The document discusses how the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles led to economic instability and depression in Germany and Italy in the 1920s. This created mass unemployment and wiped out savings. The economic problems helped fascism rise in Europe as figures like Hitler gained support by opposing communism and appealing to middle class fears of communism and their economic struggles during the depression. Fascism was seen as a better system than democracy to prevent the spread of communism at the time.

1. By Hassan & Roshan

2. - Major economic instability
weakening political European
life
- Uncontrollable inflation
wiping out savings and creating
mass unemployment

3. Lead to the rise of fascism in the 1920s
The treaty was believed by many to be
very harsh and aided figures like Hitler
- Italy also did not receive the territory
it was promised
- Germany was subjected to harsh
reparations and lost territory – this
lead to economic depression as
explained in the previous slide along
with heavy inflation

4. Fascism originated from the harsh response and fear
of communism
- The fear of communism allowed figures like
Mussolini in Italy to come to power
- The upper and middle class feared the spread of
communism following the Russian Revolution
- There was even a Red scare in the USA
- Communist revolts in Germany, Austria and
Hungary in 1919 contributed to this fear
- Fascism was seen as a better barrier to
communism rather than democracy

5. Support from the Middle class is a must to
produce a fascist government
In this way, Hitler appealed to the Middle
class claiming to represent them as they
were hit the hardest by the depression in
Germany
- The Middle class felt trapped between
unionised workers and the wealthy elites