Introduction Fascism is a versatile term used to describe the political philosophies that were influential in many parts of Europe following the First World War. It also relates to the style of leadership and the policies adopted by a group of people. According to Eatwell, fascism is the most vicious political crusade that ever emerged 1 . It is associated with dictatorial rule and violence. In Europe, fascism was experienced between the first and the second world wars. Countries such as Britain, France and Norway had fascist crusades, while others like Poland and Austria were ruled by fascist governors. Nevertheless, fascism had a profound effect on Germany and Italy. Despite the fact there is question over the origin of fascism; Morgan asserts that fascism is a product of crisis 2 . The crisis that engulfed Europe due to war and the great depression presented the perfect opportunity for fascist movements. This is because; crisis created a demand for unusual strategies to solve the political, economic and social issues that emerged after the war. Fascism is mostly associated with leaders who were against collectivism, egalitarianism and socialism. Some of those leaders include Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler among others. Their ideologies were centered on an acute form of nationalism and racism. Although these leaders were first seen as heroes due to the efforts they made to recuperate from the war, their actions later led to an era of violence such as the Holocaust that ended after the Second World War. Fascism is useful in describing the political regimes witnessed in interwar Europe. This paper discusses the origin and ideologies developed in interwar Europe and the reasons why these ideologies spread. It further examines the characteristic policies adopted by Leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Finally, it looks at the relationship between fascism and religion in Europe. Origin of Fascism Product of crisis To understand fascism, it is important to look at its history. According to Morgan, fascism is a product of crisis. The First World War left Europe in economic hardship 3 . Economic control changed hands from England to United States. There was a high rate of unemployment and the inflation rate had increased tremendously. In Britain, workers initiated strikes in order to demand an increase in salary and improved working conditions. Moreover, Europe was indebted to America. The Americans demanded that the European nations should pay reparations. Since there was no way for these nations to pay compensation fees and inter-allied debts, the Americans invested in Europe to recover their debt. Unfortunately, when the United States economy failed, the European economy failed too. For most people, the actions of the fascists were not important so long as the nation was restored to its former glory. Still, other historians hold the view that fascism started way before the First World War due to the cultural and social changes that occurred in Europe. Those who hold this view believe that fascism already existed before it could be identified 4 . Reaction to communism However, Eatwell argued that fascism originated from rejection. Fascists detest the idea of freedom and fairness 5 . They believe that democracy causes the government to be weak.