How effective was BM's radicalisation of the regime in the late 1930s?

Question 1

1920s

Answer 1

BM generally cooperated with the elites,and disappointed some of the RADICALS in his own party who expected a F revolution

Question 2

When was the Reform of Customs?

Answer 2

1938

Question 3

What are the Reform of Customs illustrative of?

Answer 3

a fundamental shift of emphasis in the regime in the late 1930s.

Question 4

Reform of Customs:

Answer 4

tried to abolish informal use of you (“LEI”) and introduce the handshake.
Introducing the passo romano

Question 5

Where was greater radicalism becoming evident?

Answer 5

• educational and institutional changes
• FP
• anti-semitic policies

Question 6

What lay at the root of his increasing radicalism?

Answer 6

From the beginning BM had been been trying to change the way Italians thought, and make them proud of being members of his new FI.

He hoped this would also influence their behaviour- that they would work harder, fight better and have more kids.

Question 7

What did BM, Starace and Bottai begin to think by the mid-1930s?

Answer 7

They began to be despaired of their countrymen. Most had failed to take on board the F spiritual revolution.

Question 8

What did BM criticise Italians of?

Answer 8

their “bourgeois mentality”- meaning they were pacifist, complacent and materialistic.

They were too attracted to the W dems and they needed toughening up.

Question 9

What did BM say to Ciano in July 1938?

Answer 9

“Henceforth the revolution must impinge on the habits of Italians. They must learn to be less sympathetic in order to become hard, relentless and hateful- i.e. masters”

Question 10

With the conquest of Abyssinia in 1936, and the growing likelihood of European war, it seems that BM became more determined…

Answer 10

…to try to forge a nation that could meet its IMPERIAL and AGGRESSIVE destiny

Question 11

What did BM say about anti-Semitism in 1932?

Answer 11

“Anti-Semitism does not exist in Italy”

Question 12

How many Jews were there in Italy?

Answer 12

57k

Hundreds of Jewish refugees had moved to Italy.

Question 13

What had Jews long contributed to?

Answer 13

Italy’s prosperity and progress

Question 14

How many Jews were members of the PNF in 1938?

Answer 14

10,000

Question 15

Who were the 2 Jewish govt ministers?

Answer 15

1) Aldo Finzi (member of FGC)

2) Guido Jung (Finance Minister 32-35)

Question 16

BM had how many Jewish mistresses?

Answer 16

2

Question 17

BM occasionally made anti-semitic comments

Answer 17

these were ideological racism (criticising Jews for their beliefs) not biological racism

Question 18

However, some Fascists were anti-semitic including?

Answer 18

Farinacci

Question 19

Before BM turned on the Jews where had he shown racialist tendencies?

Answer 19

in his colonial policies- particularly Abyssinia. Stressed superiority over tribesmen. Thought it was his duty to impose Italian civilisation in Libya and Abyssinia

Question 20

BM claimed Italians were?

Answer 20

“Aryans of a Med type”

Question 21

When did BM’s antisemitism become apparent?

Answer 21

1936 after axis

Question 22

Abyssinia 1935

Answer 22

Attack on Ab. and proclamation of the Empire encouraged development of racism to justify and buttress imperial control

Question 23

1936 Ab. decrees

Answer 23

decrees banning mixing of races in Ab.

Question 24

Axis alliance with NG

Answer 24

1936

Question 25

Propaganda Ministry published MANIFESTO OF ITALIAN RACISM

Answer 25

July 1938

Question 26

1938 Racist decrees

Answer 26

• Jews banned from mixed marriages
• No Jews in state service
• No Jewish kids in state schools
• Jews not to have Aryan servants
• Jews not allowed to own large firms
• Foreign Jews expelled

Question 27

Reasons for racist decrees

Answer 27

• BM’s desire to emulate AH; to strengthen the axis
• Development of racist feelings during Ab. campaign

-Several Jews were prominent in the international campaign for sanctions against
Italy over its attack on Ab.

• Jews involved in some opp. groups, e.g. Rosselli brothers
• Implicit in F as it developed in the 1930s and became more radical, with the Reform of Customs. were attacks on the bourgeosie, a greater attempt to create a “uomo Fascista”, and hostility to the BOLSHEVISM, INTERNATIONALISM and materialism associated with the Jews.
• Internal pressure from F radicals, e.g. Farinacci