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The Lure of Fascism in Western Europe: German Nazis, Dutch and French Fascists, 1933-1939
This book breaks new ground by analyzing the reciprocal relationship between a fascism that had reached the power phase (Nazi Germany) and fascist movements in two neighbouring countries which were attempting to come to power in their respective societies.
274 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2008
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December 25, 2023
Masterful accounting of a little studied, and willingly ignored, part of European history.
The book breaks down the homegrown fascist movements in France, the Netherlands and Germany. Orlow, who already wrote a three volume series about the inner workings of the Nazi party, gives the least amount of ink to the German portion of the book. I'll move I understand and support, since those machinations are already well known and he has already covered them.
This leaves France and the Netherlands, and it's engaging reading. Far from being irrelevant, or unknown ideologies in these liberal democracies, Fascism had a fairly vibrant and established presence. Neither country was at the risk of falling to fascism, but it was not unknown and the right wing parties in both countries sought to co-opt their ideas while leaving the more onerous parts of the ideology behind, to mixed success.
My only fundamental gripe with the book is that it follows the outdated notion that Fascism and Nazism are the same thing. However, this definitional dispute doesn't poison the quality of the work. It is still l probably one of the few works coverin these parties and their influence not only during the occupation, but on pre-war right wing parties.
The book breaks down the homegrown fascist movements in France, the Netherlands and Germany. Orlow, who already wrote a three volume series about the inner workings of the Nazi party, gives the least amount of ink to the German portion of the book. I'll move I understand and support, since those machinations are already well known and he has already covered them.
This leaves France and the Netherlands, and it's engaging reading. Far from being irrelevant, or unknown ideologies in these liberal democracies, Fascism had a fairly vibrant and established presence. Neither country was at the risk of falling to fascism, but it was not unknown and the right wing parties in both countries sought to co-opt their ideas while leaving the more onerous parts of the ideology behind, to mixed success.
My only fundamental gripe with the book is that it follows the outdated notion that Fascism and Nazism are the same thing. However, this definitional dispute doesn't poison the quality of the work. It is still l probably one of the few works coverin these parties and their influence not only during the occupation, but on pre-war right wing parties.
Displaying 1 of 1 review