spread the idea of racial supremacy, leading to persecution of Jews and other groups.
Key Points: Similarities in the Causes and Ideologies of Fascism and Nazism
Causes
- Post-war humiliation
- Economic crisis
- Fear of communism
- Political instability
- Strong dictators
Ideologies
- One leader, one party
- Dictatorship over democracy
- State above individual
- Aggressive nationalism
- War glorified
Important Questions [5]
- What is the Meaning of 'Fascism'?
- With Reference to the Rise of Dictatorships and the Second World War, Answer the Following : State Any Three Reasons for the Rise of Fascism in Italy.
- 1) Identify the Leader in the Picture. 2) State Any Four Factors that Led to the Rise of Dictatorships in Germany and Italy. 3) Why Did He Invade Poland? State Two Similarities Between Fascism and Nazism.
- Identify the Leader in the Picture. Give Two Examples to State that the Leader Followed an Expansionist Policy.
- State Three Factors that Led to the Rise of Fascism
