1914-22 WW1 and the rise of Fascism

Question 1

Renzo De Felice,

Answer 1

he sees it as something of an aberration; an unfortunate episode seperating italy with the democratic italy that emerged after ww2

Question 2

how did liberal historian Benedetto Croce describe the rise of fascism, writing in the 1930s and 40s

Answer 2

a momentary contagion

Question 3

what did Benedetto Croce see the fascist movement as representing

Answer 3

progress and freedom

Question 4

what does Dennis mack smith see as the key contributory factor to Mussolini’s rise to power

Answer 4

he emphasises the key role of mussolini i turning disorder into political capital

Question 5

how did mussolini make fascism attractive to the italian people

Answer 5

1. took opportunities to exaggerte the socialist threat through Popolo d’italia
2. used the newspaper to depict the fascists as selfless individuals rather than violent thugs
3. presented the fascist vision as being one of ease, stability, social harmony and respect on the international stage

Question 6

whose support did Mussolini manage to aquire as a result of his political skill - and how did he do it

Answer 6

conservatives - by abandoning the radical political programme of 1919 and presenting himself as more of a moderate when talking to liberals

Question 7

how did mussolini provide reassurance

Answer 7

he convinced the liberals he could deal with the socialists

Question 8

(describe the failings of the liberal state)

Answer 8

(- it had been foisted upon the italian people, they made no attempt to involve the masses in political life, they willingly repressed popular protests, politics was the preserve of a wealthy elite and not dedicated to the public good, politicians primary focus was the acquisition of power and financial gain)

Question 9

Gramsci - ruse of fascism

Answer 9

a deliberate attempt of the liberals and their conservative and big business allies to crush the growing power of the working class

Question 10

why was the introduction of mass democracy detrimental for the liberals

Answer 10

it meant that parliament was no longer dominatd by liberals, but their leaders still insisted on maintaining the old liberal style of politics.

Question 11

how does dennis mack smith describe post ww1 government

Answer 11

it produced unstable coalitions that were either unable or unwilling to enact reform or direct the forces of the state to uphold law and order.

Question 12

what does martin clark say about liberal involvement in the rise of fascism

Answer 12

they argued they should not be blamed too harshly snf the rise of fascism was not inevitable

Question 13

what did Alexander De Grand argue led to the rise of fascism

Answer 13

he argued that ww1 worsened class conflict, and fascism grew as a result of the subsequent fear of socialism

Question 14

what terrified the upper and middle classes in 1919

Answer 14

dictatorship of the proletariat - the socialists becoming the marjority in parliament

Question 15

why was fascism so appealing to italian conservatives

Answer 15

the liberal governments appeared to have few answers to the socialist strikes and land seizures. the conservatives therefore looked for a more dynamic alternative who could uphold law and protect their interests

Question 16

de grass - fascist squads

Answer 16

because they generated new recruits and established the credability of the fascist movement

Question 17

list the reasons why the mistakes of Mussolini’s opponants can be seen as the primary cause for the rise of fascism

Answer 17

1. the socialists carried out an ill thought out general strike in 1922
2. liberal governments attempted to co-opt and absorb fascism
3. the political establishment tolerated the march on rome
4. many naively saw it nrhing more than a crude antidote to socialism
5. victor emmanuel caused instability by backtracking on the imposition of martial law
6. the pope supported fascism and even fostered a close personal relationship with Mussolini

Question 18

list the reasons why the appeal of fascism can e seen as the primary cause for the rise of fascism

Answer 18

1. many liked its anti socialist stance
2. it provided a strong alternative to the current state of industrial unrest
3. resentful groups, particularly the young, hoped it would smash the old system
4. their violence presented the movement as ruthless; which was apealing to italians
5. it seemed to offer the only end to class war

Question 19

list the reasons why Mussolini’s opportunitism can be seen as the primary cause for the rise of fascism

Answer 19

1. he abandoned the pact of pacification (a peace agreement between Mussolini, the socialist party and the General Confederation of Labour in Rome on August 2nd 1921
2. thier mixture of uniforms, parades and marches suggest dynamism
3. made the successful deision to stan for election in 1921
4. took the initiative to turn his movement into a party by forming the PNF
5. realised that he could fill the much needed roe of a figurehead for the fascist movement
6. he realised that socialist politics was no longer viable nd decided to abandon it in 1919

Question 20

Where did the main group of active fascist supporters come from?

