Democracy Restored, 1943-46

Question 1

How did the allies invade the rest of Italy?

Answer 1

• September 1943, allies began invasion and a secret armistice was signed, promised the allies 60,000 troops
• Hitler invaded the north of Italy whilst peace was negotiated in the South and Italy publicly surrendered
• Italy declared war on Germany on 13th September, clear the promised troops would not be given

Question 2

What happened to Mussolini after he was disposed?

Answer 2

• Rescued from captivity at a ski resort by the SS
• Hitler demanded that Mussolini return to the North of Italy as the head of a new govt. established by Nazis
• Threatened to destroy Northern cities if he refused
• Mussolini returned and led the Salo Republic (RSI)

Question 3

What was the Salo Republic like?

Answer 3

• Bodies spread out to stop effective government
• Cabinet of radical fascist, set up Verona Manifesto to take fascism back to its roots, never put in place
• 7,000 Jews sent to death camps, 5 fascist executed
• GNR set up, 573,000 men used for civil war, not WW2
• Germans had brutal policies against the Italians

Question 4

What was the government in the South like?

Answer 4

• In theory a constitutional monarchy under Victor Emmanuel III and Bonomi who replaced Bodoglio
• Little change to local government, no purges
• Anti-fascist war of liberation largely in the North
• American secret service linked up with the Mafia
• Rome was liberated in June 1944

Question 5

How were the RSI and Southern Italy similar?

Answer 5

• Government, both really had little power as this was controlled by Germany and the allies
• Living conditions, Germans inflicted lots of damage in the north, smuggling and black markets in the south, economic conditions got worse in both

Question 6

Why and when did the Germans surrender?

Answer 6

-April 1945, left Italy with Mussolini as the allies were advancing into the North and the army was collapsing facing the partisan groups

Question 7

What eventually happened to Mussolini?

Answer 7

• Convoy carrying Mussolini was stopped by communists, let the Germans go in exchange for any Italians
• Mussolini and his mistress were captured and shot, bodies put on public display in Milan

Question 8

What was the outcome of the 1946 referendum?

Answer 8

• 2nd June, Italians asked if they wanted Italy to be a republic or not
• 12.7 million to 10.7 million voted yes, the King was replaced by a president

Question 9

What were the outcomes of the 1946 elections?

Answer 9

• 2nd June, Christian Democrats won largest amount with 207/556 seats
• PCI won 104 seats and the PSI 114 seats

Question 10

What is the legacy of Mussolini?

Answer 10

• Tomb in Predappio is a place of neo-fascist pilgrimage

- His death date has become one of three that is marked with major rallies