Collapse of Fascist Italy Flashcards
Why was there growing unrest in Italy by 1943?
- Rationing
- Food + clothing shortages
- Military issue - Allied Bombings and dfeats, 200,000 dead at Stalingrad
- Propaganda undermined, facade of Mussolini as new Caeser fell as well as infallibility
- Fear of subservience to Germany
What three groups became active in opposing Mussolini?
- Workers
- Anti-fascist groups
- Conservative elites
How did workers oppose Mussolini in the 1940s?
- March 1943 100,000 went on strike in Turin that spread to Milan
- Organised by communists
- Government gave into demands and gave workers greater pay
How did anti-fascist groups oppose Mussolini 1940s?
• Illegal communist newspaper L’Unita reappered in 1942
• 1400 political arrests
• Communist, socialist and Catholics all came together in secret to oppose Mussolini
Although not powerful it shows that Mussolinis power was dwindling
Who in the conservative elite opposed Mussolini in the 1940s? Why where they apprehensive about doing so?
- The Vatican, military leaders, industrialists and police all considered ways to remove Mussolini but would then have to deal with Hitler and Germany
- The invasion of Italy in September 1943 forced their hand
Describe the invasion of Italy
• 13th May 1943: Axis troops in North Africa surrendered to allied forces
• 9th July : British, US and commonwealth troops landed in Sicily. Occupied within a week.
19th July: Mussolini asked Hitler to move troops from the Soviet Union to Mediterranean to protect Italy from invasion. Idea rejected. Allied bombing or Rome left 1500 dead.
• 17th August: Allied controlled Sicily
• 3rd September: Allied land on mainland Italy
How was Mussolini removed from power?
- Early 1943 leading Fascist Dino Grandi talked with the king about removing Mussolini
- The Vatican and king had opened up talks with the allies
- 16th July: a deputation of fascists met Mussolini and got him to call s grand council. Grandi spent next 8 days getting support to remove Mussolini (also decided to bring 2 grenades to the meeting)
- The meeting was called on July 24th, Mussolini unaware of meeting nature talked for 2 hours. After 9 hours of the meeting Grandi’s motion to remove Mussolini was passed 19 to 7
- At 5 next day King told Mussolini he was being replaced by Marshall Badoglio. Mussolini tried to leave but was placed in ambulance and taken to prison
What happened during the 45 day Mussolini was imprisoned
- Peace demonstrations took place
- Negotiations between the allies and Badoglio’s government took place
- But Germans took control of Rome
How did Mussolini escape?
He was broken out of prison by German commandos
What did Mussolini do 15th September 1943?
• Established the german sponsored fascist state, the Italian Social Republic (also known as Salo Republic)
What was the basis of the Salo Republic’s power?
German arms
Descrobe the power of the Salo Republic
- Lacked any real power
* Rejected by the church and industrial elites
What was the Salo Republic able to create?
A brutal militia of between 50,000 and 140,000 men
What was going on in the South to oppose the Salo Republic?
- King formed the Kingdom of the South
- Had no powers and was essentially ran by the allies
- Conservative elites ran gov on local level to keep nation running
What did the King do after the occupation of Rome?
- Widened government to include anti-fascist parties
* Antifascist Bonomi took over from General Badoglio
