Indoctrination of education and youth

Question 1

Who was the first fascist education minister and what was his aims?

Answer 1

• Giovanni Gentile (1923-29)
• Aim to improve literacy and education standards
• However, from 1929 onwards his aims were replaced with indoctrination and obedience

Question 2

What did Mussolini do to indoctrinate the youth?

Answer 2

• A portrait of Mussolini was hanged in every classroom
• Posters highlighted fascist achievements
• Every school day began with a slogan such as “Mussolini ha sempre ragione” (Mussolini is always right)

Question 3

What did Mussolini change about the history textbooks?

Answer 3

History textbooks that lacked suitable patriotic content were replaced by ones that glorified Italy making clear links to the Roman empire
- In 1927, 101 out of 317 textbooks were banned

Question 4

What was created in 1929?

Answer 4

Ministry of National Education was created

Question 5

What other group was allowed to organise activities for young children?

Answer 5

The Catholic Church

Question 6

What did all teachers have to belong to by 1933?

Answer 6

PNF

Question 7

What is the ONB?

Answer 7

• created in 1926
• Opera Nazionale Balilla
• formal decreee with the goal of providing physical and moral benefit for the youth
• programme was centred around physical fitness
• for boys between age 8 and 18
• compulsory

Question 8

What were the reasons for Mussolini creating these programmes?

Answer 8

• Wanted to make Italy a great nation with a respected military, therefore youth programmes aimed to produce young fascist soldiers
• Girls become fit mothers
• Children taught that Mussolini was a modern day Caesar
• Textbooks told children how poorly treated Italian soldiers were in WW1 and how fascists saved them
• promote loyalty

Question 9

What age was membership to youth organisations compulsory?

Answer 9

• compulsory for all Italians aged 6-11
• membership was not compulsory beyond the age of 11 until 1939

Question 10

How many people were in the ONB by 1937?

Answer 10

7 million

Question 11

How successful was the policy?

Answer 11

• People conformed not because of the belief of fascism but because of the enjoyable social occasion
• in 1937 survey, it showed that girls were more interested in sporting activities for boys
• Youth organisation were not complete and were hampered by regional and demographic differences
• In WW2, most dedicated fascist soldiers who fought until the end were those who were products of fascist youth policy

Question 12

What was made difficult if people were not in the ONB?

Answer 12

difficulty entering further education and barred employment in civil service

Question 13

What was some benefits of joining the ONB?

Answer 13

• provided access to jobs and scholarships

Question 14

What did the number of university students increase to?

Answer 14

• 54,000 in 1921
• 165,000 in 1942