Detailed cards Flashcards
What was the first form of opposition to Fascism?
Matteotti (1924)
Who were the Rosselli brothers?
-Carlo and Nello Rosselli. -Came from a wealthy Tuscan family.-After a period in the army and uni, both became lecturers. -Became increasingly horrified by Fascist violence.
Who was the more politically radical Rosselli brother?
-Carlo.-joined the PSI and after 1922 participated in anti-Fascist organisations & spread anti-Fascist propaganda.
Why was Carlo Rosselli arrested in December 1926?
Helped opponents escape to exile but was arrested.Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on Lipari island.
When did Carlo escape?
July 1929. Then fled to paris.
When was Nello arrested?
Briefly arrested in 1927 & remained under police surveillance.
What was the anti-Fascist group set up by Carlo?
-Justice and Liberty (GL)-set up in Paris
What did GL do?
-they publicised conditions in Italy-smuggled propaganda leaflets into Italy-helped secret activity in Italy
What else did Carlo do?
-When the Italian govt sent troops to fight Franco in SCW, he helped organise 30k anti-Fascist Italians to join an anti-Fascist crusade in Spain.-Made radio broadcasts to Italy c. their struggle, claiming “Today in Spain; tomorrow in Italy”.
What was the slogan broadcast by Carlo’s radio channel?
“Today in Spain; tomorrow in Italy”
What did the GL help inflict the defeat on?
-BM’s troops at Guadalajara in March 1937.-Carlo publicised this humiliation & helped provoke BM’s revenge.
What happened to the Rosselli brothers in June 1937?
They were both murdered by French fascists, acting on Foreign Minister Ciano’s orders.
Anti-Fascist concentration
-Established in Paris 1927-Mainly Socialists, some Liberals-Tried to overcome previous divisions; difficult -Concentrated on informing Europeans of evils of Fascism via conferences and journals-1934: dissolved itself, as it was losing support to the more radical GL, & Communist organisations.
Work in exile
-After 1924 many major politicians left Italy-1000s of exiles publicised horrors of Fascism abroad, smuggled anti-Fascist lit into Italy, and planned for the overthrow of Fascism-From 1936 there were 3k anti-Fascist volunteers fighting in Spain-Italian Garibaldi Legion defeated Italian Fascist troops at Guadalajara, March 1937
What were the exiles called?
Fuorusciti
The Communist Party
-1926: most leaders arrested, but local party cells, & newspaper “Unita” survived illegally- 2k to 8k members-Some success in N in infiltrating factories & TUs to foment strikes and demos-Helped by Soviet money but Comintern policy (1928-34) of non-collaboration w/ other anti-F groups limited its impact-1930s: Depression & new popular front policy meant it attracted more support-1943 onwards: major role in resistance movement in N. Italy
Who was Bassanesi?
-GL member-flew over Milan in July 1930 dropping 100k leaflets urging resistance-Was a major publicity coup for anti-Fascism
Who was De Bosis?
-taught himself to fly-In 1931 he dropped 400k leaflets over Rome telling people they should unite with the monarchy against F.
When did De Bosis drop 400k leaflets over Rome?
3rd Oct 1931
GL (Justice and Liberty)
-1929 founded by CR in Paris-Tried to galvanise Italians into anti-F action-Established underground network in Italy, but frequently smashed.-After the murder of the Rossellis, GL declined; then revived from 1943, during liberation struggle.
The Church
-Despite the Concordat agreement there was later by the Catholic church of: (i) Fascist pressure on CA (1931) (ii) racist decrees (1938)-CA organisations remained as potential rivals to F.
