Italy's problems after the war Flashcards
Which lands were Italy given after the war?
- Trent
- Trieste
- Istria
- Northern Dalmatia
What did d’Annunzio refer to Italy’s victory as?
A ‘mutilated victory’
When did Orlando resign?
June 1919
Who was Orlando’s replacement?
Francesco Nitti
What did Nitti do to anger Italians?
He allowed Yugoslavia to take Dalmatia and he allowed Fiume to remain a neutral city under the protection of the League of Nations.
He did this because he needed coal and money from the Allies so the only way to get what he needed was to play down Italy’s claims.
He reduced military spending and he gave amnesty to Italian soldiers who deserted during the war.
What did Italians refer to Nitti by?
Cagoia
means abject coward
When was the Occupation of Fiume?
12 September 1919
Who led the occupation?
Gabrielle D’Annunzio
He was a right-wing leader who was angered at the weakness of the Italian government as they could not acquire any influential land after the war.
Why did Italy have a weak argument over annexing Fiume?
Fiume didn’t have an Italian majority in it’s population
How many men took part in the invasion?
2,000 men
Made up of ex soldiers, Futurists and students
Was there any resistance during the occupation?
None
Who were the Futurists?
It was a movement which celebrated violence, destruction and patriotism. They wanted to get rid of the liberal government. They are seen as the foundation of the facist ideology.
When did the Italian government react to the occupation of Fiume?
15 months later on Christmas day 1920
The Italian navy removed the small army present in Fiume
What did Mussolini learn from the Occupation of Fiume?
- showed the power of assertive nationalism among the Italian people
- the frailties of the Italian government were on full show
- showed the power of a single leader in charge
What was Italy’s economic situation looking like after the war?
Millions of soldiers were demobilised (mass unemployment)
Inflation was at a high
Companies which had benefitted from the war such as Fiat and Ansaldo all were struggling
What was the number of unemployed in November 1919?
2 million
What was the period of labour militancy in 1920 called?
Biennio Rosso
What was Biennio Rosso inspire by?
The Russian Revolution
What did the workers demand?
Greater worker rights
What strikes occurred?
January 1920- Railway strikes
April 1920- Telegraph strikes
July 1920- Army troops strike
September 1920- Telegraph strikes
What was the largest strike?
In September 1920, over 400,000 workers took over their factories and waved the flag of communism
How did upper and middle class Italians think of Biennio Rosso?
They were scared as they were worried of a socialist revolution which would lead to them being dispossessed of their land and jobs
Many started to support right-wing organisations as an alternative to the liberals in fighting the socialists
What changes were made to the 1919 elections?
- increased the amount of people who could vote by 11 million. Any Italian that had served in WW1 or any male over 21 could vote
- proportional representation was introduced which gave the public more power on which parties are elected
What was the PPI?
The PPI was the Catholic party in Italy
Set up in January 1919
Who led the PPI?
Luigi Sturzo
What did the PPI believe in?
They represented catholic interests in Italy and they campaigned for more farming area to be given to the peasants
How did the PSI strengthen?
After the revolution in Russia, the PSI had turned to a more radical approach as they now refused to work with the liberals. Giolitti’s policy of absorption was now finished.
What were the results for the PSI in the 1919 elections?
32% of the vote (156 seats)
What were the results for the PPI in the 1919 elections?
101 seats
What were the results for the Fascists in the 1919 elections?
5,000 votes
However why did the Liberals remain in power?
The liberals were able to form a coalition with smaller parties which led to them gaining a majority. The PPI and PSI did not want to work with each other. This allowed them to takeover parliament once again…
