Rise of Fascism

Question 1

General Strike August 1922

Answer 1

Socialists call for strike as gov. seems reluctant to combat Fascist violence

-only lasts 24 hrs as Left can’t resist Fascist violence

-Mussolini promised Fascists would end strike if gov. refused to in speeches

Question 2

Fascist response to General Strike (August 1922)

Answer 2

-occupied offices of Avanti!, smashed printing presses and burnt building

-postal workers strike, Fascists deliver mail
-ran trains

Question 3

gov. response to General Strike

Answer 3

didn’t use their military and police forces (Fascists take claim for ending strike)

-Police stood aside Fascists and offered lorries to transport squads (occasionally)
-rare occasions when police restored order, Fascists would quickly retreat

Question 4

1919 election results + programme

Answer 4

1.8% vote
-anti-monarchist
-anti-clerical (confiscation of church property)
-left wing

Question 5

1921 ‘New Programme’

Answer 5

in response to failed Pact of Pacification
-church = ‘exercise its spiritual mission’
-tax prop to income
-privatisation of nationalised industries
-dropped republicanism in 1922

Question 6

Pius XI becomes Pope

Answer 6

Jan 1922

Question 7

March on Rome halted outside city

Answer 7

October 1922
-30K (main body) of Fascist marchers stopped 50 miles from Rome when confronted by 400 policemen

Question 8

King approves martial law and changes mind (Oct 1922)

Answer 8

-5AM orders to arrest Mussolini prepared for King’s signature
-9AM - King refuses to authorise martial law (Victor Emmanuel told king that there were 100K Fascists and only 8K troops to stop them)
-General Diaz told King ‘army will do its duty, but it would be better not to put it to the test’
-King also feared his pro Fascist cousin the Duke of Aosta replacing him

Question 9

reality of March on Rome (against what King was told)

Answer 9

roughly 30K fascists and army troops each

Question 10

Facta resigns and Salandra hopeless

Answer 10

-Facta resigns at 11AM
-Victor Emmanuel turns to Salandra to form gov.
- Salandra agreed if Mussolini joined him
-Mussolini rejects offer
-Salandra told King he was unable to form a gov. and advised appointing Mussolini

Question 11

‘mutilated victory’

Answer 11

• demanded Brenner pass (between Italy and Austria) and Fiume
  -Jugoslavia had some lands belonging to Italy (Dalmatia)

only promised and not given land in ToL = colonies and Dalmatia