ABSTRACT
The socialist aspects of fascism are those most commonly ignored, perhaps because they conflict with the convenient explanation that fascism was a right-wing movement. The distress of the post-1918 period provided the incentive for millions to swallow the heady brew of fascism, which was a combination of nationalism and socialism. Socialism thus began that distinctive journey towards nationalism and the deification of power so characteristic of fascism in Germany. Socialism as a force conducive to the rise of fascism was by no means confined to Germany. In France, Italy, Spain and England as well as in much of the rest of Western Europe the connection between socialism and fascism may also be seen. Fascism owed much in virtually every European country to socialism as well as nationalism. When the orthodox parties of the Left or Left-centre came to power in the years between the wars disillusionment was frequently rapid, although the desire for radical change remained.
