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The rise and fall of Fascism in Italy, c1911-1946 > democracy restored, 1943-46 > Flashcards

democracy restored, 1943-46 Flashcards

LO: the Allied invasion, the Republic of Salo, and the govt in the south, German surrender and Mussolini's death, outcomes of the referendum and elections 1946

1
Q

what were the key objectives of the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943?

A

remove Italy from the war
control the Mediterranean
force Germany to divert troops from Russian front
force Germany to divert troops from northern France before D-Day

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2
Q

why was the Italian Campaign particularly difficult, and when was it?

A

July 1943 - May 1945
the mountainous terrain mde fighting bitter and costly

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3
Q

when did American troops land at Salerno?

A

9 September 1943

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4
Q

why was the landing at Salerno nearly a failure?

A

German forces nearly pushed the Americans back into the sea

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5
Q

what was the goal of the Anzio landings?

A

to bypass German defensive lines and speed up the Italian campaign

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6
Q

why did the Allies struggle after landing at Anzio?

A

bad weather and constant German air raids slowed their advance

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7
Q

what was the Gustav Line?

A

a major German defensive line in central Italy, anchored at Monte Cassino

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8
Q

how long did it take for the Allies to break through Monte Cassino?

A

four battles over several months, Jan-May 1944

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9
Q

how did Kesselring respond to the Allied breakthrough?

A

he organised a successful retreat, prolonging the war in Italy

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10
Q

when did American forces enter Rome?

A

4 June 1944

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11
Q

why did the D-Day invasion affect the Italian Campaign?

A

six allied divisions were removed from Italy, delaying the campaign

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12
Q

what was the Allied strategy in Italy after D-Day?

A

keep German divisions tied up in Italy rather than rushing to victory

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13
Q

how many casualties did the Allies suffer at Anzio alone?

A

59,000

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14
Q

when was the Armistice declared?

A

8 September 1943

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15
Q

what areas were under Allied control by June 1944?

A

most of southern Italy, inc. Rome

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16
Q

who initially led the provisional govt in southern Italy?

A

Marshal Badoglio

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17
Q

why was Badoglio replaced in 1944?

A

he was seen as too closely associated with the fascist regime

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18
Q

who replaced Badoglio?

A

Ivanoe Bonomi, a liberal not heavily involved in Fascism

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19
Q

who established the Republic of Salo?

A

the Nazis, as a puppet state in northern Italy

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20
Q

who was made the leader of the Salo Republic?

A

Mussolini

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21
Q

why was Mussolini unable to centralise power in Milan?

A

Hitler feared he would gain too much influence

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22
Q

how long did the Salo Republic last?

A

600 days

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23
Q

what party replaced the PNF in the Salo Republic?

A

the Republican Fascist Party

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24
Q

how many members did the Republican Fascist Party have compared to the PNF in 1939?

A

487,000 vs 2.6 million

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25
how large was the Salo Republic's military by July 1944?
about 50,000 men in four divisions
26
what role did Fascist militias like the Black Brigades play?
they fought against italian partisans
27
what happened to those who supported Grandi's resolution against Mussolini?
they were condamned to death, and five were executed, inc. Galeazzo Ciano
28
why was the Salo Republic weak?
Italians had lost faith in Mussolini it was dependent on German support Mussolini was treated as a puppet leader partisan resistance was growing
29
how did the Germans control the Salo Republic?
they controlled communications, the military, and decision making
30
what was the reality of power in Italy at this time?
real power was in the hands of the Germans in the north and the Allies in the south
31
who controlled Rome during the war?
the Nazis
32
who controlled Sicily and southern Italy?
the Allied Military Government (AMG)
33
what was the state of the Italian army after the Armistice?
only 22 out of 62 divisions remained active
34
why was life difficult in southern Italy during the war?
fighting was slow and brutal black market was essential for survival corruption was widespread the Mafia was used by the US to undermine Fascists and Germans
35
what political tensions emerged in Bari?
anti-Fascists opposed the monarchy
36
what political groups began forming a post-war government?
Catholics, Socialists, and Liberals
37
what key event happened in January 1944?
Allied troops landed at Anzio
38
when did the German Gustav Line collapse, and what town fell to the Allies?
May 1944; Cassino fell
39
by April 1945, what was happening to German forces in Italy?
they were retreating towards the Austrian border as Germany was on the verge of defeat
40
what was Mussolini's state in early 1945?
he was disillusioned, lacking charisma and energy, and still hoping for a German 'miracle weapon'
41
what unrealistic hope did Mussolini have about the USA and Britain?
that they would turn on the USSR and need Italy and Germany's support
42
what happened to the Salo Republic after German troops withdrew?
it collapsed, as it could not survive without German support
43
when did German forces in italy finally surrender?
2 May 1945, two days after the fall of Berlin
44
where was Mussolini imprisoned after his removal in 1943?
Gran Sasso, a remote mountain prison in Italy
45
how and when was Mussolini rescued?
German commandos carried out an aerial raid on 12 September 1943
46
what major event took place on 9 April 1945?
the Allies launched their final push into northern Italy
47
why did Mussolini consider suicide in April 1945?
he saw no way out as German defeat was imminent
48
where was Mussolini captured, and by whom?
Near Lake Como on 25 April 1945, by Italian communist partisans
49
how did Mussolini attempt to escape?
he disguised himself as a German soldier in a military convoy
50
who ordered Mussolini's execution, and when did it happen?
Colonel Valerio, a partisan leader, ordered his execution on 28 April 1945
51
what happened to Mussolini's body after the execution?
his mutilated body was taken to Milan and hung upside down at a petrol station in Piazzale Loreto
52
who else was executed alongside Mussolini?
his mistress, Clara Petacci, and other leading fascists
53
were there widespread executions of former fascist supporters after Mussolini's death?
no, large-scale purges were avoided
54
who led the first post-war govt in Italy?
Ferruccio Parri
55
when was the first post-war govt established, and how long did it last?
June 1945, it lasted 5 months
56
what parties made up the first govt?
Socialists, communists, and christian democrats
57
who formed the second post-war govt, and when?
Alcide De Gasperi in November 1945
58
what party dominated De Gasperi's govt?
the Christian Democrats
59
what happened to the Italian monarchy after the war?
it lost authority, and Italy became a republic in 1946
60
what strategy did King Victor Emmanuel III use to try to save the monarchy?
he abdicated in favour of his son, Umberto, before the referendum
61
how did the north and the south vote in the referendum?
the north favoured a republic, while the south supported the monarchy
62
what was the final vote count in the referendum?
12 million votes for a republic, 10 million for the monarchy
63
how long did Umberto II serve as king?
34 days before going into exile
64
who became the provisional head of Italy's new republican state?
Enrico De Nicola
65
what new electoral system was introduced in italy?
proportional representation
66
what was the role of the Senate and the President in the new system?
the Senate was elected, and the President had a largely symbolic role
67
how was the PM chosen in the new system?
elected mainly by parliament
68
why was the new govt intentionally weak?
to prevent a repeat of fascist rule
69
what event happened on the same day as the 1946 general election?
the referendum on the monarchy
70
what was significant about voting in this election?
it was the first time women were allowed to vote in Italy
71
which party won the most votes and seats in the election?
Christian Democrats, with 35,2% of votes and 207 seats
72
how many seats did the Communist and Socialist parties win?
communists won 102 seats, socialists won 115
73
what were some other parties represented in the new Constituent Assembly?
Liberals (41 seats) and the Republican Party (23 seats)

The rise and fall of Fascism in Italy, c1911-1946 (16 decks)

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