Figure 1.--Fascist officials in the small town of Verres built this monumental "M" to honor Il Duce on a planned visit. The monument is manned with uniform boys from the Fascist youth movement. I'm not sure when the photograph was taken, but would guess the late 1930s. |
World War II was in many ways a continuation of World War I. It was also a result of the emergence of political parties, primarily Fascist parties, which idealized war. Despite the experience of World War I, the Fascists idealized war. The Fascists were willing to employ coercion in international affairs much as they employed as part of their policies domestically. This commitment to war was normally disguised in part propganda. While not as committed ideologically to war, the Communist were quite willingto employ coercion both domestically and iternationally. Fascism and Communism are often seen as opposite ends of the political spectrum. In fact there are many similarities. It was not accident that until June 1941, Hitler and Stalin were partners. Fascists and Communists groups formed throughout Europe in the 1920s and 30s. Except for Italy and Germany, however, they were only able to size power with the support of outside forces. The Germans chose a right-wing political party in occupied countries to assist in the occupation. There were also Fascit and Communist parties in democraic countries like America, Britain, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Norway, and other countries. In the case of the occupied countries, these parties often cooperated with the NAZIs.
The 20th century was noted for the emergence of two totalitarian political systems in the aftermath of World War I and the disolution of the ththree great European empires (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia). They were normally depicted as leftvand right--the two extremnes of the political spectrum While there were significan differences between the two systems. In fact there were great similarities between the two system, most notably the absencev of the rule of law and individual systems. Power in both lay in the hands of an elite which dictated to the general public.
The social and state systems of Russia, Yugoslavia, and other Eastern European countries need to be considered by HBC, both the impact of the Communists when they seized power and the aftermath of the fall of Communist regimes. Communism as a social force was founded by Karl Marx in his land mark work Das Kapital. The first Communist state was of course the Soviet Union. The Revolution was a reaction to the privations of World War I (1914-18), in which the Russian people, suffered greviously. The Bolshevicks emerged victorious against a democratic Provisional Government (1917). This led led to a distructive Civil war between Reds and Whites (1918-22). The Bolshevivks proceeded found not only a socialist economy, but a repressive police state under Lenin and more importantly Stalin. It is now recognized
by most authors that Stalin's ruthless policies including engineering a famine in the Ukraine resulted in more deaths that even Hitler's Holocaust and other genocidal policies. Stalin at the outbreak of World War II at first entered a partnership with Hitler, but then was invaded (1941). The Great Patriotic War waged by the Russian people was the key factor in the defeat of the German Army (1945). It also left Stalin in control of the countries of Eastern Europe. The result was the Cold War with American and the European democracies. The internal contridictions and efficencies of the Communist system and the desire of natuonal groups for indepence led to the unraveling of the Stalin's Soviet empire, first in Poland (1989) and finally the Soviet Union itself (1991). The Communists without a maket economy are of course not noted for their fashion sence and fashion industry. There were some ideological constraints on fashion. Often clothing manufacturers just copied Western styles, but there were clothing industries in these countries and fashion developments. Some countries had specialized school fashions and uniforms and the Young Pioners were formed with uniforms.
Fascism is a totalitarian political system centered on nationalism. The first Fascist state was created by Mussolini in Italy which gave its name to the movement as a whole. A core element of Fascism was opposition to the rise of Communism or even Democratic Socialism. Although not a strong element in Italian Fascism, the importance of the Germamn NAZIs in European Fascism made race, escpecialy anti-Semitism a majoe element. The promotion of the nation through a strong state which put the promotion of the nation above any individual rights. A tightly controlled political party is used to mobilize mass support for the state. The Party rules without meaniful elections. There are no individual rights or the rule of law. All organizations such as labor unions, professional organizations, are placed under Party control as well as the police. The state controls the educational sydtem and youth movement. The state also controls all media so a carefully controlled version can be presented to the public. Fascism varied from country to country. This was primarily bevcause of the nature of the nationalist movement. German NAZIism had a central racial theme mixed with messianic and mythological elements. Fascist states also differed in their relation to religion. The NAZIs took measures to undermine churches whereas Italian Fascists reached an accomodation with the Catholic Church. Spanish Falangests strongly supported the Church. Facists had no faith in democratic elections and sought to govern by a preminant leader and strong ruling party. Fascists were prone to use force in both domestic and international affairs.
