Fascism and World War II

I. Fascism is super-charged nationalism

A. mixes nationalism with romanticism, social Darwinism, imperialism, conservatism and modernism.

1. deploys explicit language of power rather than justice or morality (i.e. nihilism)

2. presents itself as the solution to the troubles of post-war Europe

a. political powerlessness of Italy and Germany after Versailles Treaty

b. unemployment and economic decline

c. threat of socialism to the middle classes

d. most of all, fear and doubt

B. Rise of Fascist Movements

1. Mussolini's "black shirts" intimidate Italian government

2. Hitler's "brown shirts" intimidate German government

II. Adolf Hilter

A. Leader of National Socialist party (�Nazi�)

1. attempted coup in Munich fails (1923)

2. writes Mein Kampf in jail

3. this book is an updated version of romantic nationalism

a. modernist (nihilist) discourse on power

b. modernists appreciation of mass psychology

B. Rise to power in 1933

1. Economic crisis

2. purging the left from government

C. Hitler's appeal to the masses

1. hatred of Versailles Treaty

2. resistance to socialism

3. safety of social conservatism

4. rejection of modernism (bans Jazz music)

5. overcoming doubt and helplessness

D. Propaganda

1. Fatalism of Nazi Youth songs

2. Triumph of the Will

3. romantic, conservative, militarist nationalism

4. evocation of heroism and self-sacrifice

a. songs of the Hitler Youth

III. Hitler's Aims

A. Initiate a new historical era of German dominance

1. unite all German peoples (Austria, Czechoslovakia)

2. conquer lebensraum in Eastern Europe at expense of Slavs

3. Establish a 1000-year Reich. Symbols and words evoke Bible and Rome

IV. German Victories (1939-1940)

A. Division of Poland with Soviet Union

B. Invasion of Denmark and Norway (surprise!)

C. Conquest of Netherlands, Belgium, France

1. Panzers in the Forest (another surprise!)

2. inept defense, and lucky escape at Dunkirk

D. Battle of Britain

1. Not quite a victory

V. The Main Event: Eastern Front (1941-1943)

A. Operation Barbarossa

1. Three million troops invade--largest in history

2. One million casualties by March 1942

B. Final Solution

1. part of larger genocidal project

C. Stalemate and defeat (winter 1942-43)

1. German generals plea for retreat to no avail

2. Entire German 6th Army killed or captured

3. Only 5000 of 300,000 prisoners return from Russia in 1955

VI. German Retreat (1943-45)

A. Loss of Italy to the Americans

B. Tehran meeting of allies, November 1943

1. plans for finishing the war

C. D-Day June 1944

D. Yalta Conference (Feb 1944)

1. plans the peace

2. divides occupation zones

3. democratic elections and United Nations

E. Berlin falls to the Soviets (April 1945)