Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between the Foreign Policies of Mussolini and Hitler
Similarities
- Both foreign policies geared to achieving great power status
o Hitler: lebensraum, wanted to have living space for the expansion
of the German race and control over other groups
o Mussolini: wanted control over Mara nostrum, Abyssinia, …an empire
- fascist states
o had anti communist feelings;
o both signed anti comintern pact 1937 against USSR
o Spanish civil war against communism helping Franco secure power
o Signed pact of steel in may 1939, a full military alliance
- unhappy with status quo, wanted international prestige
o national grievances on Versailles, people wanted to change
Versailles
o Hitler, product of WW1 who was angry at Versailles and wanted to see
Germany achieve great power status
o Mussolini; felt that Italy had been treated unfairly at Versailles
and also waned to change the status quo
o Because of this both built up armies, navies and air forces..
Italian air force to block out the sun + German luftwaffe…
- both Hitler and Mussolini, used diplomacy and force as well as
aggression to get what they wanted
o Mussolini over Greece where it undermined the LofN, used force to
take Abyssinia 1935
o Hitler used the threat of force to take Austria and diplomacy as
well as force to take Czech and Saarland in 193…
- by 1939 both had a common enemy; Britain and France
- both were aggressive nationalists and glorified warw
- both wanted empires; abysinnia and lebenstraum to distract from
problems at home..
Differences
- Hitler was more clear in his aims and ideals whereas Mussolini was
more vague and opportunistic
o Although Hitler did take advantage of opportunities such as
Abyssinia crises to remilitarise Rhineland he was more structured in
his aims for Lebensraum, unification of all Germans, building up the
army and recovering lost territories
§ Illustrated by Hitler’s success after success ; Rhineland in 36,
These were pivotal times in the annals of world history in the 20th century. Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power was clearly a threat to the freedoms of the United States and its Allies. Through God’s grace and omnipotence, the US alliance, industrialization and intellectual might, we have the resources required to overcome the fierce and mighty threat of Fascism in the Free World. In the 1930s, European governments found it necessary to appease Hitler and Mussolini. Appeasement is the word that clearly sums up the policies and actions that were taken by the European governments.
with Hitler, which allowed him to increase his Navy by thirty – five percent than
the Treaty of London, the deal made with B and F was not given to
However, Hitler came to power constitutionally while Mussolini staged a coup d'etat, i.e... ... middle of paper ... ... ifist and anti-Nazi. Seeing the fragility of the Stresa Front, Mussolini joined Hitler subsequently in territorial expansion. There saw Italian invasion of Abyssinia and Albania.
Fascism is one of the great political ideology in the 20th century. It is a kind of authoritarian government that, according to Wikipedia, “considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole.” Two of the most successful and to be in the vanguard of fascism government is Italian fascism – led by Benito Mussolini, and Nazi Germany – led by Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy and Germany, though in many regards very similar - have the same political ideologies, still have many aspects to them that make them different from each other. Before analysing the similarities and differences between the fascism that emerged in Italy and Germany since the very first of 20th century, it is better to discover - what is fascism.
In the book written by Adolf Hitler, while he was in prison, Mein Kampf, Hitler states that the Aryan race is the dominate race. While Benito Mussolini’s book The Doctrine of Fascism, shows the views of man in a fascist state. While both the essay by Mussolini and the book by Hitler both show what a person should be like in their country either it is their religion, race or political ideas. Only one shows a more convincing philosophies, because it clearly states what the person wants to get across the world.
The foreign policy of Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945 was different than any other country during that era. Their distinct approach to ruling came from the nation’s many diverse philosophies. Furthermore, every basis of motivation and control came from the beliefs in which they so strictly followed. Many aspects, such as, communism, fascism, and nationalism, influenced these ideologies.
