Introduction

Historically speaking, fascism was originally understood to describe both an ideology and a particular political — and, to some extent, cultural, economic and social — system of a specific geographical area in a delimited period of time — Europe between the wars. Opinions vary as to whether racialism was a particular characteristic of central European fascism, or a trait intrinsic to all fascisms. Fascist strength was based on the urban or rural petty bourgeoisie, but once in power fascism turned for support to the industrialists and big landowners. In fact, the contrast between ambitions and practice, so evident in Italy and Germany, held true in the central European fascisms as well. The first distinction, between the western and the central and eastern European movements, is extremely broad. Opinions vary as to whether racialism was a particular characteristic of central European fascism, or a trait intrinsic to all fascisms, tactically played down in countries where public opinion was most hostile.