Franco used predictable strongman tactics — including intimidation by police and the military. Unable to overthrow the government by force, Hitler resolved to take it by political means. At first, concentration camps contained people who didn't conform. (The Nazis didn't want a panic.) After struggling to find an alternative, German President Von Hindenburg reluctantly appointed Hitler Chancellor in January 1933. I love all of Michael Palin's travel documentaries; "Pole to Pole" is my favorite. They went around the streets beating workers up, beating up the socialists. They played no role. This exhibit sits on the site of what was once the nerve center for the Gestapo and the SS, the most despicable elements of the Nazi government. In the late 1930s, Mussolini planned an international exhibition — the 1942 Exhibit Universal Rome (E.U.R.) Holger: He coined the phrase himself, the Führer, the leader, as also establishing himself as a bit of new god for Germany. Not many of Hitler's ambitious plans were completed, but you can visit the courtyard of the Congress Hall, Zeppelin Field (where Hitler addressed his followers), and a few other remains. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, Despite its grim past, E.U.R. Piazza Venezia became the stage for a new, amped-up kind of nationalism. Thanks for joining us. It's all part of an educational program to teach how fascism took hold here and how it led to some of the worst horrors in history. Sorry to interrupt my reports from Europe, but there’s big cinema news coming out of the USA that I just have to share. To bring a visual celebration of the power of the Nazi state to all 70 million Germans. Francesca: In the beginning, I think Mussolini was able to garner so much favor because it really did seem that he was making this a modern country. The evils of fascism were incremental. Francesca: He certainly had a vision of himself as a Man of Genius with a capital G — a man who had a superior vision of society and the world. Please see images.Format: Blu-ray disc Genre: Travel DocumentaryRating: NR All my DVD listings are pre-owned and have been tested. Hi, I'm Rick Steves, back with more travels. We’ll trace fascism’s history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, the totalitarian societies they … Island-hopping to Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes, we'll tour ancient ruins, sample rustic cuisine and compare beaches. Rick: Look at that… 10 "Duce"s. He promised them a bright future, he promised them work, he promised them Lebensraum — "living space"…. Some Americans may be interested in … Francesca: So, the Palace of the Italian Civilization was intended as a celebration of the Italian people and their many talents. Hitler spent large amounts of state money on a comprehensive state welfare program called the "National Socialist People's Welfare." Travel expert Rick Steves spoke with Boston Public Radio on Monday about the future of the travel business now that COVID-19 vaccines are available. Build, build, and build. Travel information for Europe's best destinations across 25+ countries. I also have old VHS copies of the 1994-98 PBS/BBC "Great Railway Journeys" series. The most famous were the Nürnberg trials, where 22 major Nazi criminals had to face justice from the Allied powers. During Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass," as it was called, Jewish homes, hospitals, and schools were ransacked. Related travel information and message boards on www.ricksteves.com. Inheriting a German economy suffering from the Great Depression, including an unemployment rate of nearly 30 percent, Hitler quickly turned to improving the economy. Francesca: Education is everything. But it was becoming clear that, whatever benefits fascism might bring to its political base, it had a darker side — and it came at a huge cost. My Account. Instead, the well-known travel author and TV host is spending the … When citizens allowed leaders to do this, individual freedoms and rights soon fell by the wayside, and democracy was lost. Despite its veneer of respectability, and its popularity among ordinary people, the thriving fascist state relied on increasingly brutal repression. What are those points? There are few actual artifacts; it's mostly written explanations and photos, like reading a good textbook standing up. But just what is it? In reality, Obersalzberg was home to a huge compound of 80 buildings — connected by extensive bunkers — where the major decisions leading up to World War II were hatched (some of which are open to visitors as the Obersalzberg Documentation Center and Bunker). In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and World War II began. A more contemporary series would be the one done about 2 years ago by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman: "Long Way Round" which documents their round the world motorcycle journey; and they actually rode right by my house!!! Picasso's painting put a human face on the horror of war, and threw a stark light on the brutality of Franco