General Discussion

Last edited Thu Jan 9, 2025, 12:27 PM - Edit history (1)

in order to run as a candidate in German elections. I wouldn't credit Hitler's birth in Austria as the reason for fascism in Austria or its unification with Germany.

As you probably know, the unification of various Germanic states was a theme throughout the 19th century, continuing into the early 20th century, with Austria and Prussia as the dominant, separate, and opposing Germanic powers. With the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it seemed more possible, but there were still obstacles, including Austrian nationalism and religious differences.

Fascism in Austria was an internal development before its unification with Nazi Germany.

Spain's fascist movement took decades to develop as a result of extreme polarization between left and right, monarchists and republicans (small r), church and secularists, rural and urban areas. There had been coups prior to the civil war, and leanings toward authoritarianism. The international geopolitics of the time led to fascist Germany and Italy supporting Franco and the Soviet Union supporting the opposition. Other nations stayed out of it officially, but many of their citizens volunteered to fight on the side of the republicans against fascism.

So, yes, Franco was supported by fascist nations, but the internal fight between left and right in Spain went back to the 19th century, before Germany and Italy became fascist.