History of Fascism
Few terms have endured the century with as much strength — and confusion — as fascism. We traveled through more than five countries, accessed unpublished archives, and explored emblematic sites marked by this ideology. We also spoke with some of the world’s leading experts to understand the History of Fascism. In this BP Original, across three episodes, discover how fascism is not merely a label or insult used in political debates, but a concrete historical phenomenon that shaped the 20th century — and whose lessons remain essential today.
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The rise of Mussolini to power
In the ashes of World War I, Benito Mussolini, a former Socialist and fiery journalist, turned Italy’s chaos into a movement that promised order and national pride. Blending propaganda, violence, and charisma, he founded the Fascist Party, marched into Rome, and established a totalitarian regime....
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The rise of Hitler to power
Amid the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles and the collapse of Weimar democracy, Adolf Hitler rose from obscurity to absolute power. Channeling Germany’s anger and despair, he rebuilt the Nazi Party, mastered mass propaganda, and turned racial hatred into state policy. Under his rule, total...
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World War II and the end of Fascism?
As Mussolini and Hitler joined forces, their empires spiraled toward destruction. This episode reveals how their ambitions unleashed global war, exposed the brutality of their ideologies, and ended in ruins. From the battlefields of Europe to the horrors of the Holocaust, the world watched both d...
