Democracy restored, 1943–46 Flashcards
When did the Republic of the South gain Rome?
1944
During what is sometimes called the … days, the time between ……………………………………. much happened
During what is sometimes called the 45 days, the time between Mussolini’s dismissal and his escape made possible by a daring aerial raid by German commandos, much happened
What happened on the 28th August 1943
- Mussolini had been transferred to a prison on Gran Sasso, the highest mountain in the Abruzzi region south east of Rome
What happened on the 12th September 1943
- Mussolini was rescued in a daring aerial raid by the Germans and brought back to Germany
What happened on the 13th September 1943
- Mussolini met with Hitler at the Nazi control centre in East
- Prussia Here Hiller demanded that Mussolini return to italy at the head of a new fascist government that the Nazis would establish
What happened on the 15th September 1943
- Mussolini announced the creation of a new German- sponsored Fascist state
- The Italian Social Republic often known as the Salo Republic (RSI)
What were immediate limitations of the Salo Republic
-Germany
- The new regime was heavy reliant on German arms & Germany
What were immediate limitations of the Salo Republic
-north
- By 1944 the partisans posed a serious threat in the north.
- controlled only a small part of northern Italy - its capital was at Lake Garda
What were immediate limitations of the Salo Republic
-mussolini
- It lacked any real public support because many Italians had lost faith in Mussolini who was suffering from ill health by now
Who supported the republic of Salo
- The new cabinet and supporters were mainly radical Fascists who had been part of the violent black shirt militia such as Farinacci
How did limited support limit the RSI’s policy making
- Despite adopting many of the policies from the 1919 Manifesto (now part of the Verona Manifesto)
- he never had the time, willingness or support from the Germans to put his policies in to place
How did limited support limit the RSI’s policy making
- Despite adopting many of the policies from the 1919 Manifesto (now part of the Verona Manifesto)
- he never had the time, willingness or support from the Germans to put his policies in to place
Give evidence that the RSI was a brutalist regime
- it spawned a fearful Militia although historians disagree about the number involved with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 140,000 men
- it also had a navy and air force
- five fascists, including Clano, were sentenced to death for treason and their executions carried out in January 1944
What was the attitude to Jew in the Salo Republic
- the Verona Manifesto declared Judaism a nationality and that all Jews should be classed as the enemy
- around 7,500 were sent from italian camps to Nazi death camps where nearly 7,000 were executed
What war happened
- A brutal civil war was waged in norther Italy between italian partisans and German and RSI forces
Civil War
Germany policy set out that for …………… that died, … Italians would be executed
- Germany policy set out that for every German soldier that died, 10 Italians would be executed
Give an example of the executions that took place becasue of the civil war
- Partisan attacks in March 1944 that killed 33 German soldiers for example had been answered with the execution of 335 Italians
What were immediate limitations of the Salo Republic
-elite
- The RSI was also rejected by those conservative groups notably industrialists and the Church, who had largely embraced the pre-war Fascist state
Authority in the Republic of Salo
- No clear authority- Mussolini supposedly in charge but didn’t reside in Salo and gov offices were in Milan; Hitler didn’t want Mussolini to gain a clear power base.
- Republican fascist Party replaced the PNF and the King’s authority not recognised.
External influence over the Republic of Salo
- Made to pay 7 billion lire a month to the Nazis.
- Hitler limits Mussolini’s power by not giving him a strong base.
- Heavily reliant on German support once the Nazis saved Mussolini.
Describe the Republic of Salo’s unpopularity
- Republican Fascist party only had 487000 members compared to the PNF’s 2.6m.
- Threat from partisans: 30,000 partisan revenge killings.
- Continued use of fear and repression to maintain control: Mussolini’s son-in-law Ciano executed, use of fascist police force, militias, army and navy.
Describe the Kingdom of the South’s authority
Under control of the King and his provisional government.
Weakness: limited army; only 22 of the previous 62 divisions remained.
What did the King set up
- The King established the royal government of the kingdom of the South
- Also known as the Allied Millary Govemment (AMG)
How did the elites operate in the South
- The Conservative elites, many of whom had been involved with national or local government kept their position to help make sure the country could still function in some form
After the Allied occupation of Rome the King was encouraged to…
- widen his goverment to include antifascist parties
How did the leadership of the AMG change after the allied occupation of Rome
- Badoglio was removed as the head of the govemment and was replaced by antifascist liberal Bonomi
External influence over the Kingdom of the South
Allies directly ruled Sicily and most of Southern Italy in the form of the Allied Military Government (AMG).
Americans used the mafia to gain information and undermine the German position.
Kingdom of the South unpopularity
Poor economic conditions led to less Italian support for the Allies.
Alternative government formed in Bari led by anti-fascists who didn’t support the monarchy.