The Fascist Party
-F remained a diverse movement, & there was always simmering criticism from some, especially Radicals, e.g. the Concordat -1943: majority of Grand Council voted to remove BM from office
The King
-Generally supportive; but privately expressed criticism of actions he saw as threatening his position, and various policies, e.g. racist decrees-July 1934: dismissed BM
Ethnic minorities
-Periodic protests-including bomb attacks and murders of policemen-at imposition of Italian language and culture on German and Slav minorities in Alto Adige & Venezia Giulia
Armed uprising
-1943 to 1945: Growing resistance movement against German occupation of the N-Communist guerrillas shot BM, 1945
Assassination attempts
-Various anarchist isolated actions; 4 attempts on BM’s life in 1925 (Rome) & 1926 (Bologna: suspected of being staged to justify 1926 repression)-1931: bombs in Turin, Genoa and Bologna
Non-conformity
-Hard to assess but various forms: (i) refusal to make Fascist salute (ii) refusal to wear Fascist uniform (iii) anti-F jokes (iv) verbal insults (v) Late 30s non-compliance w/ Reform of Customs
Propaganda
-underground printing of anti-F propaganda-Secret Press had some success, especially in the N, but periodically disrupted by the police.-Distribution of anti-F leaflets, w/ instructions to pass on to at least 6 others-Anti-F slogans on walls
Armed uprisings
-1943 to 1945: Growing resistance movement against German occupation of the N-Communist guerrillas shot BM, 1945
Open expression of criticism
-Growing public criticism of F violence, culminating in the murder of Matteotti; increasingly repressed after 1925-Parliamentary Aventine Secession 1924-25-Some critical journals survived till 1926; then suppressed; less direct opposition via cultural journals-Intellectual criticism persisted throughout period, especially from Croce, e.g. Manifesto of Anti-F Intellectuals, 1925-Elements in elite periodically expressed criticism
Strikes & demos
-declined 1924-25, but periodic illegal strikes:(a) Turin March 1943 major strike, quickly gained concessions(b) Bologna 1930 & 1931 protests against closing soup kitchens, & having to pay for medical injections(c) Trieste 1933 protests about lack of food(d) Forli 1935 protests demanding public works-1933: numerous spontaneous demos in N cities w/ slogan “We want bread & jobs”
Why was there so little opposition in Italy?
REASON 1- strength of the govtREASON 2- attitudes of ordinary peopleREASON 3- practical problems
REASON 1- strength of govt
-strong repressive machinery-popular policies-propaganda-popularity of the leader
REASON 2- attitudes of ordinary people
-mass apathy-careerism-reluctance to break law-support for the govt-fear of the govt
REASON 3- practical reasons
-hard to organise meetings-hard to spread ideas
BM becomes PM
Oct 1922
Italy bombards Corfu
Aug 1923
Italy gains the disputed port of Fiume
Jan 1924
Italy signs the Locarno Treaties, guaranteeing Germany’s western borders
Oct 1925
Italy brings Albania under Italian control as a protectorate
1926
BM encourages Croatian separatists who want to break away from the new Yugoslav state
1927
BM encourages Arab nationalists challenging the French and British Empires
1928
BM encourages Macedonian separatists in Yugoslavia
1929
Italian colony of Libya finally subdued after a 13 year campaign
1932
Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany
Jan 1933
BM proposes 4-Power Pact
July 1933
Italy sends troops to protect Austria from the threat of Nazi takeover
July 1934
Italy attend Stresa Conference to discuss measures against Germany’s rearmament
April 1935
Italy invades Abyssinia
Oct 1935
Italy conquers Abyssinia
May 1936
Italy intervenes, alongside Germany, to help conservative General Franco against the Left in SCW.
July 1936
SCW
July 1936-1939
Italy joins the Axis agreement with Germany
Oct 1936
Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany & Japan, directed at the USSR
Nov 1937
Italy withdraws from the LoN
Dec 1937
BM attends the Munich Conference which prevents war over Nazi claims on Czechoslovakia
Sept 1938
Italy invades Albania
April 1939
Italy & Germany sign the Pact of Steel military alliance
May 1939
Italy stays out of WW2
Sept 1939
Italy declares war on Britain & France
June 1940
Italy invades Egypt & Greece
Sept-Oct 1940
Italy declares war on the USSR
June 1941
Italy declares war on the USA
Dec 1941
Italy suffers major losses in Africa
1942
Southern Italy invaded by Allies
July 1943
BM overthrown
July 1943
Germans take control of N Italy
July 1943
BM becomes the puppet leader of the German satellite Salo Republic in N Italy
July 1943
BM killed by Italian Communist guerrillas
April 1945
What position did Italy hold in Europe?