and Hitler. Fascism was now taking root in Germany. It was like hypnosis. He privatized many industries, and the corporations that had supported his candidacy continued to back him. I'm Rick Steves. And on Feb. 1, it’s a special behind-the-scenes look at the making of Rick Steves’ Europe. Bring a jacket, and prepare for crowds in summer (less crowded if you go early or late in the day). Experience Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's Rick Steves' Europe and public radio's Travel with Rick Steves. We explore the still-stern remains of fascist societies and ponder the powerful memorials built in the wake of their defeat. Finally, in the spring of 1945, the war in Europe ended. Further west, Spain and Portugal were also flirting with fascism. You can email Rick at rick… Hitler may have been locked up in prison, but he was tapping into ideas that had already been percolating in places around Europe. We'll trace fascism's history from its roots in the turbulent aftermath of World War I, when masses of angry people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, the totalitarian societies they built, and the brutal measures they used to enforce their … The centerpiece is called the "Palace of Italian Civilization.". Rick: Could Germans just buy this? Andreas: Fascism is perceived as a strong movement with simple answers for complicated problems. In this one-hour special, Rick travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. Where there would be work for everybody. Holger: For him, it was clear his scapegoat was the Jews. Crowning a bluff just above Omaha Beach and the eye of the D-Day storm, 9,387 brilliant white-marble crosses and Stars of David glow in memory of Americans who gave their lives to free Europe on the beaches below. Make citizens more than consumers, and very importantly, having media that are not biased. Francesca: What I understand now is that it was like a collective dream. I’ve been in lots of TV shows but, until now, never in a movie. The word comes from the Latin word for this: a fasces. Part Missing. TV-G | 26min | Documentary, Biography, History | TV Series (2000–2019) Episode Guide. But the democratically elected government fought back, and the nation descended into a bloody civil war. A WHITE CHRISTMAS ACROSS EUROPE [DOCUMENTARY BY RICK STEVES] As a child traveling in Europe, I met a piano player who was a concentration camp survivor. He put together a ruling coalition — partnering with conventional conservative politicians who figured they could control him. In the 1920s and '30s, tens of thousands of Italians would fill this square to hear rousing speeches delivered from that balcony. I bought thus to add to my collection of travel DVDs by Rick Steves. It's very nicely filmed, and shows us a lot of attractions. Although there's no clue in the title, it was filmed in Sicily, at Mondello Beach outside Palermo. Rick Steves' Europe. With what the Nazis called the "Final Solution," the entire Jewish population was targeted for extermination. Auschwitz I, where public transportation from Kraków arrives, has the main museum building, the Arbeit Macht Frei gate, and indoor museum exhibits in former prison buildings. That was exactly what they wanted to hear. Hitler and Mussolini, who mistakenly believed Franco would join their fascist alliance, threw gas on the fire. Select the department you want to search in. In 1932 the Nazi party won only about a third of the seats in parliament. In fact, one of the mottos was, "Mussolini ha sempre ragione." Seeing the camp can be difficult. Today, the chalet is basically a three-room, reasonably priced restaurant with a scenic terrace, 100 yards below the summit of a mountain. The economy was horrible — people needed jobs…terrible inflation wiped out savings…it took literally a wheelbarrow of nearly worthless currency to buy a loaf of bread. ["…at a time when Rome] had Caesar, and Virgil, and Augustus."]. Mussolini championed the revival of the glory of ancient Rome. Once a year, one speech, of Adolf Hitler. Travel experiences are like seeds that grow in ways impossible to predict — like producing a TV special called "Rick Steves' Fascism in Europe," debuting fall 2018 on public television across the USA. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. My grandson traveled to Germany and loved it and wants to travel more so this will be a nice Christmas present for him. Francesca: So these mosaics were inspired by ancient Rome, and they proclaim the greatness of the leader, and the achievements of the fascist Regime — military events, Roman salutes — and for emphasis, things were repeated: Duce, Duce, Duce, Duce. Andreas: The VW was the idea that it's an affordable car for everybody, that would then fill these Autobahnen. — to show off the wonders of his fascist society. Catch Metro line A to Flaminio, then tram #2 to the end of the line (Piazza Mancini) — or, if you're coming from Termini station, take bus #910; from the Vatican, take bus #32 from Piazza Risorgimento. Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020, Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018. Our journey will take us back nearly a century to learn how, in Europe, fascism rose and then fell — taking millions of people with it. The goal? In the 1930s, after becoming the German Chancellor, Hitler chose the Berchtesgaden region as the place to build his mountain retreat, a supersized alpine farmhouse called the Berghof — the Nazis' answer to Camp David. Rick Steves (ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. In 1923, in a beer hall like this, the original Nazi leadership gathered their followers. Then we'll sip wine near Mount Etna, ponder Greek and Roman relics, and relax in Taormina. It gives details of what people did to protect their Art and the Nazis that destroyed . One of those was the country where the fascist ideology would first come to power: Italy. In a matter of weeks, he wove these bomb-shattered shards into a large mural called Guernica. And we'll see how cruising lets you do this efficiently. A disaster like this (which many historians believe was actually the work of Hitler's people), is an answer to an aspiring dictator's prayer. Fascism continued to spread, and its militarism threatened peace in Europe. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to share a culturally appropriate drink with me. Much of Germany was swept up in Hitler's charismatic vision and the country had a common purpose. Hi, I'm Rick Steves, enjoying more of the best of Europe. At Oxford and Cambridge, we'll see where kings and prime ministers studied. American troops swept up from the south, through Italy. With this "national security emergency," Hitler now had his excuse to crush the Communists, silence moderates, and create laws giving him sweeping new powers. Women swooned when his car drove by. One German industry that boomed was the auto industry, and one of the world's most famous cars was born during the Nazi era. He pumped up the economy, created jobs, and invested in infrastructure. In this one-hour special, Rick travels back a century to learn how fascism rose and then fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. And if you take freedom for granted, you can lose it. American travel authority Rick Steves guides viewers through his favorite European cities. Those early Nazis found a natural base here in Munich. And they probably tried to read it and they gave up 10, 20 pages in. While Fascists won only a handful of seats, they were a potent political force — and a paramilitary one. But when you bundle them together, they become very strong. With Rick Steves, Madhur Jaffrey. These were gangs of, in most cases, veterans of the war. To break their spirit, Franco enlisted the help of Germany's air force, and the defiant town was decimated in the world's first saturation aerial bombardment. Only one style was acceptable. Travel expert and faithful Lutheran Rick Steves came along as on-camera host. Smaller text Larger text. We've created the Rick Steves Tours forum as a place for tour alums to stay in-touch with their tour buddies and share their candid tour experiences. Seven thousand Jewish businesses were damaged or destroyed, and over a thousand synagogues were burned. The idea? The first was medieval — it was called the "Holy Roman Empire." Mussolini: … aveva Cesare, e Virgilio, e Augusto. "Everyone's chomping at the bit to get going again, but I'm just not in that mood at all," he said. The war raged on, even after it was clear that Germany would lose. Alfio: All the soldiers coming back from the battlefields were not really welcomed back. The free press was silenced, as were intellectuals and universities. Some mistakenly call the entire area "Hitler's Eagle's Nest," but that name actually belongs only to the Kehlsteinhaus, a small mountaintop chalet on a 6,000-foot peak that juts up two miles south of Obersalzberg. But even today, in well-established democracies throughout the West, societies are facing many of the same emotions, frustrations, and inequities that, a century ago, opened the door to fascism in Europe. Everywhere he went, crowds adored him. I think we can learn not to follow leaders into the abyss and to maintain critical independent thinking. A WHITE CHRISTMAS ACROSS EUROPE [DOCUMENTARY BY RICK STEVES] And, while you could read this story anywhere, to take this in atop the Gestapo headquarters is a powerful experience. Georg: The idea about fascism is to have a big community that all operates exactly the same way, and to have a common opinion that covers all. And 30,000 Jews were arrested and put in concentration camps. Rick Steves' Europe. In Spain, near Madrid, a towering granite cross marks the Valley of the Fallen. Suddenly Adolf Hitler was heading a new German government. Let's dance on the beach at Nazaré, marvel Batalha's abbey, revel with students in Coimbra, savor port wine, and get to know Portugal's fascinating second city of Porto. His visits were lovingly filmed to show him as the embodiment of all that was good about Germany: healthy, vigorous, respectable…everyone's