How did fascist leaders increase their own power?

Many fascist got support by many of the common people. Since they said they would bring the country back on its feet they use a lot of Nationalism. Many of the European countries suffer from the Great depression which got many of them to think democracy and a republic won't work it was either communist or Fascism. Both Communist and fascist fought to get control of the government in some countries the Fascist won(Italy,Germany,Spain,Portugal)