The majority of you have commented for yourselves and responded to one of your classmates. If you haven't posted an original response and/ or given a peer critique you should still do that for the participation grade.
Here is the advised direction for the IB markscheme with regard to this paper 3 question.
Interwar years: conflict and cooperation 1919–1939
15. Compare and contrast the reasons for the rise to power of Hitler and Mussolini.
Comparisons are much more obvious – contrasts may be limited. Comparisons include: flawed political structures in both cases which led to weak coalition government. Economic crises include: in Italy post-war recession, in Germany the impact of the Depression, in both high levels of unemployment led to support for the left and fear of revolution. Increased disillusion with democracy. In Italy the Biennio Rossi and in Germany the continued support for the K.P.D. increased fear of communism.
Desire for a strong leader and lack of support from the elites , undermined democratic governments. The fear of a coup contributed to the appointment of leaders who were hostile to democracy. In both cases the class based nature of political parties in coalitions made effective government difficult and weakened support for democracy.
Contrasts: In Germany Hitler had much greater popular support, thus appearing more democratic. Mussolini, in contrast, only had 35 Fascist deputies in 1921. This could be explained by the fact that Hitler had a clear programme which attracted mass support. Mussolini’s tactics were much more overtly violent than Hitler’s – Squadrismo was used to undermine the Liberal governments in Italy in the years 1919–1922.
Candidates may refer to the period of the consolidation of power, the main focus should be on the rise to power.
If only Hitler or Mussolini is addressed, mark out of a maximum of [8 marks].
Some other sources you may want to explore:
German Pre-War Economy
BBC Scholastic Conditions for Hitler's Rise to Power
Mussolini's Dictatorship
Conditions for Mussolini's Rise to Power
