HIST 104 Lecture 4: Fascism Abroad - Entanglements
January 16
Fascism Abroad: Entanglements
- Transnational Fascism should be described with entanglements because it is not linear.
Finland
- Pre-WWI, Finland was a Duchy of the Russian Empire.
- It was somewhat autonomous, but this still created a lot of resentment.
- During WWI, many Finnish people get military training in Germany.
- They begin to support German presence in Finland, especially towards the end of
the war, when Communist Russia became very threatening.
- 1918: civil war with Reds (Russian-backed) vs Whites.
- Created the Finnish Communist Party when the Reds lost.
- Action here shows the typical view of Russia - fear .
- Results:
- A Republican government was installed.
- There was still widespread fear of communism.
- Extreme right was anti-communist radical (ie. veterans).
- Many were pro-violence or anti-enlightenment.
- Example: “heydey” Lapua movement in 1929.
- Putsch in 1932 to end it.
- Lots of indigenous factors (ie. anti-communism) instead of an Italian influence.
France
- Note that the French revolution reflected liberalism and somewhat enlightenment.
- Around 1899, there is an existing right-wing action francaise, which is anti-liberal and
pro-army.
- 1921: members of this are excited with the early reports of Italian fascism.
- 1922: hopes that right-wing leaders in France would emulate the ‘march on
Rome’.
- They published a lot of the early work on fascism.
- Wanted people (ie. veterans) to use violence to attack le-wing politicians.
- 1926: openly fascist party is created.
- Jeunesse patriotes had fascist elements but didn’t want to be openly fascist.
- 1926: the Pope excommunicates the members of action francaise, which undermines
their strength.
- Post-1933: revival of fascism when Hitler comes to power.
Entanglements
- Minority groups are given protection and rights, which creates a matrix of right-wing,
conservative, and fascist outlooks.
- ie. Horthy’s Hungary admired Mussolini and Hitler (even in the 1920’s).
Document Summary
Transnational fascism should be described with entanglements because it is not linear. Pre-wwi, finland was a duchy of the russian empire. It was somewhat autonomous, but this still created a lot of resentment. During wwi, many finnish people get military training in germany. They begin to support german presence in finland, especially towards the end of the war, when communist russia became very threatening. 1918: civil war with reds (russian-backed) vs whites. Created the finnish communist party when the reds lost. Action here shows the typical view of russia - fear . There was still widespread fear of communism. Extreme right was anti-communist radical (ie. veterans). Lots of indigenous factors (ie. anti-communism) instead of an italian in uence. Note that the french revolution re ected liberalism and somewhat enlightenment. Around 1899, there is an existing right-wing action francaise, which is anti-liberal and pro-army. 1921: members of this are excited with the early reports of italian fascism.
