Summary - IB History - Paper 1: Moves towards a global war (impact of Nazi and Fascist ideology on foreign policy)
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IB History
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The summary details the impact of Nazism and Fascism on Italy's and Germany's foreign policy leading up to the Second World War. It is a recurring theme in IB history paper 1. It provides a succinct description and holistic approach.
Evaluate the impact of ideology on the foreign policies of Mussolini and Hitler:
Nazism and Fascism:
● Ideologies belonging to the radical right
● Anti-communist, anti-liberal, authoritarian, militarist, nationalist, imperialist (terra irredenta,
Lebensraum), anti-pacifist
● Difference:
○ Nazism was more racist
1, Common enemies:
● The existence of common enemies made Italy and Germany join the Spanish Civil War
(1936-1939) on the side of Franco’s Nationalists.
● They wanted to prevent the spread of communism, and the victory of left-wing ideologies.
● It had a direct impact, as it made Mussolini and Hitler intervene in the civil war.
● Counter-claim:
○ In 1940, Germany signed an Alliance with the USSR (pragmatism over ideology)
2, Militarism and imperialism:
● Both ideologies emphasized the importance of creating a larger empire (Lebensraum, terra
irredenta)
● War was glorified, and militarism and rearmament were increased
● They were often used as social imperialism and a way to strengthen the personality cult of the
leaders (fascism promoted authoritarianism)
● This was apparent in the remilitarization of the Rhineland, the Sudetan crisis, the invasion of
Abyssinia and Albania
3, Pragmatism:
● While many of the foreign political aims of the dictators were interlaced with their ideology,
their policies were often fuelled by pragmatism. (especially that of Hitler’s)
● For instance, Hitler signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact with the USSR in 1939.
○ It went against the Nazi ideology, as the pact was signed with a communist country
○ But Hitler had pragmatic aims: he could invade Poland without having to fear a
Soviet attack, the USSR would not ally itself with Britain and France
○ While it was motivated by pragmatism, its aim was to make Hitler’s ideological
promises more attainable
● Gaining the support of Mussolini for the Anschluss:
○ support for the invasion of Abyssinia
○ Initially, Mussolini opposed the Anschluss, however, by 1936, he did not oppose it
● It was not so significant in Italy, as, unlike Hitler, Mussolini came into power without a
distinct foreign political path
4, Mussolini was linked to Hitler:
● Many historians assert that Italy’s foreign policy from 1936 on became dictated by Hitler.
● In 1936, the Rome-Berlin Axis was signed, which created greater unity between the two
countries. Besides, Mussolini no longer opposed the possibility of an Anschluss.
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