Other countries feared its threat especially were govt. Were weak Italy and Germany. The threat of communism gained the fiercely anti communist Fascist parties a lot of powerful allies including the Catholic Church and the rich Industrialist. The Catholic Church saw fascism as the lesser of two evils and supported Franco in Spain and Mussolini in Italy. The rich industrialists feared the loss of their wealth and they bankrolled Hitler and Mussolini. The Fascists emerged as a bulwark to communism and in Italy Mussolini's Blackshirts broke up Communist strikes and in1933 Hitler used the threat of communism to pass his Enabling act. These gained the fascist support, as they seemed to provide a credible opposition to the Red Threat unlike the Govts.
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LACK OF STRONG, EFFECTIVE GOVT.
Following WW1 there was significant social unrest in European countries. Communist strikes e.g. The Spartacist uprising in Germany there was also ex-army officers roaming the streets. The govt. in many groups unable to deal with the problems. Fascist groups such as Mussolini's Blackshirts offered to restore law and order and their effectiveness gained them support. The fascist party played on the yearning for strong govt. they took on a military look in Italy they wore black uniforms in Germany they wore brownshirts. They also had salutes and emblems. These had a psychological effect. The fascist's didnt make idle promises like the democratic Govts. They took direct action thus gaining them widespread support.
NATIONAL HUMILIATION/THE TEATY OF VERSAILLES.
The treaty of Versailles caused many problems Italy felt cheated as she had fought for the victorious powers but her claims in Dalmatia and Fiume were ignored. Mussolini called it a mutilated victory and promised a strong Italy and a new Roman Empire. In Germany the treaty even more hated. The War Guilt Clause 231 held her totally responsible for the war. The reparations of$6,600 million added to this humiliation and anger.