Italian chronology Flashcards
1919
Fascists win 2% of the vote in the General Election
1921
Mussolini forms the National Fascist Party
In the general election the fascists win 35 seats
August 1922
General Strike in Italy due to socialists; Fascists help to break the strike
October 1922
Mussolini demands to be made Prime Minister
March on Rome leads to the king caving in to Mussolini’s demands
1923
Mussolini rescues the Catholic Bank of Rome from financial difficulties
Also occupies Corfu, withdrawing when the Greeks payed ‘compensation’
November 1923
Acerbo Law dictated that the party with the most votes in the election would get 2/3 of all seats
April 1924
After using violence and intimidation in the lead to the general election, the Fascists win 65% of the vote
April 1924
Fascist murder of Socialist Party leader Matteotti leads to opposition MPs resigning from parliament in process
The so-called ‘Aventine Secession’ is a mistake, allowing Mussolini to consolidate his position
January 1925
Press censorship is introduced, closing all independent newspapers
1925-1929
Battles for the Grain, for the Lira, for the Land, for Babies
November 1926
All other political parties banned, OVRA established
1929
Lateran Treaty between the fascists and Vatican signed
1935
Mussolini invades Abyssinia
November 1936
‘Rome-Berlin Axis’ - first treaty with Germany signed by Count Ciano
1937
Italy, Germany and Japan sign the ‘Anti-Comintern Pact’, uniting their countries in their aim to crush the USSR
March 1939
Italy issues ultimatum to Albania to accept takeover, tries to bribe King Zog
April 1939
Italy invades Albania, defeating Albanian forces and deposing King Zog
May 1939
Von Ribbentrop and Ciano sign the ‘Pact of Friendship and Alliance’ known as the ‘Pact of Steel’
September 1939
Mussolini declares Italy neutral when Germany invades Poland
1940
Believing a German victory is inevitable, Mussolini enters the war
Italian entry of Egypt is crushed by British forces
October 1940
Italy invades Greece form Albania - attack defeated
Germany intervenes to prevent an Italian defeat
1941
Italy loses Abyssinia
1943
Mussolini is deposed soon after the Allied invasion of Sicily
Eventually reinstalled by the Germans in a regime in Northern Italy
1945
Mussolini is executed