Answer 20

The petty bourgeoisie. A wide range of people from the middle and working class, bound by a collective sense of insecurity.

Question 21

Why did small farmers support fascism?

Answer 21

They saw socialism as a threat to their land ownership. The resented socialist land leagues (socialist organisations which controlled the rural labour market) because they bullied farmers into hiring workers when they weren’t really needed

Question 22

Who were the agrari?

Answer 22

Groups of large landowners willing to fund any group that would combat the socialists

Question 23

Why did industrialists support fascism?

Answer 23

They feared socialism and thought the liberal government was making too many concessions to workers

Question 24

Why did youths support fascism?

Answer 24

They wanted action and adventure and were angry at their lack of prospects. It was an exciting contrast to the old men of liberal politics

Question 25

What was a real fascist?

Answer 25

Someone who whole heartedly joined the fascist movement

Question 26

How many fascist members were there in 1921

Answer 26

500,000

Question 27

What % of fascist members were ex-servicemen in 1921?

Answer 27

50

Question 28

What was the name of the group Mussolini created in march 1919?

Answer 28

Fascio italiano di combattimento

Question 29

What is a fascist of the first hour?

Answer 29

An early member of the fascist movement

Question 30

Why did mussolini create a fluid movement rather than a party with a manifesto?

Answer 30

He wanted the flexibility to attract a wide range of voters

Question 31

Who were the arditi?

Answer 31

A military wing of the movement. Important early recruits to fascism, often former members of Italy’s elite units

Question 32

List the factors that contributes to mussolinis early failure

Answer 32

• his ideas weren’t coherent or politically credible
• he couldn’t decide exactly what he believed in
• local groups drew up their own political programmes in the 1919 election, leading to a disjointed campaign
• some local fascist groups were much more right wing than Mussolini
• in the 1919 election, not a single fascist was elected, and, even in their Milan stronghold, they achieved only 5,000 of the 270,000 votes cast

Question 33

What were the factors that revived fascism?

Answer 33

• Dannunzios capture of Fium
• the growth of rural fascism in Ferrara and bologna

Question 34

What did fascist membership increase by between march and may 1921?

Answer 34

It went from 80,000 to 187,000

Question 35

Why did rural fascism grow towards the end of 1920?

Answer 35

• Landowners and the middle classes had become fed up with socialist gains during the biennio rosso
• recession and falling incomes made them determined not to make any more concessions
• socialists were unfairly blamed for a clash between the fascists and socialists at Ferrara town square. This stimulated fascist recruitment

Question 36

Who were the fascist ras?

Answer 36

Local leaders

Question 37

What tactics did the ras use to combat socialism and assert their authority?

Answer 37

• violence and intimidation
• attacking leaders
• smashing up premises
• tax strikes
• forcing workers to leave socialist unions and join fascist ones which renegotiated contracts in favour of the employer

Question 38

What made rural fascism successful?

Answer 38

• large landowners were prepared to finance and equip them
• they were also supported by the lower middle class and share croppers

Question 39

What did Mussolini do to shift fascism to the right?

Answer 39

• looked for the support of conservative businessmen
• abandoned anti-catholic rhetoric
• allowed his black shirts to be used as strike breakers and security guards for industrial firms
• ordered regional leaders to organise their Blackshirts along paramilitary lines

Question 40

Why did giolitti call a general election in may 1921?

Answer 40

He thought socialism was on the wane

Question 41

Why was fascist participation in the 1921 election a disaster?

Answer 41

It became an orgy if fascist violence, with 40 people killed on polling day alone

Question 42

How many fascists were elected in 1921

Answer 42

35

Question 43

what was the impact of world war 1

Answer 43

mutilated victory
600,000 dead
very few positive gains
land not given included dalmatia, african colonies and fiume
liberals blamed for entering the war
debt in 1918 was 85 million compared to 16 million in 1914

Question 44

what was the treaty of london

Answer 44

a secret agreement with italy, britain france and russia to bring italy into ww1 on the entente side
italy was promised trentino, dalmatia, african colonies, south tyrol, istria