Italy Booklet 3: The development of Fascism and the rise to power of Mussolini, 1919-1922

Question 1

What were the three main declarations set out by Mussolini at the first meeting of the fasci di combattimento in Milan, 23rd march 1919?

Answer 1

Honour the memory of the WWI casualties
To get rid of the neutralists (get them out of government
Opposing imperialism

Question 2

How well did Mussolini do in the 1919 general election?

Answer 2

the fascist party only got 5000 votes and so didn’t get any seats in parliament.

Question 3

By September 1922, how many active members did the fascist party have?

Answer 3

300,000

Question 4

Who significantly did nothing to stop the squadristi violence? why?

Answer 4

The liberal government, the police and the army because they were more afraid of a socialist revolution.

Question 5

Who were the ras?

Answer 5

The individual leaders of the fascist squads (squadristi violence)

Question 6

Who was fascist violence originally aimed at?

Answer 6

the socialists (both councils and supporters)

Question 7

In the first five months of 1921, how many people were killed and wounded by fascist violence?

Answer 7

200 people killed and 1000 wounded

Question 8

What was the impact of the fascist violence in the early 1920s?

Answer 8

It broke the power of the socialists and created the myth that the fascists had saved Italy from revolution

Question 9

What problem faced major landowners in the early 1920s?

Answer 9

Local socialists and catholic unions were pushing for land reform which would have restricted their wealth.

Question 10

What was the appeal of fascism to the major landowners in the early 1920s?

Answer 10

the fascists broke strikes, forced unions to disband and attacked socialists leaders causing fear for their supporters

Question 11

What problem faced the ex-soldiers in the early 1920s?

Answer 11

They felt that ‘mutilated victory’ had betrayed Italy’s defeat of Austria in WWI and that they had not been rewarded for their sacrifices.

Question 12

What was the appeal of fascism for the Ex-soldiers in the early 1920s?

Answer 12

Strong assertion of nationalism and the role of returned soldiers as the leaders of the new Italy. They promised to punish those who had not supported Italy during the war.

Question 13

What problem faced the small landowners in the early 1920s?

Answer 13

They were threatened by socialist policies regarding land redistribution and higher taxes. Socialist land leagues intimidated farmers into hiring workers when they were not needed.

Question 14

What was the appeal of fascism for the small landowners in the early 1920s?

Answer 14

They attacked the socialist land leagues and violently weakened their power.

Question 15

When was the march on Rome?

Answer 15

27th October 1922

Question 16

How many fascists planned to march on Rome? How many actually did?

Answer 16

40,000, but only 25,000 did

Question 17

Who was PM of Italy before the march on Rome and how did he react to the event?

Answer 17

Facta was PM and he resigned, not knowing what else to do.

Question 18

Who had the power to enact martial law on the march on Rome? What did he do?

Answer 18

King Victor Emmanuel III and he refused to authorise the use of martial law.

Question 19

When was Mussolini appointed as prime minister?

Answer 19

30th October 1922

Question 20

What did Salandra do in regards to Mussolini becoming PM?

Answer 20

He originally tried to reach out to Mussolini to form a coalition, but Mussolini refused to take part in a parliament that wasn’t his own.

Question 21

What was one of the key first events of fascist violence on April 15th 1919?

Answer 21

A fascist squad of around 200 to 300, dressed in black and carrying pistols, attacked a socialist demonstration in Milan and burned down the Milan offices of Avanti! 3 socialists and 1 fascist had been killed

Question 22

What was the problem facing the industrialists in early 1920s?

Answer 22

Anger at the government’s apparent weak response to ‘socialist threat’ and the mass strikes and factory occupations taking place during Biennio Rosso

Question 23

What was the appeal of Fascism for the industrialists?

Answer 23

they supported fascism’s attempts to break union power and socialism throughout Italy. Supported the destruction of the labour leagues and fascists promised to sell nationally aimed business to private investors - fascists becoming very pro-business

Question 24

What were the problem facing the young people and students in the early 1920s Italy?

Answer 24

Disillusioned with achievements of liberal system

Question 25

What was the appeal of fascism to the young people and students?

Answer 25

Fascists were in favour of free education, an 8 hour working day, were tired of corruption of the liberal government and were a dynamic new force

Question 26

What were the problems facing the petty bourgeoisie in the early 1920s Italy?

Answer 26

Angry at increased level of taxation, turbulent post war economy and believed Italy was on the verge of a socialist revolution

Question 27

What was the appeal of fascism for the petty bourgeoisie?

Answer 27

Fascists promised to bring order to Italy. Used violence to crush strikes and claimed that only they could stop a potential revolution. People were grateful that the soldiers had saved them in WW1 and that they were saving them again now

Question 28

What changed in terms of the fascists’ promises between June 1919 and November 1921?

Answer 28

June 1919: Abolition of obligatory military service
Confiscation of all property belonging to religious organisations
liberty of opinion and conscience
November 1921: Obligatory military service
No reference to confiscating the property of the catholic church
Citizen freedoms limited in relation to the needs of the nation

Question 29

How did the foundation of the PNF and the creation of the ‘new programme’ in November 1921 help Mussolini build support for his movement?

Answer 29

It gave the people a solid movement to put their beliefs in. Tailored their declarations towards what the people in each different class and social backgrounds. This was a mishmash of political ideologies that was very popular - move away from socialism

Question 30

What was the mood in Italy after the First world war?

Answer 30

Very ashamed of the army
Angry and despaired
afraid of revolution and socialism

Question 31

What was the attitude of the Fascists to the Jews?

Answer 31

They were not anti-semitic - 1 in 3 jews were part of the fascist party

Question 32

Who were the black shirts and what sort of things did they do?

Answer 32

A group of fascists who went around committing aggressive acts - were the front line against the socialist threat - core members of the party

Question 33

What were the attitudes of the army and police to the blackshirts?

Answer 33

They supported the blackshirts as they thought the liberal government were too weak - afraid of the socialists

Question 34

In what ways did the fascist party become stronger in the early 1920s?

Answer 34

They beat up or killed those who opposed them

By 1921 they went from 20,000 - 250,000 - socialists were beaten - \mussolini became prime minister