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Map of Fascism and
Authoritarianism in Europe (1922-1975)
by James Mayfield (Chairman, European Heritage Library)
 Print
this Article About
the Author Bibliography/Sources
Below is an exclusive map
the EHL has published charting the historic power and influence
of Fascism and authoritarianism and their related government
systems from 1922-1975 in Europe. It is an attempt to study
the historical distribution of totalitarian, right-wing governments
present throughout Europe from the end of World War I until
the modern period. Compare this exclusive EHL map with our
Communism Map as well to study the political climate in Europe
between the World Wars. If you have any questions or disputes,
feel free to notify us.
Mapping Information
& Extra Notes:
Nations charted in green
are nations that entirely and independently installed Fascist
or authoritarian governments with or without popular approval,
in other words not directly imposed by an outside invader
such as the Third Reich. Nations in blue are nations that
may or may not have adopted Fascism by the will of the public
but primarily as a result of the annexation by the Third Reich
and the subjugation as "puppet states" like Slovakia,
etc., though they had independent leaders and governments
often with the support of their respective populations.
The definition of the term
"Fascism" as applied to this map is highly disputed
by scholars and historians today. In the minds of many scholars,
there never was a Fascist nation but Mussolini's Italy, arguing
that Germany, Japan, and other states were something competely
unique. This map refers to absolute leadership of a party
or individual with an official state doctrine of militarism,
nationalism, guaranteed private property rights (capitalism),
and in some cases racialism. All of these governments, in
whatever combination or intensity, bitterly cracked down on
liberal revolt, social liberalism or anarchy, leftist democracy,
and in most cases Jews becauses of their close association
with Communist and anarchist movements in Europe in the 1920s-30s.
Some Fascist governments were either elected or enjoyed tremendous
support from their populations, and were not the standard
regimes of juntas and tyrants we see today in Myanmar and
Zimbabwe. Very few European Fascist countries became Fascist
by a direct national seizure of power by the army or an individual
warlord. The vast majority of Europe had Fascist or authoritarian
governments, even before Hitler seized power, most of them
quite popular due to a wide array of factors, including paranoia
for an impending Communist assault, total state bankruptcy,
and the widespread desire to promote the ethnic or racial
identity of European nations from various forms of a supposed
social pollution.
Many today may be offended
by seeing their nations defined as Fascist, but each of the
countries charted as Fascist on this map meets the criteria
listed above. "Fascist" does not equate to racist,
Jew-hating, or genocidal, but rather to a complex worldview
of ideological nationalism and Social Darwinism, either from
a biological racial) or social standpoint.
The circumstances under which
Fascist emerged were diverse. Spain became Fascist through
the victory of the ultranationalistic General Franco in the
Civil War. Portugal was ruled in a similar situation by an
isolated, Catholic nationalist regime under Antonio de Salazar.
Poland, the last nation the average person would consider
Fascist since it was such a horrendous victim of Fascist conquest,
was among the most aggressive and militaristic of European
powers, conquering land from Lithuania (Polish-majority Vilnius)
and Ukraine (Galicia) almost immediately upon the nation's
re-establishment in 1918. Poland remained a de jure republic
(but hardly liberal in practice), but was in effect easily
one of the most right-wing and militaristic of all non-Axis
and non-Soviet nations in the 1920's.
Nations that were formally
and officially allies of the Third Reich (Axis nations) are
noted, including Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. Though Finland
also was a formal ally of the Third Reich, it did not fully
undergo a conversion from a rightist democracy to a full Fascism,
despite a very strong government with intense nationalistic
tinge especially under Mannerheim.
My photo of Portugal's nationalist monument, build under one
of Europe's longest-lasting dictatorships under Antonio de
Salazar. The ruined portion below was built after the fall
of the regime to symbolize the devastation of Portugal that
his useless colonial wars in Angola, Mozambique, and East
Timor (Timor-Leste) cost the Portuguese people (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
Click the below map
for the full-size version! Click on the map to zoom.
If an error has been made,
please notify the EHL Staff.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
James Mayfield is a historian
and the Chairman of the European Heritage Library. I have
a Cum Laude BA in History with a Minor in Germanic Studies
(language and history), am presently working for my Masters
in History, and plan to immediately progress to my PhD Doctorate.
I have a special academic interest in Europe's diverse ethnic
identities, languages, and cultures, and the political struggles
of native European and immigrant minority identities. See
my staff entry for more information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES
USED:
The image used as the basis
for the map is widely redistributed and is not protected.
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