The Retreat from The Retreat from DemocracyDemocracy

Move towards authoritarianismMove towards authoritarianism Throughout much of central and Throughout much of central and

eastern Europe, the uncertainty of the eastern Europe, the uncertainty of the post-war years allowed for post-war years allowed for authoritarian leaders to consolidate authoritarian leaders to consolidate power.power.

These nations were often economically These nations were often economically stagnant, divided over social issues, stagnant, divided over social issues, and politically divided.and politically divided.

The Great Depression furthered these The Great Depression furthered these problems.problems.

HungaryHungary Despite being a constitutional Despite being a constitutional

government, Hungary continued to be government, Hungary continued to be dominated through rigged elections dominated through rigged elections by the old Magyar aristocracy.by the old Magyar aristocracy.

Fascism slowly grew in appeal, as did Fascism slowly grew in appeal, as did anti-Semitism. anti-Semitism.

Even so, Hungary never became a Even so, Hungary never became a full-fledged dictatorship.full-fledged dictatorship.

RomaniaRomania Romania’s liberal government Romania’s liberal government

gave way to the rule of King gave way to the rule of King Carol II, who admired Mussolini.Carol II, who admired Mussolini.

The Iron Guard became the The Iron Guard became the leader of fascist inspired leader of fascist inspired activities in Romania.activities in Romania.

The government stripped most The government stripped most Jews of land and rights, Jews of land and rights, tightened censorship and tightened censorship and imposed martial law.imposed martial law.

In the late 1930’s, Romania In the late 1930’s, Romania turned away from Fascism.turned away from Fascism.

YugoslaviaYugoslavia King Alexander I assumed King Alexander I assumed

dictatorial powers in 1929 dictatorial powers in 1929 in an attempt to suppress in an attempt to suppress the growing nationalism the growing nationalism of Serbians, Croats, and of Serbians, Croats, and Slovenians.Slovenians.

The nation drew closer to The nation drew closer to Germany and Italy, but Germany and Italy, but turned back to democratic turned back to democratic rule in the late 1930’s.rule in the late 1930’s.

King Alexander IKing Alexander I

BulgariaBulgaria Bulgaria experienced a military coup in Bulgaria experienced a military coup in

1934 which began a turn more toward 1934 which began a turn more toward fascism.fascism.

But, like in many other states, Bulgaria But, like in many other states, Bulgaria moved back toward liberal measures.moved back toward liberal measures.

This was done for the support of This was done for the support of France and Britain against a France and Britain against a belligerent Germany and because belligerent Germany and because fascist parties were hard to control.fascist parties were hard to control.

PolandPoland Poland was plagued by Poland was plagued by

divisions over the proper divisions over the proper course of the nation.course of the nation.

Socialists, Catholics, Socialists, Catholics, Fascists, landowners and Fascists, landowners and peasants fought for peasants fought for domination of the country.domination of the country.

Marshall Jozef Pilsudski took Marshall Jozef Pilsudski took power in an military revolt, power in an military revolt, which he relinquished once which he relinquished once his followers had a majority his followers had a majority in parliament.in parliament.

Poland continued to be Poland continued to be dominated by the military.dominated by the military.

Jozef PilsudskiJozef Pilsudski

GreeceGreece The Greek Rep. (est. The Greek Rep. (est.

1924) lasted little more 1924) lasted little more than a decade.than a decade.

The growing power of The growing power of the monarchists brought the monarchists brought King George II back to King George II back to the throne.the throne.

When liberals made When liberals made gains, General Metaxas gains, General Metaxas declared himself dictator declared himself dictator in a fascist style regime.in a fascist style regime.

General General MetaxasMetaxas

AustriaAustria Austria, no longer an imperial nation, Austria, no longer an imperial nation,

was divided between the cities and was divided between the cities and countryside.countryside.

The Christian Socialist Party, which The Christian Socialist Party, which combined welfare, nationalism and combined welfare, nationalism and antisemitism, moved toward fascism.antisemitism, moved toward fascism.

They came into conflict with the They came into conflict with the Socialists.Socialists.

In the late 1930’s Nazi Germany In the late 1930’s Nazi Germany became a dominant influence.became a dominant influence.

SpainSpain Economic problems and political Economic problems and political

discontent led to the rise of discontent led to the rise of General Primo de Rivera in a General Primo de Rivera in a fascist style dictatorship.fascist style dictatorship.

His failure led to his exile by King His failure led to his exile by King Alfonso, who was later exiled Alfonso, who was later exiled himself.himself.

Republican government did Republican government did nothing to solve Spain’s divisions, nothing to solve Spain’s divisions, leading to the outbreak of the leading to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.Spanish Civil War in 1936. Primo de Primo de

RiveraRivera

Spread of FascismSpread of Fascism Whether in power or not, Whether in power or not,

most fascist movements had most fascist movements had much in common.much in common.

They used symbolism, They used symbolism, marches, nationalism, and marches, nationalism, and violence to gain supporters in violence to gain supporters in the promise of national glory.the promise of national glory.

They addressed people’s They addressed people’s fears by rejecting Marxism fears by rejecting Marxism and capitalism and called for and capitalism and called for order based on national unity.order based on national unity.

Oswald Mosely

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression Despite a strong world economy in the Despite a strong world economy in the

1920’s deep seeded problems came to the 1920’s deep seeded problems came to the fore.fore.

The United States, the largest creditor, kept The United States, the largest creditor, kept much of Europe’s economy afloat (U.S. lent much of Europe’s economy afloat (U.S. lent to Germany which paid reparations to Allies to Germany which paid reparations to Allies who repaid debts to U.S.).who repaid debts to U.S.).

Many European industries continued to Many European industries continued to suffer and runaway inflation in Germany suffer and runaway inflation in Germany severely undermined its economy.severely undermined its economy.

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression The U.S. stock market crash of The U.S. stock market crash of

1929 began the process of 1929 began the process of world economic slide.world economic slide.

With the loss of capital, the With the loss of capital, the U.S. loans stopped, crippling U.S. loans stopped, crippling the European economy.the European economy.

Banks around the world failed, Banks around the world failed, industrial production dropped industrial production dropped by a third, unemployment rose by a third, unemployment rose to the millions across Europe to the millions across Europe and the U.S.and the U.S.

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression Governments attempted to help, but Governments attempted to help, but

most policies were ineffective in most policies were ineffective in reducing unemployment or promoting reducing unemployment or promoting production.production.

The failures of the democracies to deal The failures of the democracies to deal with these problems gave fascism and with these problems gave fascism and communism a new voice.communism a new voice.

Industrial production in the Soviet Industrial production in the Soviet Union rose during the period.Union rose during the period.