What were the key events that lead Germany to communist and fascist totalitarianism in Russia and Germany?

Fascism developed from right wing extremism while communism originated from left wing extremism. The right wing was supported by the middle class who sought to maintain the status quo while the left wing was supported by the working class who sought to abolish class distinctions. Both forms of extremism are based on a totalitarian type of government.

Totalitarianism followed the Great Depression and the World War, when people were growing desperate and yearned for better...

Fascism developed from right wing extremism while communism originated from left wing extremism. The right wing was supported by the middle class who sought to maintain the status quo while the left wing was supported by the working class who sought to abolish class distinctions. Both forms of extremism are based on a totalitarian type of government.

Totalitarianism followed the Great Depression and the World War, when people were growing desperate and yearned for better leadership. In Germany, this occurred after Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party came to power. This was after Germany’s defeat and subsequent punishment after World War 1. Hitler and his party took advantage of the desperate economic, social and political conditions (resulting from the World War and reparations imposed on the country) to entrench their ideologies. Apart from using Jews as scapegoats Hitler also pointed to failures of the communist leaning Weimar Republic, which led to its eventual downfall. In Germany the key events were the First World War and the rise of Hitler’s Nazi party.

In Russia (USSR), Stalin took over from Lenin and established a communist dictatorship. He ‘silenced’ all opposition, for instance, he forced Leon Trotsky into exile and later ordered his assassination. Wealthy farm owners had their private property seized. His extreme policies led to the deaths of many however, he established the country as a strong industrialized nation anchored on communism. In Russia (USSR), the key events were the fall of the Tsarists regime, the subsequent rise of the revolutionary Lenin to power, who instituted communism/ socialism, and later the rise of Stalin to power after the death of Lenin.