Mussolini and the fascist party

Question 1

What did M have to decide once he came to power?

Answer 1

What should be the role of the PNF

Question 2

What were his two main questions here?

Answer 2

• Should the PNF play a key role in the fascist state or should M simply use government departments to bring about change?
• Should the PNF be a mass party or a disciplined elite

Question 3

How can we tell that M found these questions difficult?

Answer 3

Because his opinion varied over the years

Question 4

What was his mind clear and policy unchanging on?

Answer 4

The question of the relationship between him and the party

Question 5

What was his view here?

Answer 5

The PNF would serve him and not the other way around

Question 6

What had M stressed the need for since the fascist political breakthrough in 1920-1?

Answer 6

Discipline and central control

Question 7

How had the struggle to assert his leadership not been easy?

Answer 7

Although the ras acknowledged M as the duce of fascism, they were reluctant to accept central direction. Their violent actions of 1921-2 at times embarrassed him when he was trying to reassure conservatives that his movement was a responsible political force. The March of Rome was at least in part a concession to pressure from the radical squadristi

Question 8

What did he move to do once he had been appointed PM?

Answer 8

Extend his control over the party

Question 9

Why was the creation of the militia beneficial?

Answer 9

It provided paid employment for fascist squadristi and helped to ensure their continued loyalty

Question 10

How did the creation of the Grand Council of the Fascism as the supreme policy making authority strengthen his position?

Answer 10

Because he appointed all of its members

Question 11

What did he do as well as rewarding loyalty?

Answer 11

Punished opposition

Question 12

Give an example of this

Answer 12

During 1923 local parties were purged of active or potential dissidents

Question 13

How was M still not in complete control of the party despite these efforts?

Answer 13

During the 1924 Matteoti crisis, they demanded that he establish a dictatorship

Question 14

Why were the ras and squadristi disappointed with the creation of the dictatorship?

Answer 14

Because it did not increase party power

Question 15

Why did it not increase party power?

Answer 15

Because M set up a personal dictatorship

Question 16

Why could he afford to do this to the party?

Answer 16

Because with control over the institutions of state, his power was secure and he was no longer vulnerable to PNF pressure

Question 17

How did he demonstrate this as the final congress?

Answer 17

He demanded that the party should end internal arguements and just obey its leader

Question 18

When was the final party congress held?

Answer 18

June 1925

Question 19

What happened to dissenting voices at the congress?

Answer 19

They were shouted down

Question 20

How long did the convention last?

Answer 20

Despite being scheduled to last for three days, it lasted for only a few hours

Question 21

What else had M done to assert his authority by the end of 1928?

Answer 21

He organised another purge of fascists suspected of disloyalty and had established the principle that all party posts should be appointments made from the party HQ in Rome, a HQ that he controlled

Question 22

What did this mean for the PNF?

Answer 22

That is was totally subservient to M

Question 23

What happened to the Grand Council of Fascism?

Answer 23

It was under the complete control of M and as the years went by, he called it less and less frequently

Question 24

What did M’s ability to achieve absolute dominance over fascism show?

Answer 24

It was testament to his political skills, but it also showed that without him there was nothing to hold the party together

Question 25

What was the PNF instead of a united, coherent movement?

Answer 25

A broad, uneasy coalition of groups with differing views and priorities

Question 26

What did the squadristi demand the continuance of?

Answer 26

Violent raids

Question 27

What did ex socialists want?

Answer 27

The reorganisation of industry

Question 28

What did the nationalists want?

Answer 28

A revision of the WWI peace settlement

Question 29

What did the conservatives hope for?

Answer 29

The restoration of law and order and normality

Question 30

What could only M provide?

Answer 30

Unity

Question 31

How did this benefit M?

Answer 31

The disparate disorganised factions recognised this and looked to win his interest and support

Question 32

Explain how M wasn’t consistent in which factions he supported?

Answer 32

He was initially conciliatory towards the conservatives to secure the support of interest groups such as industry, but he was then enthusaistic for a reorganisation of industry into a corporate state. In the late 1930s he then reverted back to radical ideas of revolutionising Italian social habits

Question 33

What did this show?

Answer 33

That it was M and not the party who would be responsible for determining the course of fascist policy

Question 34

Describe the kind of men who would hold senior posts within the party?

Answer 34

They were notable less for their ability than they were for their obedience and powers of flattery

Question 35

What was the most senior party post?

Answer 35

Party secretary

Question 36

Who was it held by?

Answer 36

A succession of utterly loyal fascists of moderate ability

Question 37

Who was the party secretary from 1931-9?

Answer 37

Achille Starace

Question 38

What impact did he have on the party?

Answer 38

The PNF opened to its doors to all those who saw party membership simply as a way to secure a safe job in the fascist administration

Question 39

How had the movement become more elitist?

Answer 39

By the mid 1930s workers and peasants, who had once made up 30% of party membership, now represented a tiny minority

Question 40

What did the PNF now consist of?

Answer 40

Overwhelmingly of white collar state employees

Question 41

What did M’s promotion of second rate officials show?

Answer 41

His susceptability to flattery and his continuing concern to prevent the rise of potential rivals

Question 42

Why was the party not a good place for men of drive and ability?

Answer 42

They found themselves moved from the centre of power

Question 43

Give an example of this

Answer 43

They young squad leader Italo Balbo, who achieved fame in 1931 when he completed a transatlantic flight, was soon sent to occupy a post of luxurious idleness in Libya

Question 44

How did this happen to young squadristi Dino Grandi?

Answer 44

He apparently had some ambition to succeed M and found himself dispatched in London as an Italian ambassador, a post of honour but of little power

Question 45

What never emerged as a result of M’s actions?

Answer 45

A serious rival to him

Question 46

Give an example of one of the men who made his name as a radical squadristi before enthusiastically joining the cult of the duce

Answer 46

Roberto Farinacci

Question 47

Why did the squadristi join the cult of the duce?

Answer 47

They realised that M was prepared to allow them to keep much of their power in the provinces providing they remained utterly loyal and obedient to him. They were also well aware that without him as dictator their own power would collapse