Politics and Society

Question 1

From which year did teachers have to be PNF members?

Answer 1

1933

Question 2

When were anti-fascist teachers sacked?

Answer 2

1925

Question 3

In 1926 how many history textbooks were banned?

Answer 3

101 of 317

Question 4

How had illiteracy changed from in 1921 to 1936?

Answer 4

It fell from 27% in 1921 to 17% in 1936.

Question 5

What was in all classrooms?

Answer 5

A portrait of Mussolini

Question 7

What did the GUF organise at university level?

Answer 7

The Littoriali, national student games which ran from 1934-1940.

Question 8

When was the ONB set up? And when was it restructured?

Answer 8

1926 and restructured in 1934.

Question 9

When was the ONB made complusory? (although membership was never total)

Answer 9

1937

Question 10

Which other youth organisation was allowed?

Answer 10

Catholic Action

Question 11

What percentage of newspaper sales were Fascist publications?

Answer 11

10%

Question 12

What restrictions were put on the press?

Answer 12

• Prefects could confiscate whole editions of newspapers.
• Left wing papers like Avanti were banned.
• All Fascist journalists had join a Fascist Union which controlled their access to jobs and promotions.
• Mussolini’s press secretary gave instructions about how the Duce should be reported about.
• Journalists were not to report on crime/suicide/traffic accidents or anything to give the impression that Italy was free of social problems.

Question 13

When was the OND formed?

Answer 13

1925

Question 14

How many OND members were there by 1939?

Answer 14

4 million

Question 15

What was the social background of OND members?

Answer 15

Disportionately middle class - (80% of white-collar workers were members compared to 40% of industrial workers).

Question 16

What was the OND renamed and when did it last until?

Answer 16

ENAL, 1978

Question 17

How many photos of Mussolini were distributed? In how many different poses?

Answer 17

3 million, 2500 poses.

Question 18

Sport was used to show Italian strength - when did the Italian football team win the World Cup?

Answer 18

1934 and 1938

Question 19

What did architecture (e.g. train station built for Hitler’s visit) often allude to?

Answer 19

Ancient Rome

Question 20

When did radio start to be used as propaganda and for offical broadcasts?

Answer 20

1924 (increased in the 1930s)

Question 21

How many art exhibitions were held each year?

Answer 21

50 (major ones were held every 4 years in Rome and Venice).

Question 22

What did the OND and Fascist Culture Institute seek to create by spreading culture?

Answer 22

Theatre for the 20,000

Question 24

What did Musicians have to join? (Where they were encouraged to reject foreign influences).

Answer 24

Fascist Union of Musicians

Question 25

When did over 200 intellectuals meet in Bologna? What did they make?

Answer 25

1925, the Manifesto of Fascist Intellectuals

Question 26

What did the Manifesto of Fascist Intelluctals declare?

Answer 26

That without Fascism there would be no culture.

Question 27

How was the Italian film industry encouraged?

Answer 27

Subsidies and restrictions of hollywood imports.

Question 28

What had to be shown before films in cinemas?

Answer 28

A newsreel with Fascist news, sport items and information about Il Duce.

Question 29

True or False: Internal migration had to be approved?

Answer 29

True

Question 31

Who were the Rosselli brothers killed by whilst in exile in Frane in 1937?

Answer 31

The OVRA and SIM (military spying organisation).

Question 32

Who was the death penalty reintroduced for?

Answer 32

Anyone who tried to kill the KIng, Mussolini or threatened state security.

Question 33

How many informants did the OVRA have?

Answer 33

about 5000

Question 34

Who read/tapped into mail and phone calls?

Answer 34

Special Reserve Service

Question 35

How many of those who went before Special Tribunals were acquitted? Or what was the average sentence?

Answer 35

3/4 acquitted, average service of 5 years.

Question 36

How many executions were there before 1940? And 1940-43?

Answer 36

9 before and 26 after

Question 37

How many were imprisioned for political reasons?

Answer 37

50,000

Question 38

How many prisioners were sent into internal exile - ‘confino’ usually in the south?

Answer 38

10,000

Question 39

What did Mussolini introduce in the Reform of Customs in 1938?

Answer 39

You had to greet people with the Roman salute; act tough and warlike; civil servants had to wear military uniform; and the army were to use to passo romano (‘goose step’ march). Most people found these customs ridiculous and too like Germany so didn’t adopt them.

Question 40

When were the anti-semitic decrees?

Answer 40

1938

Question 41

What were Jews in Italy not allowed to do after 1938?

Answer 41

They were forbidden from marrying ‘pure’ Italians, owning more than 50 hectarces of land, holding public office, owning a bsuiness with more than 100 employees or having ‘pure’ Italian servants. Jewish foreign nationals were deported and Jewish pupils were expelled from schools. Lecturers also lost their jobs at universities.

Question 42

Who (importantly) disapproved of the anti-semitic decrees?

Answer 42

The Pope

Question 43

When did membership of the PNF become complusory in the civil service?

Answer 43

1935

Question 44

When was the non-fascist Police Chief in post?

Answer 44

1926-1940

Question 45

Which law gave workers rights to arbitration courts but banned strikes and gave syndicates no power to create government policy?

Answer 45

Rocco Law, April 1926

Question 46

When were the Lateran Pacts?

Answer 46

11th February 1929

Question 47

What did the Lateran Pacts agree?

Answer 47

Vatican city became a sovereign state ruled by the Pope; the Church received 750 million lire and 100 million lire worth of state bonds in compensation; Catholicism became the official state religion; and Catholic Action was allowed to continue.

Question 48

By what percentage did a plebisicite endorse the Lateran Pacts?

Answer 48

98%

Question 49

Why were there renewed Church-state tensions in 1930/1?

Answer 49

Catholic Action groups organised sporting activities and so the police raiding Catholic Action groups in 1930/1.

Question 50

What was the Pope’s encyclical called?

Answer 50

‘We have no need’