Collapse of Liberal Italy/ Rise of Facism

Question 1

What was Mussolini’s background before he was the leader of the Fascist Party?

Answer 1

• Grew up socialist
• Jailed for socialist activities and was editor of socialist newspaper in 1910
• Expelled from socialist party for supporting WW1

Question 2

Describe the Fascist vision in 1919

Answer 2

• Italy led by the ex-servicemen of WW1 - trincerocrazia created by the military bond help to govern
• A politically, economically and socially united country
• Nationalism was key

Question 3

Describe the Fascist views of labour in 1919

Answer 3

• 8hr working day
• Minimum wage with workers representatives
• Establish same confidence in labour unions as given to industry executives

Question 4

Describe the Fascist views of taxation/govt. ownership in 1919

Answer 4

• Strong progressive tax on capital
• Revision of military contracts and seizure of 85% of their profits
• Armermanets factories nationalised
• Reorganisation of the railways and transport sector

Question 5

What were the opinions of the church, monarch and social elites in 1919?

Answer 5

• Anti-clerical & wanted to confiscate all their property
• Abolition of bishoprics
• Create a republic
• Remove all noble titles

Question 6

What did Fascist produce in May 1920?

Answer 6

The New Programme

Question 7

What was the Fascist’s vision under the New Programme?

Answer 7

• A politically, economically and socially united country

* Nationalism was key

Question 8

Describe the New Programme’s labour policy

Answer 8

• Anti-socialist, with fascist unions to replace current once
• No mention of minimum wage

Question 9

Describe the New Programme’s taxation policy

Answer 9

• No mention of nationalisation. but nationalised industries to be privatised
• Proportional tax system

Question 10

Describe the New Programme’s attitudes towards the church, monarchy and elites

Answer 10

No attacks on any of these groups, their property or power

Question 11

When and how was the fascist party formed?

Answer 11

• 23rd March 1919

* Mussolini called together representatives of round 20 ex-servicemen leagues to form the Fasci di Combattimento/Fasci

Question 12

Why did the squadristi form?

Answer 12

• Early fascist predominately made up of arditi - crack troop commandoes formed following Caparetto, wore black shirts associated with the fascist movement
• Formed themselves into small, military units called squadristi

Question 13

How did WW1 contributes to the growth of the Fascist party between 1919-1922?

Answer 13

• The war created a strong culture of violence
amongst the returning soldiers

• They begun to view the socialists as an internal threat within Italy
• The Mutilated Victory highlighted the weakness of the liberal government, turned military against them
• Alignment with the militaristic views of the PNF who promised a better solution to the post war problems

Question 14

What evidence is there of weakness of the Liberal state between 1919 and September 1922?

Answer 14

• After squadristi violence on 15th April 1919, no fascists arrested or attempts to close down their actions
• February 1920 - production of wheat fell 38 million quintals compared to pre-war levels of 52 million, industrial production also falling 15%
• The Beinnio Rosso strikes lasting a month in 1920
• Spring 1921 - police looked other way as fascists crushed socialist power in Emilia & Tuscany
• May 1921 - election resulting in no one party controlling parliament , trasformismo no longer worked

Question 15

How did the weakness of the liberal state contribute to the rise of the Facists?

Answer 15

• They appeared to be inept at tackling the issues faced by Italy - socialism, economic problems, rebuilding after the war
• Pushed the public towards more extreme parties - PNF, PSI

Question 16

What actions did fascists take in response to the rise of socialism in Italy between 1919 and September 1922?

Answer 16

• 15th April 1919 - 200-300 fascists burnt down ‘Avanti!’ newspaper, three socialists and a fascist killed
• First 5 months of 1921 saw 200 people killed in clashes between socialists and fascists
• Took control of Emilia and Tuscany in Spring 1921
• May 1921 elections - saw 100 socialist sympathisers killed
• Attacked areas across Italy with socialist controlled local councils in 1922
• By September 1922 - squads controlled areas around Rome, were ready to seize capital

Question 17

How did the fear of socialism contribute to the rise of the fascist party?

Answer 17

• Highlighted weakness of Liberals to stop rise of socialism e.g 1919 got greatest share of votes at 32%, 1920 they controlled 26/69 provinces in Italy, won 123 seats in May 1921 elections
• Wealthy in Italy (conservative elites, wealthy industrialist) happy to see socialism stopped - wanted to keep wealth and power
• Seen to be removing socialist threat, added to the fascist propaganda

Question 18

How did Mussolini’s actions and popularity contribute to the fascist party’s success between 1919 and September 1922?

Answer 18

• Encouraged the formation of more squadristi across Italy
• August 1921 Established self as sole leader of movement, elevate fascism above a group of thugs but a political movement
• Stopped violence to gain support of the middle classes
• 1922 Dual policy - said he would use democratic parliamentary meant to gain power, but still encouraged the violence of squads to the fascist party

Question 19

Give evidence for the rise in popularity of the Fascists between 1919 and 1922

Answer 19

• 1919 November elections - got less than 5,000 votes and no seats
• 1921 May elections - won 35 seats
• Grown to 320,000 members by July 1922

Question 20

How did the March on Rome start?

Answer 20

• Ras (squadristi leaders) wanted to take over the capital but Mussolini wanted to be appointed Prime Minster democratically due to it giving him a stronger position
• 16th October 1922 - A plan to have 300,000 fascists march on Rome was created, mainly to blackmail politicians
• 24th October - Mussolini made a speech to squadristi in Naples asserting that the PNF must be given power of face the seizing of Rome

Question 21

What happned on 27th October 1922?

Answer 21

Starting in Milan squadristi took over government offices, railway stations and police stations

Question 22

How did politicians and officials respond to the March on Rome?

Answer 22

• 2 am 28th Oct - King ready to declare state of emergency, have Mussolini arrested
• 9 am - King decides not to sign the declaration of emergency
• 29th October - King asked Mussolini to become prime minister

Question 23

How did various politicians’ actions contribute to Mussolini’s appointment?

Answer 23

• Facta - seen to be weak, king had no confidence in him, he resigned
• Salandra - convinced king not to sign the emergency decree due to desire to become PM
• Orlando - said he’d work with Mussolini in a fascist coalition if he could be PM
• Giolitti - failure to stop socialism and fascism become popular (due to ineffective governance)
Many liberals were too concerned with fighting off own party members and underestimated Mussolini so called for his appointment

Question 24

How did the King contribute to Mussolini’s appointment to power?

Answer 24

• Didn’t sign emergency decree - lack of confidence in Facta, fear military wouldn’t stop them fascist and hint from Mussolini of being replaced by the Duke of Aosta (his cousin)
• Asked Mussolini to become the Prime Minister