A secure one but unable to exert a great deal of influence, either militarily or diplomatically :(
How had the potential threat to her N frontiers been removed?
1) By the friendship w/ France2)the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire3)she had no powerful enemies
Who were the dominant powers of Europe?
Britain and France
Why were they the dominant powers of Europe?
-they guaranteed the ToV settlement-their colonies dominated Africa-their fleets controlled the Med
Where was France consolidating her economic and political power?
E. & C. Europe, including the Balkans.
Why was it hard to change the European status quo?
-required the consent of Britain & France (the very countries that benefited from the current status quo)-in the absence of a strong Germany to counterbalance their influence, smaller powers had few means of extracting concessions.
What did this power balance mean for Italy?
Would have to move carefully
How did Italy learn this lesson?
In BM’s first foray into European affairs- Corfu Crisis 1923
Since 1912, Albania had been independent of…
Turkey
What did the LoN do in 1921?
Entrusted the guardianship of Albania’s independence to Italy.
What was the on-going dispute between Albania and Greece about?
the location of their common frontier.
When was the dispute put before the LoN?
1921
Name the institution the LoN referred the dispute to?
The Conference of the Ambassadors of Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
What did this institution decide?
To send a commission made up of Greeks, Albanians and Italians to the disputed region to settle the issue.
Who was appointed to lead the commission?
An Italian general, Enrico Tellini
When were Tellini and 4 of his staff assassinated?
17th August 1923
How did BM react to the assassination?
Even though there was evidence to suggest the murderers were Albanian, he used it as an opportunity to hold the Greek govt responsible and an ultimatum was sent to Athens.
Terms of the ultimatum
-The Greek govt must issue an official apology for the crime.-Members of the Greek gov should attend the victims’ funerals.-The murderers should be apprehended within 5 days & automatically executed.-The Greek fleet must salute the Italian flag.-Payment of a 50M lire compensation
How long were the Greeks given to respond to the ultimatum?
-24 hours to accept the terms-5 days to pay the 50M lire
What did the French PM, Raymond Poincare, describe the terms as?
“extravagant-much worse than the ultimatum after Sarajevo”
Did the Greek govt accept the terms of the ultimatum?
accepted most of the terms bar automatically executing the murders. Also thought 50M lire was too steep- suggested amount should be set by the LoN.
How did BM retaliate?
Ordered the bombardment and occupation of Corfu.
What was the admiral he sent to oversee the occupation?
Admiral Emilio Solari
When did Italy bomb and occupy Corfu?
31st August 1933
Where did some of the bombs land?
On orphanages and refugee camps.
How many citizens were killed in the bombardment?
16
How many citizens were wounded in the bombardment?
30
International opinion with regard to Italy’s actions was…
…divided.
What did many foreign powers think of BM’s actions?
They were critical of BM’s gunboat diplomacy and thought it ill-advised and impulsive.
Where was there some support for BM’s actions?
British and French press.
What did The Observer applaud BM for?
his “virile direction of his country’s affairs”.
What did he tell the British press in Rome?
-That the British govt would’ve done the same if British officers had been murdered in Greece.-He wanted it known that he didn’t want the matter referred to the LoN as he believed it to be out of their jurisdiction. -If it was referred then Italy would resign from the LoN.
How did the European powers react to the Corfu Crisis?
They, led by Britain and her Med fleet, demanded that BM withdraw.
Why was BM in a difficult position?
-His 1st international crisis he’d faced and if he failed to get his way (the 50M lire), it’d reflect badly on the F regime and public opinion might turn against him.
How did a British Diplomat sum up BM’s precarious position?
“the whole Fascist fabric might collapse like a deck of cards”
What would happen if Fascism collapsed?
A return to political instability and encourage a reappearance of the threat of Communism.
