the fall pf the fascist state

Question 1

What was the main causes of rising political tensions in Italy by the late 1942?

Answer 1

• allied bombing raids damaged morale
• strikes and protests due to food shortages and long working hours
• loss of faith in Mussolini’s leadership
• collapse of living standards

Question 2

What happened during the March 1943 strikes?

Answer 2

100,000 workers went on strike in northern cities like Milan and Turin
Protested against poor working conditions and rationing
First major organised strike action since 1925

Question 3

What social and economic factors drove opposition to fascism in 1943?

Answer 3

Food shortages became endemic
Black market prices soared
Factories halted due to lack of fuel and raw materials
Longer hours and bombing increased hardship

Question 4

Which groups began mobilising against fascism in 1943

Answer 4

Catholics
Socialists and Communists
Pro-democracy supporters
Partisan groups (later)

Question 5

Why did fascist propaganda begin to lose credibility in 1943?

Answer 5

People turned to the BBC World Service and Vatican Radio
Reports of defeats and German dominance contradicted state media
Decline in trust towards Fascist-controlled messaging

Question 6

How did the war itself fuel opposition to Mussolini?

Answer 6

Soldiers returned with tuberculosis and tales of suffering
200,000 Italian soldiers lost at Stalingrad
Brutal German actions in Yugoslavia and Greece appalled Italians
Skilled workers forced to labour in German factories

Question 7

What happened to pnf membership in 1943?

Answer 7

It declined significantly
Young Fascists resented corruption and older leaders avoiding conscription
Internal divisions worsened

Question 8

When did the Allied invasion of Sicily occur and who led it?

Answer 8

10 July 1943
US: Lt. Gen. Patton
UK: Gen. Montgomery

Question 9

How long did the Battle for Sicily last and what was the result?

Answer 9

38 days
Axis forces evacuated ~100,000 troops and equipment to the mainland
Italy’s military position weakened severely

Question 10

What happened on 25 July 1943?

Answer 10

Mussolini was deposed by King Victor Emmanuel III
Replaced by Marshal Pietro Badoglio
Arrested and taken into custody

Question 11

What role did the Fascist Grand Council play in Mussolini’s downfall?

Answer 11

Met for first time since 1939 on 24 July 1943
Voted 19–7 for Dino Grandi’s motion removing Mussolini from power

Question 12

Why did leading Fascists like Grandi turn on Mussolini?

Answer 12

Military defeats
Subordination to Germany
Fear of national ruin
Opportunity to preserve monarchy

Question 13

What happened when Mussolini met the King on 25 July 1943?

Answer 13

Expected support
Instead was dismissed and arrested
The King had already appointed Badoglio as PM

Question 14

What was the Republic of Salò and when was it created?

Answer 14

Nazi-backed puppet state in northern Italy
Established in September 1943 after Mussolini’s rescue by German commandos
Lasted 600 days

Question 15

Why was Mussolini unable to lead Salò effectively?

Answer 15

Controlled by Germans
No central authority (e.g., Milan denied as capital)
Declining health and lost charisma
Treated as a figurehead

Question 16

What powers and institutions did Salò have?

Answer 16

Republican Fascist Party replaced the PNF
Army, navy and air force (~50,000 troops)
Fascist police force and militia
Used fear and violence to control the population

Question 17

What happened to Fascists who supported Grandi’s motion?

Answer 17

Condemned to death
5 executed, including Mussolini’s son-in-law Count Galeazzo Ciano

Question 18

What was the scale and nature of civil war in Italy after 1943?

Answer 18

Conflict between Fascists and partisans in the north
Brutal guerrilla warfare
Included class war, anti-German resistance, and anti-Fascist violence

Question 19

When did the Allies land on mainland Italy and where?

Answer 19

9 September 1943 at Salerno

Question 20

What was the Gustav Line and how long did it hold?

Answer 20

German defensive line including Monte Cassino
Held Allies back for 4 months
Broken in May 1944

Question 21

Why was Allied progress in Italy slow after 1943?

Answer 21

Harsh terrain and German defences
Heavy rain
Focus on D-Day (June 1944): 6 divisions diverted
German commander Kesselring organised effective retreats

Question 22

What were the aims of the Allied High Command in Italy?

Answer 22

Divert and tie down German divisions
Not necessarily win quickly
Avoid total destruction of infrastructure

Question 23

When did Allied troops enter Rome?

Answer 23

4 June 1944

Question 24

What was the AMG and where did it operate?

Answer 24

Allied Military Government
Controlled Sicily and southern Italy
Civilian government (Badoglio, later Bonomi) had limited power

Question 25

When and how did Mussolini die?

Answer 25

Captured by partisans 25 April 1945 Executed 28 April 1945 near Lake Como Body displayed in Milan

Question 26

What happened to German forces in Italy by May 1945?

Answer 26

Retreated to the Alps Surrendered 2 May 1945 Allied troops entered Po Valley in April 1945

Question 27

Why did Mussolini try to flee in April 1945?

Answer 27

Hoped to reach Switzerland No clear plan Thought Allies might turn on USSR and need Italy

Question 28

What were Mussolini’s final beliefs about the war?

Answer 28

Blamed Italians for failure Still hoped for a German miracle Believed West might ally with Axis against communism (delusional)

Question 29

Who were the partisans and what did they do?

Answer 29

Anti-Fascist resistance fighters Sabotage, ambushes, assassinations Included ex-soldiers, civilians, foreign POWs

Question 30

What were the three types of war the partisans fought?

Answer 30

Civil war vs. Fascists War of national liberation vs. Germans Class war vs. ruling elites

Question 31

How many Communist partisans were there by 1944?

Answer 31

At least 50,000

Question 32

What other partisan groups existed?

Answer 32

Catholic Monarchist Socialist

Question 33

When did King Victor Emmanuel III abdicate and why?

Answer 33

April 1946 Hoped to restore monarchy’s popularity through his son Umberto Too tainted by association with Mussolini

Question 34

What were the results of the 1946 referendum?

Answer 34

52% voted for a republic 48% wanted to keep monarchy North = republic, South = monarchy Monarchy abolished, royal family exiled

Question 35

Who became head of the new republic?

Answer 35

Enrico De Nicola (provisional President)

Question 36

What electoral system was introduced in 1946?

Answer 36

Proportional representation

Question 37

What was significant about the 1946 elections?

Answer 37

First time women voted Christian Democrats won 35.2% and 207 seats Communists: 102 seats, Socialists: 115, Liberals: 41

Question 38

What happened to the Constituent Assembly in 1946?

Answer 38

Tasked with writing a new constitution Included Christian Democrats, Communists, Socialists, Liberals

Question 39

What were the powers of the new Italian government?

Answer 39

Cabinet responsible to parliament Prime Minister elected by parliament President became a symbolic figure Anti-Fascist by definition

Question 40

What was the overall legacy of WWII for Italy?

Answer 40

Massive economic and social devastation Nearly all colonies lost Collapse of Fascism Beginning of democratic Italy