Fascism, Nazism and the Holocaust: Autonomy and Responsibility During the period following the First World War, the world was in a state of turmoil, politically and economically. Because of this tension, many people began turning to radical groups across Europe. Citizens conceptualized their sense of rights and obligations vis-à-vis the power of leaders such as Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany. In the period from 1919 to 1940, several events occurred that influenced European citizens' sense of autonomy and responsibility, including the introduction of fascism, the rise of the Nazi Party, and, most dramatically and drastic, the Jewish Holocaust. All of this had an impact on the citizens of the time, as well as the future of their countries and the world. In 1919, Benito Mussolini introduced the concept of fascism to Italian citizens. Because Italy was in such a state of disorganization and division, citizens began to give up their rights and responsibilities and give in to the authoritarian power of Mussolini. Mussolini's concept of fascism offered citizens a means to restore Italian society to being a world power. Many local governments did not function and Italy suffered, politically and economically. The only other political option offered to the people were the left-wing communists, who were also in a state of chaos. Therefore, the people, in their state of confusion, turned to Mussolini's power to find the answers to their problems. Fascism usually focuses on the authoritative power of a dictator, which in Italy was Benito Mussolini. All rights and responsibilities of the individual, all concepts of liberalism and autonomous democracy were rejected and power was instead transferred... middle of paper......ization, 396.5 Adolf Hitler, The Jewish Peril in Rogers , Aspects of Western Civilization, 397.6 Joseph Goebbels, It's the Jews' Blame! in Rogers, 405---------------------------------------------- ------ ----------------------------------Bibliography- Friedlander, Saul. Nazi Germany and the Jews: Volume 1, The Years of Persecution, 1933-1939. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997. This book describes the existence of Germany during the period 1933-1939. It discusses Adolf Hitler's rise to power in depth. There is talk of Hitler's reign over all of Europe, taking power over Paris, Warsaw, Berlin and Vienna as he wishes to rid the world of all Jews. Friedlander also discusses Hitler's extermination of the Jewish people throughout Europe in concentration camps, such as Auschwitz.
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