Describe the attempts at conscirption in the South for the civil war
- There was an attempt to conscript 100,000 men to form an italian army but the anger at the king and the state of war meant that it was resisted by most men
- Although 50.000 were eventually forced in to the army the anti-fascist war of liberation was fought solely in the north and this lead to post war divisions
What is the Verona Manifesto
Outlined the policies of the RSI in November 1943
What were 4 points in the Verona Manifesto
- Point 1: Abolition of the monarchy and proclamation of the social republic. Denunciation of the last “treasonous and fugitive king”.
- Point 6: Roman Catholicism was declared as state religion but other religions are tolerated.
- Point 7: The members of the Jewish race are foreigners. During the current war they are considered of enemy nationality.
- Point 18: Continuation of the war in order to defeat the Allies and defend Italy’s territorial gains.
Despite beinga ble to organise….. the RSI was never really …
- large military force
- popular
What was the RSI’s position during the war
- incredibly weak
- without support of German troops the RSI could not survive
- most Italians sat tight and waited for the allies to arrive in the North
Mussolini was very ……, but managed
- ill
- one last speech where he got a standing ovation as he toured at bombed areas of Milan on 16 December 1944
By April 1945, the allies…
- were beginning to capture major parts of Northern Italy
Describe how Mussolini’s death came about
- M tried to esacpe to Switzerland
- 27th April partisans stopped the car he was escaping in disguised as a Roman solider
- It was decided he would be executed
- He and his mistress were shot on 28th April 1945 with 12 other fascists
How did the people react to Mussolini’s death
- His wife and his bodies were displayed in Milan where huge crowds attacked Mussolini’s body
- undignified end for him
When did the civil war end
- depite Mussolini’s death, fighting in Northern Italy continued
- however, on 1st May 1945, news came through Hitler had died and next day the war in Italy ended
What was the outcome of Italy after the civil war
- The econorry and infrastructure were ruined
- Many lacked clean food and water
- Millions of Italians were unemployed
- Cost of living was 23 times higher than in 1938
- The North had experienced the majorily of the fighting and this had widened the divide between the north and the south
What were the casualties of the civil war
- Half a million Italions including civillians lost their lives in the war * Around 30,000 partisan revenge killings were estimated to have token place following Germany’s surrender
Kingdom of the South popularity
Badoglio being replaced by Bonomi in 1944 gained the government credibility.
Economic impact of WW2
Lacked clean food and water.
Millions unemployed.
Cost of living in 1945 was 23 times higher than in 1938.
Exacerbated North/South divide since civil war and fighting in the North widened the divide.
Domestic political impact of WW2
Italy voted to become a republic in June 1946: 12.7 million votes to 10.7 million.
(N/S divide exacerbated: virtually every area in the North voted to become a republic and virtually every area in the South voted against)
Introduced proportional representation.
women gained the vote.
General election June 1946: Christian Democrats got 37% of the vote, socialists 21% and Communists 19%.
Intro of president who was largely symbolic.
Prime Minister elected mainly by parliament.
Anti- fascist and too weak to replicate Mussolini’s dictatorship.
Lateran pacts remained in constitution.
What foreign affairs did Italy have to respond to in its new liberal democracy post 1946
Italy lost lands in Africa and had to give Fiume back to Yugoslavia
Compensation payments to Yugoslavia, Abyssinia, Greece, Albania.
Italy’s first post-war government was established in..
.
June 1945
Describe Italy’s pre-war government
- If consisted of socialists, Communists and Christian Democrats. * Later it was dominated by the Christian Democrats who were the successors of the Catholic party
What happened with the King pre-war
- Eventually the King was unable to regain his authority (although he tried to put his son in power for 34 days)
- Italy voted to become a republic in June 1946 by 12.7 million votes to 10,7 million.
- However, virtually every area in the south voted to keep the king and virtually every area in the north voted to become a republic showing how divided the two sides were
In 1946, a new electoral system was then introduced based on …………… ………
proportional representation
1946 - Elections were held for a new ………. ……… on the same day as the referendum on the ……………
- Elections vere held for a new Constituent Assembly on the same day as the referendum on the monarchy
Whow ere allowed to vote for the first time in the election held for the new constituent assembly
- women
What were the results of the election for a new Constituent Assembly in 1946
- Christian democrats were victorious securing 207 of the 556 seats
- The Socialists 21% of the seats
- The Communists 19% of the seats
- The Old liberal party only secured 7% of the seats
What was the structure in govt in 1946
- The senate was to be elected, the president became largely symbolic and the PM would be elected mainly by pariliament
- Goverment was to be a cabinet of ministers which would be responsible to the parliament.
- It was anti-fascist in construction and definition - a weak government that would not be able to repeat the fascist years
The new constitution established a …………… ……… with ………. & …….. ……. guaranteed
The new constitution established a liberal democracy with civil and political freedom guaranteed
Who became head of state post ww2
- The monarchy was replaced by a president as Head of State,
- But Mussolini’s Lateran Pacts were also included in the Constitution