Whose hands did the LoN fortunately (for BM) place the manner in?
The Ambassadors’ Conference
What was the outcome of the Ambassadors’ Conference?
- They largely supported the Italian case and stated that the indemnity had to be paid.- But BM never received a full apology from the Greek govt.- Italian troops withdrew from Corfu.
Define indemnity.
compensation
When did Italian forces withdraw from Corfu?
September 1933
Yes, the CC was a clear victory for BM…
-It appeared that this display of strength had allowed Italy’s F regime to win its first international crisis: added further to his domestic popularity and international prestige abroad.-His policy of bombardment and occupation got him what he wanted: 50M lire indemnity.
No, the CC was not a clear victory for BM…
-It showed that although BM was able to bully smaller powers, he was unable to stand to the great powers, who demanded that he withdrew from Corfu.-This realisation annoyed BM but it made him aware of the necessity of good relations with Britain, at least in the short term.-BM v. fortunate that the British foreign sec, Austen Chamberlain, was an admirer of Fascism and was inclined to look tolerably on BM’s actions.-BM never received an official apology from the Greek govt.
What did the crisis display for the first time?
The weakness of the LoN when faced by the aggression of a member state (NOT A GOOD OMEN FOR THE FUTURE)
The crisis indicated what about Fascist Italy’s FP?
That its aims represented a threat to peace.
Who did BM finally agree with about the future of Fiume?
Yugoslavia
What was the deal called struck between the Yugoslavians and BM?
The Pact of Rome
What did that deal entail?
Fiume would pass to Italy and the Yugoslavians would retain the land around it.
What did the Greeks give way on?
the issue of the Dodecanese Islands
What happened in 1925?
The Dodecanese Islands formally became Italian.
Was it a success?
YES- BM’s diplomatic success brought him great prestige and popularity- Fiume port was part of the irredenta. D’Annuzio had occupied it for 18Ms in 1919 and he provided blueprint for Fascism and instilled a sense of imperialism into the hearts of Italians. BM had to OUTDO him.
What did BM’s success in Fiume persuade him to think?
That Yugoslavia could be pushed around.
Whose influence in Yugolsavia did BM resent?
French influence.
What was BM keen to demonstrate to the new state?
That Italy was the dominant power in the region; not France.
Yugoslavia was a new state- when was it formed?
1918
What did BM want to make clear to the Yugoslavs?
That he could make their life v. difficult if they tried to resist Italian influence.
What happened in 1924?
An Italian-sponsored chieftain, Ahmed Zog, managed to take power in Albania on Yugoslavia’s S border.
What was the name of the Italian-sponsored chieftain?
Ahmed Zog
How did the Fascist govt help Zog?
-provided him with money-encouraged Italian companies to invest in the Albanian economy -employed Italian officers as advisers to the Albanian army
What was signed in 1926?
The Treaty of Friendship
What did that treaty signify?
That Albania was little more than a satellite state.
What emphasised Italy as a military threat to Yugoslavia?
When BM funded those ethnic minorities, notably the Croats, who wanted to break away from the Yugoslav state.
How did Yugoslavia respond to BM’s funding?
By doing its best not to antagonise Fascist Italy but it also refused to be intimidated into subservience.
1930s
-throughout the 30s BM maintained his aggressive posture.-eventually occupied much of Yugoslavia during WW2 after it was defeated by Hitler.
When was Yugoslavia invaded by the Axis powers?
April 1941
What happened in 1943?
a Democratic Federal Yugoslavia was proclaimed by the Partisan resistance.
Why did BM want Albania?
Its ports would give him access to Adriatic Sea (strategically valuable) & the Balkans.
What role was BM keen to play in W Europe (where B&F’s main interests lay) while he was meddling in the Balkans?
A moderate statesman
How did he cement this role?
-Italy remained in the LoN (the ostensible guarantor of international conflict) -signed the Lorcano Treaties-entered the Kellogg-Briand (1928) pact outlawing war.-Italy & Britain came to an agreement over the location of the border between their N. Africa colonial territories, Libya & Egypt.
