Fascist Italy and Mussolini, All UNITS: Key Dates and Ideas

unemployment in italy 1919

2 million

Mussolini becomes prime minister

29th of October, 1922

agricultural wage reduction 1930s

30%

ras + MVSN demands for mussolini

31st of December, 1924 - stop investigations of fascist violence and become dictator or be overthrown

September 1920 factory occupations

400,000 workers in the industrial north took part while strikes and occupations spread out in central itally

Italian war stats

5 million conscptied bad leadership, planning, supplies 600,000 killed 450,000 disabled 500,000 wounded

PNF members by 1943

5 million, mainly inactive members

increase in PSI members

50,000 to 200,000 from 1914 to 1919

when was the fascist programme published

6th June, 1919

Battle for grain (1925) successes and Failures

Allowed the government to achieve some gains and some losses. An increase in grain production prevented mass dissidence, and prevented the impact of trade sanctions after the invasion of Abyssinia. Some farmers took advantage of the system, making them stationary and refusing to modernise and become competitive. Popular and highly demanded exports such as Italian wine and cheese faced a decline due to the battle for grain. In sum, was successful in obtaining the increase in national production of wheat, and a decrease in the deficit of the trade balance, but went to the detriment of other crops, especially those basic for the livestock industry, and in general, the harmonic development of national agriculture. Doubled cereal production by 1939, olive oil now had to be imported, fruit and wine exports dropped, number of cattle and sheep dropped.

PPI ministers fired from government

April 1923

Mussolini speech: fascist violence is a part of an anti-socialist crusafe to break up the Bolshevist state

April, 1921

What did Mussolini want to do with the italian economy

Autarky, self-sufficiency in food and raw materials. To be completed through the modernisation of industry and agriculture, and the aquisition of an empire for raw materials

Mussolini's first speech to parliament

November 16th, 1922 - makes a threat about the Fascist party (300,000 armed and obedient members), and asked for emergency powers, was given them for a one year period

realised gains from WW1

Trentino, Trieste, glorizia, south tyrol, istria. Austria-Hungary broken up and was no longer a powerful adriatic nation. Yugsolavia threatened italy, though. Result was called a 'mutilated victory' by Gabriele D'Annunzio

Election of 1924 violence

Violent gangs, the Ceka, led by Amerigo Dumini, set up to terrorise anti-fascists. over 100 killed, fascists voted on behalf of dead people, ballot boxes stolen, etc

battle of the births (1927) objectives

aimed to increase the itallian population frm 40 million in 1927 to 60 million by 1950

Alberto de Stefani

appointed by Mussolini as finance minister to increase conservative support. reduced government controls and cut taxation

ban on meetings by opposition parties

august 1924

what effect did the matteoti crisis have on mussolini

barely any, he managed to survive unscathed

main economic battles

battle over the southern problem (1924), battle for grain (1925), battle for the lira (1926), battle for land (1926), battle for births (1926)

biennio rosso effect on mussolini

boosted power and status; sent squadre d'azione to help factory owners in the north and in the Po valley, resulting in them giving money to mussolini.

Socialist strike 1922

called on the 31st of july, general strike. Mussolini broke it by the 3rd of August, led him to increased contact with the liberals.

battle for the lira (1926) successes and failures

caused a decline in exports and a rise in unemployment. Undermined the economic policies of 1922 - 25, creating a recession

Mussolini's reaction to the murder to Matteotti

claimed he did not know about it, newspapers pritner evidence of his invovlement. Suspended parliament to avoid debate on the topic, causing the Aventine Secession. Arrested Dumini and some of the Ceka on the 15th June, 1924

Antonio Gramsci

communist leader, lead the newspaper L'Unita, arrested in November 1926, died in prison in 1937

Giacomo Matteotti

condemnded the facsist violence when the parliament first met, on the 30th of May, 1924, and was killed by the Ceka on June 10th, 1924

Fascist grand council

created in December 1922, would be the supreme decision making body in the party. Mussolini had sole power of appointments, establishing total control over fascist policy - making

action squad actions 1921

due to a general strike in July, over 200 socialists were killed and 800 woundedl distrupting law and order - whcih Mussolini put a stop to, fearful it might alientate conservative elites

Fiat company stats

established in 1899, by 1913 was exporting 4,000 cars a year

what were the latifundia

extensive parcels of privately owned land; great landed estates specialising in agriculture destined for export

result of the 1924 elections

fascists won 65% of the vote

electoral change 1928

for the May 1928 elections, only men aged 21 or over could vote; Grand Council drew up 400 candidate list, people voted yes or no, but voting slips were different colours, so most voted yes

increase in Socialist Trade Union membership

from 250,000 members in early 1919 to 2,000,000 members by the end of 1919

Economic impact of WWI

government debt increased from 16b lire to 85b lire Inflation of 400%, 25% drop in wages 2.5 million soldiers demobilised (increasing unemployment) northen industries prospered

Battle for land (1926) objectives

increase the abailiable amount of farmland by draining the marshes and swamps in Italy

industrial production 1940

increased by 9%, overtook agriculture as the largest propotion of GNP for the first time in Italy's history

