Liberal State - Socialist response to war, economy and victory

Question 1

How did nationalists and liberal supporters view the socialist attitude towards war?

Answer 1

Defeatist, unpatriotic and anti-Italian

Question 2

What did the PSI declare a policy of to the war effort?

Answer 2

Neither support nor sabotage

Question 3

[Gap fill] The hysteria after C_________ against defeatists who had ________ Italy __ ___ ____ led to the arrest and imprisonment of many ____ ________.

Answer 3

The hysteria after Caporetto against defeatists who had stabbed Italy in the back led to the arrest and imprisonment of many PSI leaders.

Question 4

Who did Mussolini blame for Italy’s shortcomings in WWI?

Answer 4

Italian socialists

Question 5

Why did Mussolini blame Italian socialists for Italy’s shortcomings in WW1?

Answer 5

He asserted that they were a more dangerous enemy than the Austrians and he called for a more forceful Italian leader to create a united country

Question 6

What was Italy’s economy like overall compared to Austria at the beginning of the war?

Answer 6

Italy was behind Austria in all key economic areas crucial for war.

Question 7

What was Italy’s steel production like compared to Austria at the beginning of the war?

Answer 7

Italy’s steel production was less than 1 million tonnes while Austrians were at 2.6 million tonnes

Question 8

What was Italy’s arms production like compared to Austria at the beginning of the war?

Answer 8

For every two machine guns per Italian battalion the Austrians had 12 and Italy was short of artillery and bullets

Question 9

How did the Italian war economy hold up over the course of the war?

Answer 9

Italy made significant economic improvements that would overcome its deficits and overall Italy’s industry coped effectively with the requirements for WWI

Question 10

[Finish the sentence] Fiat during the war economy…

Answer 10

established itself as Europe’s leading truck and lorry manufacturer producing 25,000 vehicles in 1919

Question 11

What industry did Italy create that produced 6,500 planes in 1918?

Answer 11

Aeronautical industry

Question 12

What had the Italian industry produced by the end of the war that was more than the British could manufacture?

Answer 12

20,000 machine guns and 7,000 pieces of heavy artillery

Question 13

How did the Italian industry produce so much in WWI?

Answer 13

Due to the under-secretariat of arms and munitions Alfredo Dallolio

Question 14

How did Alfredo Dallolio have such an impact on the Italian war economy?

Answer 14

He organised the recruitment of women and peasants into factories. Hours of work were increased, strikes were illegal and workers could face military tribunals if their behaviour was unsatisfactory

Question 15

How did Dallolio’s ministry finance industrial expansion?

Answer 15

By making payments in advance, arranging cheap loans and establishing profitable contracts for big business.

Question 16

What about the methods of Dallolio were worrying for the long term survival of the Italian economy?

Answer 16

The growth of the economy was based almost entirely on government investment in war production which had been paid for by foreign loans and printing money

Question 17

What did the conclusion of WWI bring about for the Italian economy?

Answer 17

Inflationary problems, Cuts to government spending and being 23 billion Lire in debt (was 2.9 billion before the war)

Question 18

How had Italy’s economy become unbalanced after WWI?

Answer 18

War-based sectors such as steel, engineering, vehicles, cement, rubber and chemicals were growing at disproportionate rates compared to other industries

Question 19

How did the Italian war economy accentuate the north-south divide?

Answer 19

Majority of war production was based in the north east and the growth of industry in these areas accelerated the division. The norths economy grew over 20%

Question 20

What were worker conditions like in 1917 during the war?

Answer 20

Bread and pasta being rationed, meat and sugar consumption falling sharply. Long hours and a fall in wages of 25% when industrialists were profiting made workers angry (esp because many didn’t support war)

Question 21

What happened in the Turin protests of August 1917?

Answer 21

50 Workers were killed whilst protesting in Turin against bread shortages and the continuation of the war.

Question 22

What did politicians do after the protests in Turin in 1917?

Answer 22

increased food supplies and pro-war propaganda

Question 23

When did World War I end?

Answer 23

11th November 1917

Question 24

What changed in Italy by October 1918 that saw the Austro-Hungarian Empire nearly collapse?

Answer 24

A shift in military tactics and the disintegration of the AH empire elsewhere

Question 25

When did Italian forces finally launch an offensive across the Piave (The Battle of Vittorio Veneto)

Answer 25

24 October 1918 after Orlando encouraged Diaz to attack

Question 26

When did Austria sign an armistice?

Answer 26

4 November due to the Battle of Vittorio Veneto

Question 27

How did the Nationalists promote the victory at Vittorio Veneto?

Answer 27

demonstrating the glory of Italy achieved through patriotism unity and self sacrifice