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How Did Benito Mussolini Support Fascism

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After WWI there was a major economic distress. There were many countries that were taken over by dictators who later formed powerful Fascist governments Countries wanted a government that would strengthen the country in every way possible; this is exactly what dictators and Fascists promised. The first dictatorship was in Spain then Benito Mussolini in Italy, formed the first Fascist government. The Fascist dictators wanted to expand the territory of their country and began to look for new lands to conquer. Although Fascism was very significant in the cause of World War II, Mussolini, the Abyssinia crisis, Spanish civil war, and its influence on Nazism aided Fascism in causing World War II.
Fascism did not start from nothing. Benito Mussolini …show more content…
The Abyssinia crisis and the Spanish Civil War gave them the perfect opportunity to do so. After World War II Abyssinia was one of the few independent African countries. Italy’s first attempt to invade Abyssinia was in 1896 when they were defeated at the battle of Adowa. Italy lost 6000 men against the army of Abyssinia, which had an enormous impact on their pride. Mussolini’s prime motivation was to show the world how powerful Italy was. Italy signed a treaty of friendship with Haile Selassie, the leader of Abyssinia, in 1928 however, this meant nothing because an invasion was already being planned. In December 1934, at Wal Wal, Mussolini accused Abyssinia of aggression towards Italy. He ordered troops as well as large bouts of ammo to be placed in Eritrea and Somaliland to be ready to attack Abyssinia. In October 1935 Italy attacked Abyssinia. The capital of Abyssinia fell in May 1936 giving Italy the victory. The Abyssinia crisis brought more international tension to Europe as well as Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany together for the first time. In July 1936, immediately after the Abyssinia crisis, generals in the Spanish army began to rebel against the democratic government of the Spanish Republic thus beginning a civil war. Both Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy thought this would be a good chance to test out their new militaries. They both …show more content…
Fascism was one of the greatest influences of Nazism. Because Fascism influenced many aspects of Nazism, they have many things in common, but they also have many differences. Nazism is believed to be a form of fascism. Fascism began in 1919 after the treaty of Versailles while Nazism began in 1933. One main difference between Fascism and Nazism are their main focuses. Fascism focused on certain political ideologies while Nazism focused on racial hate. The Nazis believed that they were superior and people who were unlike them, such a the Jewish people in World War II, should be killed. Nazi Germany’s main european ally was Italy. Although Italy and Germany were military allies their relationship wasn’t stable. Both Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany’ priorities were their own national interests instead of supporting the interests of their ally. Their relationship became a relationship of convenience rather than a firm alliance. In his early years of establishing the Nazi party, Hitler was a huge admirer of Mussolini, he particularly admired Mussolini’s rise to power through the march of Rome. Hitler tried to replicate the march on Rome with Munich putsch when he tried to rise into power. Mussolini began giving the newly rising Nazi party financial support, he also allowed the Nazi soldiers to train with his own people, the Blackshirts. In 1933 Mussolini publicly praise Hitler's ascension to power, counting it as a victory for

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