What is Fascism?

7. Other Fascists

Fascism wasn’t limited to Germany and Italy. In Spain, Francisco Franco rose to power during a bloody civil war in the 1930s, backed by both Hitler and Mussolini. His regime executed thousands of political opponents, censored the press, and suppressed minority groups. Though his rule softened in later years, Franco remained in power until his death in 1975.

Elsewhere, authoritarian leaders with fascist tendencies took control. Engelbert Dollfuss in Austria, Antonio Salazar in Portugal, Ioannis Metaxas in Greece, and Hideki Tojo in Japan all ruled with limited opposition, strong nationalism, and strict control over civil liberties. While not identical in method, these regimes shared many of the hallmarks of fascist governance.