Monarchy in the eyes of Mussolini

initially opposed, Mussolini, in late 1922, declared himself no longer against the monarchy. The king eventally became a deeply extremist facist, seeing them as a great option

was the king a facists?

kinda, he made up excuses for not signing the martial law order and famously had little trust or respect for most liberal politicans, being worried about being replaced and a civil war. He also saw mussolini as a bulwark agaisnt the communists. His wife and family were fascists for sure

legge fascistissime

made Mussolini head of Government, a new title - 24th of December, 1925; accompanied by Jan 1926 law that made him able to issue decrees without parliamentary approval

battle of the births (1927) successes and failures

major failure, by 1950 the population was only 47.5 million

Why were the north and the south divided

many italians felt more loyalty towards their own regions than the country; the north was economically developed while the south wasnt, and tough geography slowed this evolution

IRI by 1939

massive state comapny controlling mnay plants including most iron, steel, electrical, and telecommunication plants. Parts sold to larger private organisations

Arcebo Law

new electoral law that would give 2/3 of the seats in partiliament to the party that won 25% of the votes cast - would give Italy the strong and stable government it needed. passed by a large majrority in July 1923 thanks to intimidation, and the support of Giolitti and Salandra

battle over the southern problem (1924) successes

none of the villages ever built

November 1919 elections results Fascists

not a signle one elected. 4,000 commited fascists in the nation by 1919, give or take

impact of ONB and GIL

not as great as intended. 40% of 4 - 18 year olds avoided membership. Private and Catholic schools did not enforce ONB membership. Despite the GUF, contempt to fascism was normal in universities

OND successes

not many, the OND was meant to spread the ideology but many organisers ignored this aspect - by 1939, only 9% of the population belonged to the party

proprtion of women in business

only 10% of public jobs in 1933; expanded to private firms in 1938

Confederation of Fascist Syndicates

organisation set up in 1922 to cretae corporations that would force industrliasts to make some concessions, but it clashed with the cofindustria

When was the PPI set up

paritio popolare italiano, set up in 1919. Won 20% of the vote in the election that same year

steps taken by mussolini to deal with the great depression

public money used to bail out banks and certain industries Institute of industrial reconstruction set up ​

battle for the lira (1926) objectives

revalue the currency to allow for the import of coal and iron

what factors aided the rise of mussolini's fascist party

right wing threat, left wing threat, hatred of the liberal government, mussolini's opportunism

Istituto per la Ricostruzione industriale

set up in 1933, took over unprofitable industries

Pact of pacification

signed the 2nd of august, 1921, peace deal with the moderate socialists and the main trade union organisation to stop all attacks. angered the ras

What was transformismo

the method of making a flexible centrist coalition of government whic isolated the extremes of the political left and right. It was prevalent in Italian politics after unificiation

How did the March on Rome begin?

the ras, in october 1922, began to pressure Mussolini to move towarsd national power, telling him that they would march on rome with or without him

what were the goals of the liberals

to modernise Italy through social reforms such as state eduation, breaking the infleucne of the Catholic church, and stimualting economic devleopment and progress

battle over the southern problem objectives

to overcome the long-term poverty of southern italy by building villages

Expectated wins (from the Treaty of London)

trentino, trieste, south tyrol, istria, northern dalmtia, fiume (due to pressure from nationalists, demanded after the treaty was signed), german colonies in africa

Carlo and Sabatino Rosselli

two brothers, established the antifa group Giustizia e Liberta in france, 1929. Were brutally murdered by La Cagoule (fascist group in France) at the orders of mussolini in 1937

biennio rosso

two years of left wing militant action that lasted from 1919 to 1920. Involved over 1 million workers; liberal government and Giolitti did little to stop this

what were Mussolini's main social policies

uniting and incorporating the italian people - l'inquadramento some social welfare passed no land redistribution battle for births concordat and lateran treaty ONB, GIL, GUF OND Romanita movement Cult of personality some propaganda (minculpop) ​

terra iredenta

unredeemed land. refers to areas inhabited by many Italian speakers and yet still rueld by Austria - Hungary. Most important were Trentino and Trieste

what was the aventine seccession

when most of the opposition deputies walked out of parliament. they hoped their move would emphasis Matteotti's claim that the chamber had been corruptly elected; claimed to be the true representatives of the people. King refused to consider this as legitimate

May 1921 election results

with giolitti's support, Mussolin iwins 7% of the vote, taking 37 seats, and instatly breaks away from Giolitti's coalition.

Fascist levy

youth group for boys aged 18 - 21

Opera Nazionale Balillia (ONB)

youth organisation for all facist youth groups. set up in 1926.

actions taken to reduce the power of the PPI

- Announved that religious education was compulsory and banned contraction (removed the need for the PPI) - fired ministers from governemnt - got the pope to force the leader to resign

land distribution 1930

0.5 % of the population owned 42% of the land 87% of the rural population owned 13%

What steps did Mussolini take to consolidate his power?

