Why did communism and fascism appeal to Europeans in the 1930s? How did propaganda contribute to the appeal of communism and fascism to Europeans and Japanese in the inter-war period (1920s and 1930s)? 

Download Primary Source Set: Rise of Communism & Fascism

This set examines how totalitarian leaders of the Soviet Union, Italy, Germany and Japan used propaganda as they tried to promote communism and fascism in the period between the two world wars. Students analyze examples of written and visual propaganda appealing to emotions, using symbols and evocative references, and supporting or opposing a cause.