The Faces of Fascism

As the knee-jerk and improvisational dictatorship of Primo de Rivera lumbered through the 1920s, what were the reactions of Spain's societal factions, and how did the actions of Lieutenant-Colonel Franco unintentionally cause the first cracks to appear? The lessons in entrusting the running of a country to an amateur soon become apparent.

Before there was Franco, there was another twentieth-century general who abolished democracy to restore the glory of Spain. But who was Miguel Primo de Rivera, and what were the circumstances that brought him to power? Moreover, can this militarist who was dismissive of colonialism be considered a Fascist?

In the first of two episodes, I join Mr W of the GCSE History Revision Podcast to talk about the rise of Hitler. In November 1923, a bunch of political chancers launched an attempted coup - a putsch - from a beer cellar. A collection of ex-soldiers and political monomaniacs led by a failed artist, they thought they could repeat Mussolini's March on Rome. Who were they? In this episode we look at the early history of the National Socialist German Workers' Party - the Nazis - and the causes of the Beer Hall Putsch. We look at the events of the failed rebellion and then look at the consequences for Hitler, the Party and Germany as a whole.

Having been installed as Portugal's Prime Minister, how did Salazar rule? What were his principles, and how did he outline his political philosophies? We also discover the reasoning behind his keeping Portugal neutral during the Second World War, and how he was rewarded for so doing. However, while some describe Salazar as the 'good' dictator, we are reminded of the darker underside of his regime...

Often grouped among the Fascist dictators, Salazar quietly ruled over Portugal for thirty-six years. But who was he, what were his principles, and under what circumstances did this logical, austere and priestly man who despised politics find himself appointed Prime Minister?