1. Increasing of Squadristi violence by Roberto Farinacci 2. Increased press censorship 3. Outlawed all other political parties 4. set up Special Tribunal 5. set up OVRA 6. Legge Fascisitissime 7. Rule by Decree (Il Duce) 8. electoral change 9. dealt with opposition with exile and death (Gramsci, Carlo and Sabatino Rosseli)

what steps did Mussolini take after the metteoti crisis to consolidate power?

1. July 1925; shut down all anti-fascit newspapers, 2. july, 1925, decreed that all newspapers could only publish sanctioned artciles 3. December, 1925; all journalists must register by the fascists 4. October 1926; other parties outlawed, trade unions outlawed 5. 1926, set up the Stpecial Tribunal to deal with political offences 6. 1927, set up OVRA, a secret police force under state, not party, control

Political maneouvering by Mussolini to form the National Fascist Party

1. Signs the pact of pacitfication (2nd of Auagust, 1921), angering the ras 2. Muss. resigns from the Fascist Central Committee 3. Convinces the members of the Fasci di Combatimentto to form the Partito Nazionale Fascista in October 1921 4. Elected as leader of the PNF by November, 1921 5. breaks off truce with the socialists 6. removes the left-wing elements of the 1919 fascist programme

what were the main issues affecting italy by 1922

1. threat from the right wing 2. threat from the left wing 3. dissapointment from the war 4. hatred of the liberals 5. church influence against the liberal state 6. economic downturn (consequence of the war)

what were mussilini's main actions from 1922 - 1924

1. threat to parliament + aquisition of emergency power 2. creation of fascist grand council 3. creation of MVSN 4. Nationalist party merger 5. Confederation of Fascist syndicates set up 6. chigi palace pact 7. removal of PPI from power 8. Acerbo law 9. Creation of Ceka + wave of terror 10. Murder of Matteotti 11. ban on meetings of opposition parties and some press censorship

Mussolini's response to increasing socialist power 1919 - 1921

1. violence through the ras and the squadre d'azzione (over 100 socialists killed) 2. increased drama and flare 3. speech declaring violence to be part of an anti-socialist crusade in order to break up the bolshevist state (April 1921) 4. joined an anti-socialist National bloc with Giolitti in May 1921

real wages cut 1925 - 1938

10%

when was the port of Massawa taken over

1885; became the center of a colony by 1890

when did the Pope allow catholics to vote?

1904, but only in consitutencies where abstaining may result in a socialist victory

when did Italy conquer the turkish conoly of Libya

1911-1912

When were men given the right to vote

1912

Dual Policy

1922 - mussolini allows the ras to cntinue with violence, but prmises the conservatives that he has no intention of pushing for a violent seizure of power

Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro (OND)

1925, set up to infleunce adults. clubs, libraries, sports, concerts, etc. 40% of industrial workers and 25% of peasants took part.

Concordat ​

1929; mussolini agrees that Roman Catholicism should be Italy's state relgion, compuslroy catholic education in all state schools. Pope agrees the clergy stays out of politics

Lateran treaty

1929; the state is regonised by the pope, and the state recognises the pope's sovereignty over Vatican city. State gives pope 30 million

Gioventu Italiana del Littorio

1937, merging of the Fascist Levy and the ONB

Chigi Palace Pact

December 1921, industrialists promised to cooperate with the confederation of fascist syndicates

Millizia Volontaria Per la Sicurezza Nazionale

Formed in January 1923 when the Grand Council (pressured by Mussolini) merged all the fascist squads into the MVSN. They swore an oath of allegiance to Mussolini rather than the king, over 30,000 men total Reduced the power ofthe ras

battle for grain (1925) main objectives

Italian farmers were encouraged to grow more cereals in order to reduce foreing imports. Introduced import controls, and made more land available for growing grain by ploughing pasture land, orchards, and vineyards. In the north, more modernised and mechanised farming methods established, and the harvest was swapped from Maize to Wheat

what where the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento

Italian fighting bands, created by Benito Mussolini in 1919. Reoganized into the National Fascist Party in 1921

when were the arditi set up

January 1919, rome. Mussolini was a member of one. united into the Fasci

D'Annunzio forced to surrender Fiume

January 1921, leading to an increase of support for Mussolini, an important rival had been removed

first press censorship laws

July 1923

PPI leader forced to resign

June 1923

Nationalist party merges with the fascists

March 1923

when did Italy sign the treaty of london?

May 1915

How did the March on Rome play out?

October 27th - fascist squads took over town halls, railway stations, and telephone exhcnges of 3 different cities around Rome The PM urged the king to declare a state of emergency, and the army managed to take back some buildings from the fascists. The Prefect of Milan was instructed to arrest Mussolini The king did not sign the papers authorising martial law, and Mussolini was not arrested. the PM regined. The king asked Salandra to form a government with Mussolini as a minister, but mussolini rejected. the king was advised by Salandra to appoint Mussolini PM, and he agreed. Mussolini accepted

battle for land (1926) successes and failures ​

Only the Pontine marshes in rome were effectively retaken

Invasion of Fiume

September 1919, Gabriele D'Annunzio led 2000 armed men into Fiume, held the city for 15 months