Mussolini's Gains Power, 1920-22

Question 1

What was Mussolini’s dual policy?

Answer 1

The use of both violence and political legitimacy to gain power

Question 2

How had the fascist party been gaining control of local government?

Answer 2

Squads had expelled socialist councils and seized power

Question 3

What happened in October 1922?

Answer 3

Mussolini and six leading fascists met in Milan, deciding the time was right to take power, 40,000 blackshirts chanted to Rome

Question 4

How did the March on Rome begin?

Answer 4

10,000 of the 50,000 planned squadristi assembled at points 20 miles outside of Rome, local fascists tried to seize control of key government buildings in central and north Italy, met with mixed success, trains sabotaged and squads in bad shape, poor training

Question 5

What was the role of the King during the March on Rome?

Answer 5

Asked by PM Facta to declare martial law so the army could be used, the king overestimated fascist power and worried they would replace him with the Duke of Aosta, initially granted the martial law but then revoked it saying he would try and compromise with Mussolini

Question 6

How did the king first try and negotiate with Mussolini and why did this fail?

Answer 6

Persuaded Salandra to form a new government including Mussolini, but Mussolini refused as he said he would be Prime Minister or nothing and Salandra did not get the support needed

Question 7

What happened between 29-31st October?

Answer 7

Mussolini received a telegram from the King inviting him to be PM, he arrived the next day and met the king who asked him to form a new government, the next day he was sworn in as PM with 3 other fascists in the cabinet

Question 8

What was the real March on Rome?

Answer 8

After Mussolini was made PM, 50,000 blackshirts paraded in the streets of Rome in front of their leader and the King, went down in fascist history as a heroic revolution

Question 9

What was the Biennio Rosso and how did Mussolini take advantage of this?

Answer 9

• Nitti resigned due to the strikes and economic situation, replaced with Giolitti who made comprises with the socialist and he refused to use violence
• Short term success, strikes ended but other groups saw them as giving in
• Fascists fought back against socialist groups, appealed to middle class and industrialists

Question 10

What happened to the socialist party and how was fascism able to take advantage of this?

Answer 10

• Radicals from the PSI formed the PCI with Soviet support
• Weakened political left and split voters
• Excellent propaganda for fascists, could target those afraid of a communist revolution
• Claimed Biennio Rosso had failed due to fascists

Question 11

How did the fascists take advantage of the failed July 1922 strike?

Answer 11

• PCI and PSI backed a call for a 24 general strike, but workers weary of attacks against them didn’t really join
• Fascists claimed the strikes had failed due to the threat that fascism posed
• Myth that only because of the PNF had Italy been spared from a socialist revolution spread

Question 12

What were the limitations of transformismo?

Answer 12

• Ideological splits had become clear defined, less likely to be bought off and support Giolitti
• Difficult to build coalitions between new parties, PNF and PCI wanted the collapse of parliament
• 1921 elections were a disaster for Giolitti with 127 socialists, 107 PPI members and 35 fascists

Question 13

How was Mussolini able to take advantage of transformismo?

Answer 13

• Fascists running for parliament were offered a place on the national bloc
• They accepted, Giolitti hoped this would create a democratic Italy, however once the fascists got the 35 seats they declared they would vote with the opposition, weakening Giolitti’s position & parliament