Examine, compare and contrast Mussolini and Hitler's rise to power

Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power was around the time when their countries were most vulnerable and broken.  When the ‘would be impossible’ sounded like the norm. Not to say that they weren’t chosen for their promises or leadership characteristics. However, had it not been for the great depression there would’ve been less possibility of the emergence of the two largest and most powerful fascist reigns of Europe.

During the Great Depression, which was you could say the beginning to the introduction of the Nazi Party and Fascism, the populations of both Italy and Germany were frustrated with their government which was seen as ineffective.
At the time, Italy protested that they’re government was being useless and that they were ready for a new government. The Fascist party, which was quite popular at the time, was going to promote itself and force it’s ideology as the new government for Italy by the infamous event called ‘The March of Rome’. As an act by the king of Italy to avoid a civil war, or any conflict that might’ve started, he decided to appoint Mussolini as the Prime Minister of Italy. As Prime Minister he started to get rid of all non-fascist parties, he made all governmental employees fascist, and changed the voting law to the ‘Acerbo Law’, which benefitted his election on purpose. Since his new voting assured his win, it was the start of Mussolini’s ultimate dictatorship. As soon as he was made ‘Duce’ which meant ‘leader’, a man named Giacomo Matteotti spoke against ‘Il Duce’ and his ideology of fascism, and was found to be missing eleven days later, as he was killed by Fascist. Meanwhile in Germany, the Nazi Party’s popularity increased after the Nazi Ideology was slowly suppressing the ineffectiveness of the Weimar republic government at the time. After a voting session, between the socialist and the Nazi’s, due to specific circumstances, Hitler was proclaimed Chancellor by President Hindenburg in January 30, 1933. Hitler and his Nazi Party decided to consolidate their power. They decided to do that, by setting fire to the Reichstag and framing it like communist did it, so that the communist party of Germany would all be eliminated, due to communist followers being seen as a threat. After a re-election without the communist population of Germany, Hitler got the amount of votes that made him somewhat the dictator of Germany. After President Hindenburg died a few days later, the title of ‘President’ was abolished and Hitler was ruler of Germany. As soon as he was proclaimed Dictator, he sent out orders to eliminate all political anti-Nazis, in the infamous event ‘Night of Long Knives’, where at least 85 were killed.  Afterwards, Hitler took it upon himself, to make promises to the people. He told the people of Germany what they wanted to hear to move on. He told the people that he would relieve the Germans of the recent poor lifestyle, that Germany was the victim; the people to blame for everything that happened at that time were the Jews. He gave the German people someone to blame and he promised the German people that he would disregard the Treaty of Versailles and make Germany great again.

A reason Hitler and Mussolini became so powerful was, because they had full, unconditional support of the people. How they were able to gain such massive support is the question. One factor that helped Mussolini alongside his popularity with the Italian people during his rise to power was his alliance with the Vatican. As Mussolini very much knew that the Vatican had a huge impact in Italy, he sought it as best to have the Vatican on his side, as assurance of a large population who were quite religious. As for Germany, religion didn’t quite play as large a role as it did in Italy. However, Hitler did take the churches power and took it upon himself to develop a new religion, which was centered around his ideology. A prominent factor in Hitler and Mussolini’s appeasement to their people was the Treaty of Versailles, which was mainly aimed at hindering Germany’s development in all areas possible, not only angered Germany but also seemed to have angered Italy. A factor that aided in Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power, was constantly pointing out to their people how the Treaty of Versailles mistreated them. Germany was ‘stabbed in the back’, by the German politicians and military who signed the treaty. Italy was cheated out of the countries and lands they were promised.

Firstly, Hitler’s personal opinion was that Germany’s death was signed in the Treaty of Versailles which was referred to as ‘The Diktat’ that means ‘strict order’. Since it was described as a ‘take it or leave it’ treaty. Hitler’s belief was that under the vision of the German Foreign Minister Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, Germany was cheated, and sold. Despite the fact that the German Foreign Minister Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau stated “you demand from us to confess we were the only guilty party of war; such a confession in my mouth would be a lie’. It seems as though Hitler took aside that quote and referred to those who were involved with the Treaty of Versailles as the ‘November Criminals’. Similarly, Mussolini’s personal opinion on the Treaty of Versailles was that, Italy didn’t receive the lands they were promised, for joining the Allies side in World War I. He felt it unfair, since they deserved it, after all that Italy went through. Mussolini, likewise as Hitler promised to his people that he’d gain back Italy’s power and pride and disregard the Treaty of Versailles.

Their techniques as shown, for rising to power were largely different. Mussolini used force, and alliance with The Vatican to get himself to ‘Il Duce’. Meanwhile, Hitler worked his way up from the inside which probably explains why his 12 years of reign went smoothly and were more successful than Mussolini’s 18 years. Mussolini and Hitler, who led two quite different yet similar types of fascist reigns, showed an exemplary amount of power that managed to bewitch Italy for 18 years, Germany for 12 years and also succeeded in igniting a World War II.