A bookreport on Fascism in Western Europe: 1900-45, by Kedward, Roderick. Simple and concise, it also briefly examines the credibility of the author.

According to popular belief, fascism was composed of a dominant totalitarian government that possessed total control over the people of its nation. Fascists were "psychopaths or the scum of society" and fascism was "an appeal to man's animal nature" (5). However, fascism was much more complex than what many people believe it to be. Fascism originated as a synthesis of many ideas and a compromise between conflicting sides. For example, fascists were neither socialists nor capitalists, …

…greatly influenced by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who claimed that individuals can be born superior and that an entire race can be naturally superior. Nietzsche argued that human society should be based upon Darwin's theory of natural selection and affirmed that great leaders should use aggression and force as a means of achieving power. Nietzsche's philosophy served as a foundation for fascism and inspired Hitler and other fascist leaders to follow his ideas and ambitions.