In what ways were Hitler and Mussolini similar in their philosophies and actions?

1 Answer
Apr 24, 2018

Everything except on race

Explanation:

Hitler and Mussolini both considered that their respective country had been humiliated in the aftermath of World War I though they had been on opposite sides. Germany underwent hyperinflation due to the massive debt that had to be paid back and Italy was belittled geopolitically speaking.

Hitler and Mussolini both believed in the strength of their nations, they defended national pride, family values, they imposed inferior statues on women and said their main role was to have children especially male ones to serve in the military.

The youth was endoctrinated(Children of the Luppa and Balilla in Italy and Hitler Youth in Nazi Germany) in those ideals of nations. Massive propaganda and censorship was organized in favor of the regimes. Opponents were deported in concentration camps in Germany or what was called the confinamento in Italy ( see Il Christo siè fermato a Eboli by Carlo Levi). Political parties other than the regime one were soon to be prohibited. Individual liberties were strongly repressed.

The state had a certain control over the economy, nevertheless private property was not forbidden unlike in communist countries. Workers could not join Unions and were incorporated in what is called corporations which were made up of both business owners and workers. The theory of Class Struggle was therefore denied but workers were guaranteed protection in exchange.

Hitler and Mussolini refused to pay back the debt of their countries and freed their countries from the yoke of the finanacial system. They also promoted protectionism over Free Trade.

The main disagreement of both dictators was on race. Hitler added a racial dimension to his ideology. He was influenced by anglosaxon eugenics, these appalling ideas were promoted by institutes such as the "Carnegie Institute" and were very common in the anglosaxon elite either intellectual or economic.