What did BM really think of the pacts?
He had little interest in the details of such pacts & treaties, and rarely took the time to read them thoroughly.But he did see the advantages of participating in these diplomatic spectacles.
Why did BM get involved in the Lorcano Treaties?
-enjoyed being taken seriously as a European statesman.-hoped that apparent moderation would lead to some concessions from B&F-saw an opportunity to enhance his domestic prestige and power (MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR)
Who did BM originally send to represent Italy?
Dino Grandi
Why didn’t BM originally attend the conference?
He wouldn’t go as the other leaders refused to move it to Rome.
Why did BM eventually join the conference?
-Didn’t want to miss out on benefiting from a diplomatic success.-Knew how useful it would be to boost his domestic prestige and distract from domestic problems.
How did BM dramatically arrive to the conference?
On a speedboat with a large band of blackshirts.
What was the Italian press coverage like surrounding the treaty?
-EXTENSIVE-Suggested that… (i) BM had been treated as an equal by the great powers’ leaders. (ii) BM’s presence & contributions had been crucial in reaching such momentous European agreements-Made a powerful impression on Italy
Was the assertion that BM’s presence & contributions had been crucial correct?
-a GROSS EXAGGERATION-He only attended one session and didn’t even’t bother to read the final draft of the treaties.
How did journalists react to BM’s arrival at Lorcano?
Refused to attend and waited outside the room to greet him w/ silent contempt as he emerged from the lobby.Popolo d’Italiana of course reported massive crowds
Why after Lorcano did BM himself never attend foreign conferences?
He didn’t want to invite a similar rebuff (could sway Italian PO if they found out) so preferred to stay at home.
What agreements were reached at Lorcano?
It only reaffirmed Germany’s frontiers that were agreed in TOV (1919). BUTThe treaties heralded a period of peace based on international cooperation.
What new feeling pervaded the political scene immediately after Lorcano?
optimism
What did people speak of?
“the spirit of Lorcano”
What opportunity did Lorcano create for BM?
To meet Austen Chamberlain, Britain’s foreign sec, and to discuss their countries’ outstanding differences. In fact, they got on & established a friendship.
What did BM and the other leaders believe?
That Lorcano increased the chances of a lasting peace in Europe.
Who met in April 1924?
The French Foreign Minister, Briand, and the US Secretary of State, Kellogg.
What did Briand suggest at this April 1924 meeting?
That their 2 countries should set an example to the rest of the world by openly outlawing war as a means of settling international disputes.
What was Kellogg against in the April 1924 meeting?
Was not in favour of such a limited bilateral agreement and suggested it should be extended to include as many nations as possible.
Who was Kellogg particularly keen to involve?
-Germany, who had only been in the LoN since 1926.-the non-LoN powers, the USA and the USSR
When was the Pact signed?
27th August 1928by the reps of 9 powers.
Were was the Pact signed?
Paris
Who was the Italian representative?
Count Manzoni
How many nations signed the agreement?
56
What happened 11 years after it was signed?
WW2
What do historians think of it?
Irrelevant and ineffective
Was BM keen for Italy to become involved?
Not at first
What did BM originally call it?
an “absurd proposal”
Like the LT, where did BM want the delegates to travel to?
Rome. They refused.
What did BM think of the pact?
-had no faith in it-no interest in adhering to its principles -BUT wasn’t prepared to oppose it unilaterally so sent Manzoni to sign it-Thought it might get him some prestige.-It made no difference to his preparations for the future.
Why have some questioned the necessity of the pact?
It appeared to duplicate the undertakings made in the covenant of the LoN.
What were the weaknesses of the pact?
-did NOT provide a means of enforcing its principles-did NOT give any idea of the course of action to be taken against any nation that broke them
What is the KBP also known as?
The Pact of Paris
From the start the KBP…
-was not enthusiastically received-was never to make any meaningful contribution to future settlement of international disputes.
What happened to the KBP?
It still remains in effect.