Fascist Italy- 1925 To 1940 Flashcards
When was the ONB created
3rd April 1926
What did the ONB focus on for boys and girls
Boys Focused on sport,military style training and loyalty to Mussolini for patriotism
Girls focused on exercise and motherhood
What was education like in Fascist Italy
. Italians learnt about how Mussolini had saved Italy from communism and made links between fascist Italy and ancient Rome
. Anti-fascist teachers were sacked and from 1933 all teachers had to be a member of the PNF
What was the impact of the ONB and changes to the education system
. By 1937 their were 7 million members of fascist youth groups, this was before compulsory membership
. Some of this may have been due to enjoyment for sport and games instead of fascist ideology
. Less success in the south as most people left at 11 to work in agriculture
. Surveys in Rome showed that in 1937 girls liked the sport but not the teaching of motherhood
What was the OND
.fascist run OND replaced workers social organisation
. Provided social and sporting opportunities for regular Italians with each OND section typically having a clubhouse and recreational ground
. Also provided some welfare and subsidised holidays and events
. By 1939 their were 4 million members and 80% of white collar worker were members, along with 40% industrial workers
. The OND was popular and never forced fascist ideology onto its members
How was press censorship and control implemented In Italy
. Freedom of press restricted in 1923 and 1925
. By 1926 local prefects could confiscate papers,suspend publification and sack editors
. Left wing newspapers such as Avanti shut down
. All journalists had to join a fascist trade union and their jobs depended on writing positive stories about fascism
. Journalists depended on the PNF press office reports for their stories and were not told to print negative stories
. Fascist newspapers only accounted for 10% newspapers in circulation
How was propaganda used within fascist Italy
. Mussolini focused on making links between the Fascist Italy and Ancient Rome
. A 1937 celebration of Augustus Caesar was attended by over 1 million people
. Sport was used as progaganda with the Italian national team successful in 1934 and 1938 World Cup
. Minister of popular culture was not very efficient and many Italians continued to hold their pre-fascist views
. Attempts to create a new fascist culture were not effective
. Particularly difficult ion south since it lacked the mass media of the north
What was the Cult of Il Duce
. Developed to portray Mussolini as an Italian hero
. 30 million pictures of Mussolini were circulated and he was represented as a historic, successful leader
What examples of culture were their in Fascist Italy
. PNF funded the Italian film industry and created the Film City complex in the 1930s
. Films focused on Italian success but 87% of all films came from Hollywood
. Fascist art celebrated 10 years of fascist rule and the exhibit was visited by 4 million people
. Despite this fascist culture did not manage to transform Italy or Italian attitudes
Repression and Terror in Italy
. All other political parties were banned in November 1926
. The death penalty was reintroduced fro threatening state security or trying to kill Mussolini or the state
. special tribunal dealt with political opponents who were often sent to the south
. Political police set up in 1926 and the OVRA was created in 1927 under the leadership of Arturo Bocchini
Little serious opposition to Mussolini’s rule and it showed the effectiveness of the OVRA and generally that Italians followed the regime
What was anti-semitism like in Fascist Italy
. In 1937 fascist began to introduce anti-Semitic policies, only 45000 Italian Jews in Italy
. In 1938 Jews were not allowed to marry Italians, hold public office, run large businesses and were barred from certain professions
. 6000 Jews left Italy
Why were the policies introduced
.Introduced to copy Germany as Italy became closer to Germany in late 1930s
. Introduced a racial mentality to preparation for war
. Develop a ‘totalitarian ‘ state in which all aspects of life were controlled by the state
.
What was the impact of anti-Semitic policies
. Many Italians thought that the anti-semitism was an example of Mussolini copying Hitler
. It was criticised by the pope
. It demonstrated a new radicalism in the fascist movement, the Roman salute was also introduced as a greeting
What was Mussolini’s relationship with the King like
. The king had the power to sack Mussolini at anytime and chose not too after the Matteotti crisis
. In December 1928 Fascist grand council limited the kings power to chose future prime ministers
. Mussolini and the king met regularly but he had no role in policy and relations became increasingly strained
. In 1940 Mussolini gained control of the armed forces which the king had previously been head off
What was Mussolini and the government like
. The legal system did not change and many judges retained their position
. December 1925 laws made Mussolini undisputed dictator of Italy
. Mussolini could not be removed by parliament
. The 1928 electoral law, parliament was made up of 400 deputies chosen by the fascist grand council
. In December 1928 the fascist grand council was made the highest legal authority in the state
. However in reality Mussolini was in control and decided what was discussed at FGC meetings
What was Mussolini’s relationship like with local governments
. Prefects were highest authority in each Provence - police, press, authority in each area were controlled by prefect
. Prefects were appointed by Mussolini but were not always PNF members
. Podesta were in charge of local councils and were appointed by prefects- often members of the old elite to ensure central control and that Mussolini had most influence
. Mussolini restricted power of ras and PNF. Roberto Farinacci purged party and ensured loyalty to Mussolini
How did Mussolini ensure control over the PNF and nationalists
. Expelled hard line older Fascists from the PNF, 60000 were expelled and another 110,000 left voluntarily
. 800,000 new members joined who were mostly middle class workers. Joined to advance their personal prospects
. New members did not challenge Mussolini and strengthened his personal control
.ANI was absorbed into the PNF in 1923
. Nationalists leaders served in Mussolini’s government and they influenced Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policies in 1930s
How was Mussolini’s relationship with economic interest groups
. Initially Mussolini worked with big companies such as Fiat and Pirelli to try and restore the economy
. Mussolini tried to help smaller businesses by passing laws protecting smaller shop owners against larger supermarkets
. Under the Palazzo Vidoni Pact in October 1925 all socialist and Catholic work unions were banned and replaced with fascist syndicates
What was syndicalism
. Idea that predated fascism and it was based on the idea that to prevent disputes between workers and bosses , workers and employers would form co-operative groups or syndicates in order to discuss working terms, conditions and the economy of a country
. Many syndicates joined the fascist movement and hoped syndicalism would change the entire economic policy of Italy
What was the Rocco law
. In April 1926 the Rocco law allowed syndicates some right of representation in industrial disputes about pay and conditions
. However strikes and lockouts were banned
. This undermined workers and favoured big businesses and industrialists
. Many syndicates were disappointed by the fascist economic policies
What were Italy’s economic policies
. Early policies under Di Stefani as minister of Finance focused on reducing government spending and balancing the budget
. Between 1921-1924 Italy achieved a budget surplus
. In July 1925 the economy became more state led and Mussolini had more influence
. Autarkey was a key priority
What were the economic battles
.Battle for births - announced in May 1927. Aimed to raise the population to 60 million in the 1950s. Contraception was banned and larger families received tax cuts. The population rose to 44.5 million by 1940 but overall it was a failure
. Battle for Grain - announced 1925. Was linked to autarky and aimed to produce more Italian grain for bread, grain did increase by 50% but this came at the expense of other agriculture
How did Mussolini deal with the Great Depression
. Cut wages by 12% in 1930
. Public work schemes updated rail work network and focussed on road/ house building
. Government credit was provided to stop banks collapsing through IM policy
. IRI scheme enabled the government to buy shares in banks and businesses to keep them afloat
. Prices fixed through cartels
