Hitler and Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Background
• Italian school teacher
• Journalist
• Political activist
• Beliefs
– Italy had not received
enough from WWI
(only a few small
territories)
– Fascism- political
philosophy that
values the nation or
race above the
individual
Rise to Power
• Became the leader in
1922 when he
threatened to march on
Rome
• Named him Prime
Minister
• Three years later he
named himself dictator
– Suspended elections
– Centralized the economy
under state control
– Modernized the armed
forces
Adolph Hitler
Background
• Poorly educated
Austrian
• Supported himself as
a painter
• Fought in WWI for
Germany (very upset
about their defeat)
Nazi Party
• National Socialist
German Party
• 1923- they tried to seize
power but they were
stopped
• Hitler was found guilty
of high treason
– 9 months in jail
– Wrote his autobiography
Mien Kemp (My
Struggle)- described
Germany’s problems and
how he would cure them
Rise to Power
• 1933- Nazi party was
the largest in the
Reichstag (German
Parliament)
• Hitler was named
Chancellor
• He squelched his
opposition and
suspended civil
liberties