After World War I, different political parties formed youth wings. Thus a basic understanding of Belgian poltical developments is needed to understand the different youth groups. The situation was quite different in Flanders and Wallonie. After World War I, the leaders of the Council of Flanders were arrested and tried for treason. Nine were executed and were granted clemency in 1929. Flemist nationlists gained seats in parlimentary elections. The Frontpartij showed some popular support in Flemish areas. The Scouts were the most important youth movement, but several of the political movement had youth wings. This was particularly true of the more radical right-wing groups, including Flemish nationalists. The Dinaso (Fascist poltical movement), formed in a split of the Frontpartij, launched a youth group--the Verbond van Jongdinaso Vendels (Association of Young Dinaso Companies) in the early 1930s. Other Fascist groups formed in the 1930s were even more radical. Some like the Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond (VNV), Duitschen-Vlaamsche Arbeidsgemeenschap (Devlag--the Flag) or the Volksverweering sought to break up the Belgian state and combine with the Netherlands or Germany. Some like the Volksverweering were rabidly anti-semetic. I do not have information on their youth movements if any. Belgium's most important Fascist party appeared in Wallonie and was led by the charismatic Lénn Degrelle. He founded the Christus Rex (Rexist Party) in 1935 and within a year had won 21 seats in Parliament. Although the Germans for racial reasons were more disposed to the Flemish, they found in Degrelle and the Rexists a more deprndable ally. By 1940 the political fortunes of the Rexists had declined, but were to be revived by the NAZIs after the
surrender King Leopold III surrendered the Belgian Army. I have no information on the Rexist's pre-war youth movement. After the German invasion, the Fascist parties allowed by the NAZIS formed youth groups
Mosley was the leading figure in English Fascism during the inter-war era. He was not initially ant-Semetic, but embraced this doctrine to garmer support.
The National Socialist German Worker's Party (NAZIs) became the most powerful of all Fascist parties. It was not foundedby Hitler, but became fominated by him at an early point. Mussolini and his Fascists seized power in Italy a decade before the NAZIs seized power ans stronly influenced Hitler. After the NAZIs seized power they soon elclipsed Mussolini's Fascists.
Mextaxis established a basically Fascist dictatorship in Greece. It was a regime that probably would not have joined the Axis, but would have cooperated with the Germans and Italians. Mussolini without conerring with Hitler, invaded Grece in 1940. This was a huge strategic miscalculation. The Italian army was driven back by the Greeks and the Germans had to intervene. The offensive aginst Greece and Italy was to delay Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
The Fascist militia in Hungary were the Green Shirts.
Fascism first developed in Italy during the period of economic dislocaion and social unrest which followed World War I. The Fascists coined the term Totalitarian and while Musollini may have expired toward that goal, he never created a truly totalitarian state, but rather a personal dictatorship and authoritarian state. Unlike other political movements, Fascism does not appear to have develoed out of any clearly discernable 19th century tradition. The Fascists first appear after World War I in 1919 and led by Mussolini managed to seized power in 1922-25. The poltical orientation of Italian Fascism was initially on the Socialist left, but with a strong nationalistic strain. From the beginning the Fascists believd in using violence to achieve thir goals, but their were also elements of idealism and anti-materialism at least in the ideology. Fascists supported Italian colonialism, but initially supported Communist ideals such as opposition to imperialism and racism. Mussolini as il Duce shifted the party to the right in a series of practical and profitable compromises with the country's important institutions. Italian Fascists invented the term "totalitarian" for Fascist Italy, hoever, Mussolini never carried out a comprehensive Fascist revolution. Rather he ruled as an authoritarian leader in a state that some limited pluralist features. After Mussolini's elevation to power, Fascism began its development of a authoritarian form of social organization. Within a few years, representative democracy in Italy had been replaced by a centralized autocracy which at its apex was the absolute dictatorship of Mussolini in whom were concentrated all the principal functions of Government. Directly under him was the Grand Council of Fascism, constituting the political general staff of the regime and of the Fascist Party. The Fascist Party was legally identified with the state, and all other parties were outlawed.
Romanian Fascism has many similarities to Western European fascism. The charteriustics of Fascism, including anti-communism, anti-Semitism, nationalism, mysticism, authoritarian leadership, and other elements are all issues adopted by the Iron Guard. An historical experience of territorial disputes with the powerful surronding empitres and the importance of Orthodox Christianity are uniue as pects of Romanian Fascism.
The first Communist state was the Soviet Union. The Revolution was a reaction to the privations of World War I (1914-18), in which the Russian people, suffered greviously. The Bolshevicks emerged victorious against a democratic Provisional Government (1917). This led led to a distructive
Civil war between Reds and Whites (1918-22). The Bolshevivks proceeded found not only a socialist economy, but a repressive police state under Lenin and more importantly Stalin. It is now recognized by most authors that
Stalin's ruthless policies including engineering a famine in the Ukraine resulted in more deaths that even Hitler's Holocaust and other genocidal policies. Stalin at the outbreak of World War II at first entered a partnership with Hitler, but then was invaded (1941). The Great Patriotic War waged by the
Russian people was the key factor in the defeat of the German Army (1945). It also left Stalin in control of the countries of Eastern Europe. The result was the Cold War with American and the European democracies. The internal contridictions and efficencies of the Communist system and the desire of natuonal groups for indepence led to the unraveling of the Stalin's Soviet empire, first in Poland (1989) and finally the Soviet Union itself (1991). The Communists without a maket economy are of course not noted for their
fashion sence and fashion industry. There were some ideological constraints on fashion. Often clothing manufacturers just copied Western styles, but there were clothing industries in these countries and fashion developments. Some countries had specialized school fashions and uniforms and the Young Pioners were forme with uniforms.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main World War II page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]