Assess the role of and impact on Italy of the First World War up to 1920. Flashcards
1
Q
Assess the role of and impact on Italy of the First World War up to 1920.
A
Italy joined the war late in 1915 and fought against the declining Austro-Hungarian Empire along the southern front. During the war over 600,000 Italians died and on million were injured by 1918.
Exam Board Specification: Treaty of London, Caporetto, Vittorio Veneto, debt, inflation, Orlando, Treaty of Versialles, mutilated victory, D’Annunzio, Fuime, political issues, social and economic issues.
2
Q
Economic
A
- Rising unemploment as 2 and a half million soldiers were demobilised and industry was hit by post war recession
- National debt in 1918 had risen to 85 billion lira
- War inflation was 400%
- Italy had spent 148 billion lira on the war
- Many big industrialists benefited from the war with the government contracts on offer for supplying the Italian forces
3
Q
Social
A
- Spanish Influenza epidemic killed nearly as many Italians as the war had
- There was a lot of hostility towards war profiteers
- Returning ex-soldiers occupied uncultivated land in the “land grab” which the government then legalised
- There were widespread strikes, lockouts and riots
4
Q
Political
A
- Weak Liberal government continued in Rome (Prime Minister Orlando)
- Russian Revolution inspired many socialists
- Growth of trade unions 1919-20 caused a wave of strikes in industry and agriculture
- PSI success in local elections in 1920 (25 of 69 provinces won)
- Violents clashed between the socialists and fascist in which over 2000 people were killed
- Fascism was founded in Milan in March 1919
5
Q
Mutilated Victory
A
-Italy failed to gain Dalmatia and Fuime
- No colonied were gained in Africa or the Middle East
- Prime Minister Orlando walked out of the Treaty of Versialles negotiations
- Nationalist D’Annunzio seized control of Fuime in 1919
- The government did nothing in response for several months making them seem weak before forcing D’Annunzio out of Fuime
