The Rise of Mussolini and the Creation of a Fascist Dictatorship 1919-26

Question 1

Mutilated Victory- Gains

Answer 1

South Tyrol- had been promised at 1915 Treaty of London
200,000 German speaking Austrians now under Italy’s control- Got more than was justified by nationalism
Gained Istria (ToL 1915)- largely Croat speaking
Trentino (ToL 1915)
South Tyrol gave Italy Brenner Pass - given to Italy although agaisnt self determination
14,500 square Km of land- more than any other country
Recieved German reparations and a seat in the League of Nations

Question 2

Mutilated Victory- Losses

1919 St Germain treaty

Answer 2

Did not gain Fiume despite it being 50% ethnic Italians
Gained Less land than promised in 1915
Did not gain Dalmatia even though it was promised at treaty of london
Promised African colonies- got none

Didn’t feel that what they gained was worth what they lost- mutilated victory

Question 3

Occupation of Fiume

Answer 3

2,000 men- Futurists, ex-soldiers, students
seized on 12/9/1919
Italian government did not act for 15 months
removed by Italian Navy 25/12/1920

Question 4

Growth of the PPI

Answer 4

Approved by pope but not controlled by church
1921- 107 deputies
split between reformers and conservatives
no role in government
concerned over rise of socialism
wanted to solve the Roman Question

Question 5

Growth of the PSI

Answer 5

did well in 1919 elections (156 deputies) however lost some in 1921 (123)
not overly powerful
over 300 factories occupied- affected industry + economy

Question 5

Growth of Fascim

Answer 5

Founded in Milan- March 1919
began to clash with the socialists near Ferrara 1916-22 killing 2000+
Popular in the North

Question 6

Fascist Ideology 1919

Answer 6

1. Abolish Monarchy
2. 8 hour working day, guarateed minimum wage- peasant ownership of land
3. workers participation in the management of industrythrough national councils of labour
4. common education for all
5. liberty of opinion and conscience
6. abolition of conscription
7. heavy + progressive tax on capital- confiscation of unproductive income
8. nationalisation of arms and munitions factiries, confiscation of 85% of war profits
9. confiscation of all properties belonging to religious organisations
10. foreign policy of peaceful competition among civilised nations

Question 6

Biennio Rosso- 1919-21

Answer 6

Labour strikes
membership of socialist unions grew from 250,000 in 1918 to 2m by 1920
Largest strike took place in sept 1920, over 400,000 workers taking over factories- flying communist and anarchist flags for nearly 4 weeks

Question 7

Fascist Ideology 1921

Answer 7

1. no specific commitment on political structure exept one designed to ensure Italy’s historic desitny
2. 8 hour day- exept agricultural and industrial requirements
3. corportations to express national solidarity and increase production
4. schools train governing elite and provide future soldiers with physical and moral training
5. freedom limited in intrests of the nation
6. obligatory military service
7. taxes proportional to income
8. nationalised firms privatised, encoragement for national wealth through individual
9. no talks of church property, committment to family values (against divorce etc) hints at solving Roman Question
10. complete unification for italy with Major role in mediterrainian

Question 8

Fascist use of Violence

Answer 8

Formed Squadrismo- went onto attack Avanti offices
Began to target socialist groups (especially PSI) hundreds killed and thousands injured between 1919-21
May 1920 election- Squadristi attacked socialists and intimidated voters
Dual policy endorsed violence
Ras pushed for violent march on Rome

Question 9

Fascist attempts at political legitimacy

Answer 9

March 1919- Fasci di Combattimento created
1919- poor result from election- no fascists elected
1921 new programme
1920- won 35 seats in parliament- Mussolini included
Oct 1921- PNF created
Dual policy

Question 10

March on Rome- 1922

Answer 10

1. Fascists had been gaining control over local gov from september rumours began to emerge about the march on Rome
2. 16 Oct Mussolini + 6 Fascist leaders met in Milan and tried to take power
3. Plans to sieze buildings in North/ Centre, quadrumvirs were told to meet outside Rome on 27 Oct
4. 10,000/ 50,000 soldiers turned up due to train sabotage. The ones that made it were unequipped and 20 miles from Rome
5. Government resigned, king left to run the country- introduced martial law- removed it again 12 hours later
6. Mussolini comes to power- Refused to join gov with Salandra
7. March on rome turns into celebration

Question 11

Parliamentary Compromise and Coericon

Answer 11

16/11/1922- Mussolini demanded emergency powers with threats of violence. They were granted 306 votes to 116. Could not be removed by parliament
Appointed orthodox economist de’Stefani as minister of finance- gained support of conservative industrialists
Feb 1923- ANI absorbed into PNF
Gained trust of catholic church by increasing clerical pay
Appointed PPI member of Cavazzoni as minister of work and welfare

Question 12

Controlling the PNF

Answer 12

Dec 1922- Fascist grand council created- Balbo, Bianchi and DeBono appointed
Helped Mussolini overcome weak position in cabinet and gave him the ability to undermine gov institutions
Jan 1923- MVSN created- absorbed Squadrisiti and formalised role as party base paramilitary
Pledged allegience to Mussolini

Question 13

Acerbo Law & 1924 Election

Answer 13

Acerbo law- 2/3 of parliamentary seats would go to the party with >25% of the vote- threatened violence to ensure it passed
1924 Election
Opposition divided, PCI, PSI, PPI.
Oppositon offices destroyed- PSI candidate Piccinini murdered
Fascist won 66.3% of the vote, deputies went from 35-374
PCI PSI PPI held 80 seats between them

Question 14

Matteotti Crisis- June 1924

Answer 14

Matteotti- PCI leader- dennounced fascist corruption
10 June- Kidnapped
Body found on 16th August- witness says they saw him being dragged into a car belonging to Fascist press secretary- Rossi
The leader of the Kidnapping Dumini was arrested

13 June 100 anti fascist deputies left parliament, creating the Avantine Secession, this made it easier for Mussolini to pass legislation

Mussolini ordered PNF to cease all violence

Question 15

Establishment of a Dictatorship 1924-25

Answer 15

31/12/1924 - Sqaud leaders demand defence of Fascist revolution or they would remove Mussolini as head

3/1/1925 - Mussolini made speech to parliament announcing Fascist dictatorship

12/1/1925 Formed new cabinet without most of the liberals. Mussolini head of Navy, Airforce, War and Foreign Affairs

Feb- appointed Farinacci as PNF secretary- instruced to purge party of Mussolini’s apponents- PNF increased 600,000- 938,000

Oct- forced the ras to dispand and squads and enlist in the militia. Increased army officer’s pay and appointed a conservatist monarchist Badoglio as chief of general staff

2/10/1925- Palazzo Vidoni pact established offical fascist unions as the only reps of Italian workers

Question 16

Repression and constitutional ammendments 1925-26

Answer 16

4/8/1925- Zaniboni- socialist deputy arrested for allegedly plotting to assasinate Mussolini

29/12/1925- PSU banned, press law introduced- all journalism supervised and approved by the state. Power to sack any public employee who was hostile to the PNF

PM changed to Head of Gov and Duche of Fascism, parliament could no longer remove PM through vote of no confidence

Jan 1926- Mussolini given power to rule by decree

Oct 1926- all political parties banned

Abolished local government and replaced with podesta- Led by prefects who were appointed by Mussolini