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The first signs of fascism were in Italy, where the people were upset at not acquiring territory as a result of World War I and where economic problems existed earlier than the Great Depression.  In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party, emphasizing the need to improve Italy’s economy and its military.  In October 1922, the Fascists or “Black Shirts” protested in Rome, demanding that King Victor Emmanuel abdicate in favor of Mussolini.  The king did step down and Mussolini became Il Duce, the leader of Italy.  Mussolini then suppressed all opposition.  Ironically, Mussolini forbade strikes as he wanted to win over the wealthy people in the country and build Italy’s economic strength.

The first signs of fascism were in Italy, where the people were upset at not acquiring territory as a result of World War I and where economic problems existed earlier than the Great Depression.  In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party, emphasizing the need to improve Italy’s economy and its military.  In October 1922, the Fascists or “Black Shirts” protested in Rome, demanding that King Victor Emmanuel abdicate in favor of Mussolini.  The king did step down and Mussolini became Il Duce, the leader of Italy.  Mussolini then suppressed all opposition.  Ironically, Mussolini forbade strikes as he wanted to win over the wealthy people in the country and build Italy’s economic strength.

===Hitler and the Nazis==

===Hitler and the Nazis===

In Germany the name of the fascists was the “Storm Troopers” or “Brownshirts”, and their political party was called the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party, or “Nazis” for short.  Adolf Hitler became their leader and he promised to stop communism and undo the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans considered to be a humiliation to their nation. (The humiliation and outrage caused by this treaty is often cited as a reason for Hitler's rise to power).  In 1923 Hitler led an armed rebellion in Munich, but was defeated and jailed.  While imprisoned, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in which he declared “Aryans” to be the master race.  Hitler considered most German people to be “Aryans”, a term that properly refers to the Indo-European people who partly migrated to India.  The connection is ironic because the swastika, Hitler’s symbol, is borrowed from Hinduism and the name itself is Sanskrit.  But when Hitler said “Aryan” he meant people having Nordic features rather Indian features.

In Germany the name of the fascists was the “Storm Troopers” or “Brownshirts”, and their political party was called the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party, or “Nazis” for short.  Adolf Hitler became their leader and he promised to stop communism and undo the Treaty of Versailles, which many Germans considered to be a humiliation to their nation. (The humiliation and outrage caused by this treaty is often cited as a reason for Hitler's rise to power).  In 1923 Hitler led an armed rebellion in Munich, but was defeated and jailed.  While imprisoned, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in which he declared “Aryans” to be the master race.  Hitler considered most German people to be “Aryans”, a term that properly refers to the Indo-European people who partly migrated to India.  The connection is ironic because the swastika, Hitler’s symbol, is borrowed from Hinduism and the name itself is Sanskrit.  But when Hitler said “Aryan” he meant people having Nordic features rather Indian features.