Collapse of Fascist Italy

Question 1

Why was there growing unrest in Italy by 1943?

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

What three groups became active in opposing Mussolini?

Answer 2

• Workers
• Anti-fascist groups
• Conservative elites

Question 3

How did workers oppose Mussolini in the 1940s?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

How did anti-fascist groups oppose Mussolini 1940s?

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

How did the conservative elites oppose Mussolini in the 1940s?

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Describe the invasion of Italy

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

How was Mussolini removed from power?

Answer 7

• 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, 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

Question 8

What happened during the 45 day Mussolini was imprisoned

Answer 8

• Peace demonstrations took place
• Negotiations between the allies and Badoglio’s government took place
• But Germans took control of Rome

Question 9

How did Mussolini escape?

Answer 9

He was broken out of prison by German commandos

Question 10

What did Mussolini do 15th September 1943?

Answer 10

• Established the german sponsored fascist state, the Italian Social Republic (also known as Salo Republic)