The Rise of Fascism and the Path to WWII: A Historical Analysis
1. European Involvement in the Spanish Civil War
Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union were the primary European countries involved in the Spanish Civil War. Germany and Italy supported Francisco Franco’s Nationalist faction, while the Soviet Union aided the Republican side. Other countries, like France and the USA, offered limited support to the Republicans.
The German-Soviet Pact
The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, signed in 1939, was a pivotal agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. This pact included a secret clause to partition Poland, enabling Hitler to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, without immediate Soviet intervention. This act of aggression triggered World War II.
2. The Great Depression of the 1930s
The Great Depression stemmed from a crisis of demand, also known as a crisis of overproduction. Three key factors contributed to this crisis:
- Rural Poverty: Impoverished farmers had limited purchasing power, reducing overall demand.
- Wage Stagnation: Worker productivity increased significantly, but wages remained stagnant, hindering their ability to consume goods.
- Overreliance on Credit: Excessive use of credit led to high debt levels, forcing individuals to cut back on spending.
These factors led to accumulating unsold goods, falling prices (deflation), business closures, and soaring unemployment. This cycle further reduced consumption and exacerbated overproduction.
Breaking the Cycle
The key to breaking the cycle was to reduce unemployment. Classical liberalism posited that the market would self-correct through price adjustments, achieving equilibrium between supply and demand and full employment. However, John Maynard Keynes argued that market forces alone were insufficient, especially during crises like the one in 1929. He advocated for government intervention to stimulate demand through public works projects, which would create jobs, increase consumption, and revitalize the economy.
3. The Vicious Cycle of Depression
Overproduction leads to accumulating stocks, which in turn causes decreased production and deflation. This forces businesses to reduce production further, leading to increased unemployment, decreased consumption, and ultimately, more overproduction, creating a vicious cycle.
4. The Anti-Fascist Movement
The anti-fascist movement opposed fascism due to its undemocratic, illiberal, and anti-socialist nature. Fascism rejected the principle of equality, promoting a hierarchical social structure where individuals did not have the same rights. The fascist model emphasized militarism, symbolized by uniforms, anthems, flags, and powerful leaders.
5. Nazi Ideology and the 1929 Crisis
Hitler’s Mein Kampf outlined core Nazi beliefs: intense antisemitism (hatred of Jews), Aryan racial supremacy, contempt for democracy, and the need for Lebensraum (“living space”) for Germans, justifying expansionist policies and the occupation of other countries. The 1929 crisis significantly weakened the Weimar Republic, paving the way for Hitler’s rise to power.
6. Hitler’s Persecution of Jews
Hitler’s persecution of Jews stemmed from the Nazi ideology of racial purity. The persecution began in 1933 with boycotts of Jewish businesses. The Nuremberg Laws forbade intermarriage and stripped Jews of German citizenship. In 1938, Jews were forced to wear identifying badges. Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”) occurred on November 9-10, 1938, marking a significant escalation in violence against Jews. In 1942, the “Final Solution” was enacted, a systematic plan to exterminate the Jewish population, overseen by the SS and Gestapo.
7. German Expansionism and the Road to War
- 1936: Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
- 1938: Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss), another violation of the Treaty of Versailles, following a manipulated referendum and the entry of German troops.
- 1938: Hitler demanded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. The Munich Conference, attended by European powers, ceded the Sudetenland to Germany in an attempt to appease Hitler and avoid war.
- 1939: Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Non-Aggression Pact with a secret clause to divide Poland. Hitler then demanded the city of Danzig and a corridor through Poland. Poland’s refusal led to the German invasion on September 1, 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany, initiating World War II.
8. Principal Causes of World War II
- German Nationalism: Resentment over the Treaty of Versailles fueled German nationalism and desire for revenge.
- The Great Depression: The economic crisis exacerbated international tensions and frictions.
- Failure of the League of Nations: The League’s inability to prevent war and enforce international law contributed to the escalating crisis.
- Arms Race: The rapid militarization of fascist countries created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.
- Territorial Expansionism: Hitler’s pursuit of Lebensraum, Mussolini’s desire to restore Roman glory, and Japan’s quest for resources in Asia fueled expansionist policies that ultimately led to war.