In the turbulent years after World War I, a new type of governing philosophy took shape in a handful of countries. It was known as fascism. Fascism denied that individuals had any rights the state was bound to respect. It demanded that citizens blindly obey their leader. It glorified violence. It promised to purify a degraded culture and restore the nation to greatness. Full-fledged fascist governments came to power in Italy under Benito Mussolini and in Germany under Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. In addition, significant fascist movements existed in several other countries. Fascism led to some of the darkest episodes in human history-- including the Holocaust--before being swept away by World War II. This book details the rise and fall of a discredited form of government.