Fascist Society 1922-40 Flashcards
What were the aims of fascistisation?
-Mussolini set out to change Italians into fascists
-Indoctrinate the young & influence social habitats of adults + encourage anti-Semitism
-The ONB; 7 million children (1937) but no guarantee of creation of young fascists
Fascistisation; how was it shown that adults were more resistant?
-Enjoyed OND activities
-‘Battle for births’ failed
-Women resisted attempts to exclude them from employment
What were Mussolini’s aims?
-To adopt policies to secure positions of ‘Il Duce’
-1920s; desire to transform Italian society & character
-1930s; hatred for ‘Bourgeois mentality’ of Italians (stressed importance of family, religion, local loyalties & comfortable living). Wanted new Italians to place fascism & nation above everything
-Being tough/disciplined/physically + psychologically conditioning for war & obedient
-Wanted to penetrate every aspect of society but was neither systematic in his ideas nor prepared for unpopular policies in his ideas
Mussolini’s aims; why did fascist policies begin to become unsuccessful?
Slowly began to alienate + not win over public/elites
Education; what was Mussolini’s aim in education?
-Mussolini’s gov launched various initiatives & organisations to secure popular support for fascist rule
-Regime’s growing control of schools & universities was an important aspect of this drive to instil fascist values
Education; what did 1923 reforms by a philosopher show and what were reactions to them?
-Focused on rigorous exams in prestigious schools attended by minority
-Showed continue dependence on conservative support
-Radical fascists dismayed
Education; how did Mussolini change education in 1925?
-Dec; Mussolini instructed schools to educate young Italians to live according to the fascist revolution
-Followed by a purge of ‘politically incompatible’ teachers (many who survived purge remained committed to other political beliefs, simply safeguarded themselves & own interests)
-School curriculum hence a lot more ideological
Education; how many history books were banned in all schools in 1926?
1/3
Education; what did all primary & secondary school teachers have to do in 1929?
Swear an oath of loyalty to the regime
Education; how long have all lectures & deans been PNF members in 1930?
At least 5 years
Education; when was the fascist teachers’ regime association set up and what was required?
-1931
-Lecturers & deans had to swear an oath of loyalty to the regime (just 11/1230 declined)
-1937; membership became compulsory
Education; what did all employed have to do in 1933?
-PNF membership compulsory condition for employment
-All university professors had to be PNF members
Education; what did primary school teachers have to wear in classrooms in 1934?
Blackshirt uniforms
Education; what did primary school textbooks depict in the late 1930s and why?
-Emphasised Italy’s civilising mission
-To excuse anti-Semitic laws and Abyssinia)
-1936; single textbook covering all subjects in an approved manner to encourage uniformity
-Taught of Italians creating European civilisation (eg Michelangelo/Columbus) & WW1 victory due to Italy
Education; what did Bottai introduce in 1939 and why?
New school charter designed to create a new ‘fascist man’ (stopped due outbreak of WW2)
Education; what were lessons and the curriculum like?
-Lessons celebrated the Duce, militarism & imperialism
-Curriculum adopted to reflect regime’s changing policies/priorities
-Religious education made compulsory in all secondary schools following Lateran Agreements (1929)
-Regular ministerial orders & instructions caused much resentment among staff in Italian schools, so official directives were often carried out w/ little enthusiasm
-University’s not harassed unless they engaged in anti-fascist political activity
Education; what was education like in rural communities?
-Inadequate teaching resources were often coupled w/ absenteeism & illiteracy due to children undertaking agricultural work, particularly at harvest time = limited impact education policy
-1/5 brides in southern Italy couldn’t sign their own name
Fascist youth; what was the ONB fascist youth movement and its aims?
-Helped implant fascist values
-Slogan; ‘believe, obey, fight’
-Established in 1926 by ministry of education to turn young Italians aged betw 6-18 into fascists
-Within a year had 1m+ members
Fascist youth; what did batilla groups offer and do?
-Offered sport, summer camps, parades & military training (for both genders)
-Italian youths probably more attracted to facilities than propaganda but batilla boosted regime nonetheless
-Under party control in 1937, renamed GIL & made compulsory in 1939; had 7.9m members by this time
Fascist youth; what was the GUF and what did it do?
-Similar to ONB but for university students
-Ran popular debating & sporting programmes
-Mostly joined for social/vocational reasons & regime tolerated a certain amount of dissent + criticism within GUF as it was created to help nurture & select next generation of fascist elite
When were the Littoriali games and what were they?
-1920-37
-Moved around to different cities each year
-Sport & culture/art
-Organised by Bottai and Pavolino
Women; how were women disadvantaged in 1919?
Franchise extended to all men, no women
Women; TBC
Fascists + Catholics agreed on role of sexes
o Birth control / abortion unnatural
o Women should be wives and mothers
o SO contraception banned, women in work reduced,
‘Battle for Births
’
· Schools emphasised traditional gender roles + discouraged females from higher education
· Women encouraged to do charity work and join committees to help disadvantaged mothers
· Believe cycling, skiing, and horse-riding caused infertility
· 1935: women exchanged gold wedding rings for tin bands to help fight LoN sanctions
· Duce
’
s concerns not with morals/tradition
o Raise population dramatically -> soldiers to fight + colonists for the empire
· PNF organisation for female party members (Fasci Femminili) had 700,000 members at its peak
· Massaie Rurali had membership of 500,000 peasant women in 1935 -> small and local scale,
growing extra food for campaign for autarky, attending local meetings, or group excursions
