The fundamental work of the famous German scientist most fully covers the phenomenon of fascism as a whole. Nolte begins his study with an overview of the diversity of fascist movements in Europe between the world wars. The author then examines in detail the tradition, history, practice and doctrine of the three main movements of fascism: Action Française, Italian Fascism and German National Socialism. Action Française is presented as an early form of fascism, the spiritual content of which is most clearly revealed from a detailed analysis of the doctrine of Charles Maurras. Against this background, the changeable and pragmatic nature of Italian fascism is especially clearly visible. The description of the history of the latter contains an “intellectual biography” of Mussolini, where, on the basis of a collection of his works, the influence of Marxism on his development is proven. German National Socialism is considered from the very beginning within the framework of the European situation and historical era. The chapter dedicated to him especially emphasizes the comparative point of view. This comparison supports the concept that the core of Hitler's policies was the will to destroy. Ernst Nolte, both a philosopher and a historian, has a keen understanding and a broad outlook. The thoroughness of his analysis corresponds to the scale of the problem, and his unusual gift of presentation helps to reveal the full drama of what is happening, from political events to spiritual conflicts.