favorite uncle. Basically, blond, blue-eyed people doing field work. They were impatient and eager to take power. You'll see actual artifacts: the secret bookcase entry, Anne's movie-star cutouts on the wall, and her diaries. That's one reason it was a favorite of Hitler's to showcase his nationalistic pomp and pageantry…to inspire all of Germany to get on board. In this vacuum of power, a fringe movement — claiming to be the champion of the oppressed — emerged. Germany first annexed neighboring Austria, then the mostly German-speaking region of Czechoslovakia — the Sudetenland, followed shortly after that by the rest of the country. A community for Rick Steves tour alums, first-timers and future tour members. I was so disappointed that some of the episodes are just re-dos of past shows. One is fascination, and the other is terror. Independent information. Suddenly, Italy was under fascist rule with a bold — if politically inexperienced — new leader. +49 (0)163-345-4427, explore@berlin.de). Georg, who has helped me generously with my guidebooks, offers three-hour walking tours of Munich, among other options. SO deceptive! He owns a tour company but does not do tours to Cuba.I saw this presentation in Person and did get some erroneous impressions of Cuba before my first trip. And when a dictator convinces an entire nation to march together in lock step, they feel strong too. Andreas: The Nazis believed that the German people were the "master race" — the toughest, the strongest, the bravest, the smartest. Georg: So Hitler promised jobs, jobs, jobs, to everybody, and of course people needed jobs. Rick Steves' Europe is an American travel documentary television series created and hosted by Rick Steves. If there was an important radio report, it wouldn't just be two people doing housework, or one person doing housework next to it, you would have the entire family there — [and] maybe the neighbors, if they couldn't afford a radio. Along with the new and powerful media of movies he used traditional formats, such as newspapers, posters, and even postcards. A community for Rick Steves tour alums, first-timers and future tour members. Holger: People were taken by Hitler's speech — not so much by the beauty of his arguments, but by his shear fanaticism, by his anger, by his rage, and his repetitive rhetoric. Germany was overwhelmed as the combined military might of the Allies closed in on the Third Reich from the west, south, and east. Alfio: They were going ballistic — even for a hand gesture, or a facial expression. The efficient and heartless bureaucracy behind Hitler's crimes gave rise to the expression "the banality of evil.". It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Shortly after this TV special was filmed, the Spanish government announced plans to exhume Franco's body for reburial in a more modest spot. Rick Steves' Europe. Anyone who didn't fit into their model could be viewed as an enemy of the state, and sent to concentration camps. Alfio: People didn't have a choice to accept Mussolini as their leader. Germany was booming, and building up its massive military — blatantly breaking the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. The Life of Apostle Paul with Rick Steves I recorded this documentary in 2004 in Greece and Turkey while working for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. And perhaps the most far-reaching was the new medium of radio. He had a big protection of his political movement…. In Palermo we'll sing with merchants, drop in on a contessa, and join in the passeggiata. He locked up the few courageous politicians who voted against him and established his total control of the German government. It's harvest time! A short walk from Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe are the buried remains of the Führerbunker. In total, approximately six million Jews died from Nazi persecution. Andreas: Well you can see that Hitler had problems with grammar — part of it is gibberish; it's very hard to get through. All the full length Rick Steves Europe PBS Episodes that I could find. We'll stroll Lisbon's waterfront and back lanes, and hear some soulful fado music. We'll visit Glencoe, Inverness, the Culloden battlefield - and keep our eyes peeled at Loch Ness - as we work up an appetite for modern Scottish cuisine and traditional folk music. In fact, the emperor's castle still towers above Nürnberg. Our tours attract fun, flexible folks who often remain friends many years after their "farewell" dinner together. Francesca: So, if you bring all of these elements together, a moment of crisis, a strong leader who knows how to take advantage of the fear and you don't have a really true press where there's no exchange of opinions, I think there's a possibility for these things to happen again. Mussolini's "Stadium of the Marbles," part of the sports complex called the Foro Italico, is adjacent to Rome's modern Olympic Stadium (which now hosts soccer games most weekends except in summer). 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