In 1922, Benito Mussolini held leadership in Italy, promising a proficient and militaristic nationalistic state. During his control as prime minister, he gained a large group of followers, banned the disparagement of government, and used extreme violence against his enemies within the parliament. According to Oppenheimer, Adolf Hitler idolized Mussolini’s rise and respected his tactics to gain power. Hitler was a violent leader who brought For example, “corporatism” largely contributed to later policies that we still practice today.
Benito Mussolini was brought up in one the poorest regions in Northeastern Italy. When he was in school, he always kept to himself and very quiet. He wasn’t a class clown, never cried or rarely laughed. He always sat in the back of the classroom and read a book. He rather do that than play with the other children in his class. He got kicked out his first boarding school. When he was growing up he was surrounded by many political philosophies. There was anarchism, socialism, and others. Both Benito and his father Allesandro had very bad violent tempers.
Benito Mussolini wanted to try and delay a major war in Europe until at least 1942, but Germany invaded Poland in 1939. This means declarations of war by France and the UK and the start of WWII. Mussolini created the Fascist Party in Italy in 1919. He eventually made himself dictator after World War
He led the people of Italy with the mindset and many of the same ideas that Hitler used in Germany. ". a tendency had been developing in Italy in favor of closer relations with Germany, both politically and economically." 1. Mussolini, along with Hitler, pushed towards a nation that was free of Jews, and would consist solely of the "perfect man". Mussolini’s goal was to create an ultimate Italian empire, in alliance with Hitler’s Germany.
The allied powers promised Italy land in exchange for joining them against the central powers during WWI. But, Italy was mostly ignored during the Treaty of Versailles and received very little land. This can be seen as one of the reasons Mussolini aligned with the Axis powers in WWII. He knew that the allies did not treated Italy fairly so he went against them in the next war. He also began invading countries in Africa such as Ethiopia so that Italy could establish itself as the rightful leading power of the Mediterranean. While the invasion of other countries may seem bad, Mussolini did it to increase the power of his own country. He fought for Italy first, proving himself a true nationalist. Another example of this can be found when Hitler came to power and it became apparent to Mussolini that Austria was threatened. He wanted Italy to have influence in Austria, so he threatened to go to war with Germany in the event of an invasion of
Historians are often divided into categories in regard to dealing with Nazi Germany foreign policy and its relation to Hitler: 'intentionalist', and 'structuralist'. The intentionalist interpretation focuses on Hitler's own steerage of Nazi foreign policy in accordance with a clear, concise 'programme' planned long in advance. The 'structuralist' approach puts forth the idea that Hitler seized opportunities as they came, radicalizing the foreign policies of the Nazi regime in response. Structuralists reject the idea of a specific Hitlerian ideological 'programme', and instead argue for an emphasis on expansion no clear aims or objectives, and radicalized with the dynamism of the Nazi movement. With Nazi ideology and circumstances in Germany after World War I influencing Nazi foreign policy, the general goals this foreign policy prescribed to included revision of Versailles, the attainment of Lebensraum, or 'living space', and German racial domination. These foreign policy goals are seen through an examination of the actions the Nazi government took in response to events as they happened while in power, and also through Hitler's own ideology expressed in his writings such as Mein Kempf. This synthesis of ideology and social structure in Germany as the determinants of foreign policy therefore can be most appropriately approached by attributing Nazi foreign policy to a combination as both 'intentionalist' and 'structuralist' aims. Nazi foreign policy radicalized with their successes and was affected by Hitler pragmatically seizing opportunities to increase Nazi power, but also was based on early a consistent ideological programme espoused by Hitler from early on.
Mussolini came into power in 1922 and sought to make Fascism the only party in Italy, because he believed it was superior to all other parties. Both Mussolini and Hitler wanted to create a better economy for their countries, and had big plans to change the way their countries viewed things. Mussolini abolished democracy, and would not listen and shunned any ideas or citizens who opposed his political views. Although the men were quite similar in the ways they set goals for their countries, Hitler was extreme in his plans for future Germany. 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. Hitler on the other hand was
The first of which is the drive for a single race Germany. Most of the