Hitler was a Fascist

My opponent has made the claim Hitler was a Fascist. I will say he was not a Fascist but a National Socialist. My opponent is using the capital letter "f" Fascist meaning that Hitler was ideologically a Fascist. He has the burden of proof of proving Hitler was Fascist. Fascism and National Socialism are two different ideologies. But to the English speaking user they seem the same. Why? That is because both Fascists and National Socialists have been the enemies of English speaking countries[1]. Shall we forget how the English speaker broad brushed the Communists and assumed they were all in collusion. Now historians are rectifying the mistakes made by the lazy thinkers and politicians who assumed China and the Soviet Union always had the same interest at heart during the Cold War[2]. Now many historians have come to the conclusion that countries that are ideologically alike are more likely to ally against those with distinct different ideologies. But to many English speakers they are all the same because it is easy to categorize and stereotype.[1]http://www.history.com...[2]http://www.foreignaffairs.com...First we must define Fascism. We must define the terms strictly in accordance to the source of whence it came. Fascism comes from the Italian word Fascismo. Fascismo relates to the Latin term fasces. Fasces is plural for "bundles." To be more precise, I will use the definition of Fascism from the architect of Fascism, Giovanni Gentile(the leading Fascist philosopher). Fascism:"Fascism, in short, is not only a law-giver and a founder of institutions, but an educator and a promoter of spiritual life. It aims at refashioning not only the forms of life but their content - man, his character, and his faith."[4]The Doctrine of Fascism by Giovanni Gentile and Benito MussoliniOrigins of FascismFascism came about during World War I or shortly afterwards under Benito Mussolini. Benito Mussolini previously was a leading socialist in Italy before World War I and was the editor of Avanti(Italy's leading socialist newspaper). Mussolini split with the socialists because he supported Italian entry into World War I on the side of the Allies against the Central Powers. Mussolini created Il Popolo d'Italia(a newspaper) which lead to his creation of Fasci Italiani di Combattimento. Fasci Italiani di Combattimento was created strictly to combat Bolshevik sympathizers and socialists in post World War I Italy. Italy had suffered economically, the socialists and other like minded people went on strikes. The Fascists were created to fight their enemies in the streets. Eventually, the Fascists threatened to March on Rome to take over Italy and restore order once again. The King of Italy, Victor Immanuel III didn't want this to happen so he made Mussolini his Prime Minister[5].[5]My Rise and Fall by Benito MussoliniFascism in PracticeFascism was made up of several core concepts: 1.Anti-Communism I showed that the Fascists came about strictly to fight Bolsheviks and Socialists in post-World War I Italy.2.Pro-Catholicism In order for Fascism to go unopposed in Italy by the Catholic Church, Mussolini would give the Vatican to the Catholic Church.3.National Unity & Class Collaboration The Fascists wanted unification in Italy versus the Communists who wanted to instigate class warfare. The Fascists would eventually ban all other parties via a vote in the parliament.4.Cult of personalityFascism in Italy thrived on the imagery of Mussolini being active in sports, flying airplanes, and farming. Hence the phrases il Duce(leader).5.Obedience to the leader "Mussolini is always right."6.Absolute Power of the State As Prime Minister, Mussolini engaged in various "battles"(grain, lira,births). Mussolini tried to use the state to influence things that hadn't been done before in Italy. In most cases, he failed.7.SpiritualizationTaking note from the F.T. Marinetti and Gabriele d'Annunzio; Mussolini urged Italians to struggle against the odds.8.Imperialism(A New Roman Empire)The Fascists wanted an empire and failed miserably.[6]Mussolini and Italian Fascism by Guiseppe FinaldiNational Socialism by DefinitionNational Socialism according to Dr. Joseph Goebbels:"National-Socialism thinks not in the least about a leveling of the German folk and acknowledges every achievement that elevates a man above the multitude of his contemporaries. But fundamentally considered, we are all equal before death, before danger, and before Judgment, and we want to give expression to this equality when we declare our commitment to each other, and never permit a division to arise among us[7]"[7]Essence and Form of National Socialism by Joseph GoebbelsOrigins of National SocialismThe Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei(NSDAP) was originally a populist workers organization. It was Hitler who molded this minor political party into a political platform with an ideology. Much of the ideology was based on Hitler's experiences. For example, Hitler thought Germany had been betrayed by the Jews in World War I. This influenced his Anti-Semitism and anti-internationalism. National Socialism in PracticeNational Socialism was made up of several core concepts: 1. Anti-InternationalismI would say anti-Internationalism is the top core tenant of National Socialism. This is what separates it from Fascism. Germany suffered economically in the post World War I era. Germany was required to pay costly reparations to the Allies for the cost of The Great War. This left many Germans angered many Germans including Adolf Hitler. Hence, why many people knew who he was referring to when he referred to the "International clique." He was referring to the parties who economically hurt Germany in the West. If the reparations and limits on Germany were not as severe there would of never been a Third Reich. The NSDAP and National Socialism grew based on the sentiment of anti-internationalism.2.Anti-SemitismThis was another concept that distincts National Socialism from Fascism. Anti-Semitism was based on the alleged "profiteers" of Germany's demise; the Jews. 3.Pan-GermanismPan-Germanism was promoted in many of Hitler's early invasions in order to unify all German speaking peoples under one banner. That included Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.4.Pro-AryanHitler celebrated the existence of a master race. The Fascists did not have this concept nor did they focus on race as the National Socialists did. The Fascists only created concentration camps when Hitler pressured Mussolini to in the late 1930s.5.Crushing the Opposing parties & opposition within the NSDAP"Perhaps some of you here are unable to forgive me because I eradicated the Marxist Party but my friend I eradicated all the other parties"- Adolf Hitler 1933Hitler destroyed the those within the NSDAP he disliked(Rohm,Strasser). The National Socialists were far more ruthless compared to the Fascists. He also is most well known for his actions against the Communists.6.Anti-CommunismHitler used the Enabling Act to jail and arrest Communists.7.ImperialismWorld War II and the invasions the Germans started were all a form of imperialism.8.UnemploymentAdolf Hitler's chief focus for using the state was not to manipulate society to his whim like Mussolini. Rather Hitler wanted to lower the level of unemployment. Hitler lowered the level unemployment of by making stricter requirements on employers when they wanted to reduce their labor force. He also went to ban machinery that would reduce the amount of laborers and increase labor intensive work. Mussolini and the Fascists would never have done this. Hence, why the NSDAP are National Socialists.[8]Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party by Frank McDonough