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)

The answer is ethnic groups.

Several different things make up a culture like, how the people worship, their form of government, geography, and trade. religion is one of the most important things to a culture, it defines peoples life. their different beliefs form into festivities and events that merge with their culture. people that practice hinduism see cows as gods, so no doubt they would celebrate cows, and these celebrations would definitely merge with their culture. those that are buddhist live life trying to reach a certain level of peace, so no doubt would they change things in their life in order to correspond with their religion.