Reform of customs Flashcards
Who was especially disappointed by the fact that M chose to cooperate with the elites for most of his time in power?
The radicals within the PNF, as they wanted and expected a fascist revolution
What did M begin to do to the regime in the late 1930s?
Radicalise it
What did M say in conversation with Emil Ludwig in 1931 that showed his desire to create a new ‘fascist man’?
Said that whole country needs to become a great school for perpetual political education to turn Italians into complete fascists and new men. He said the regime would do this by changing their habits, way of life, character, mentality and physical makeup. It will no longer be a case of grumbling against the sceptical, mandolin playing Italians, but rather creating a new kind of man who is tough, strong willed, a fighter, a latter day legionary of Caesar for whom nothing is impossible
What was the reform of customs?
This was where in 1938 M tried to abolish the friendly form of ‘you’ and the handshake
Why can we conclude that the reform of customs was not a major part of the regime?
Because it is not given much stress in accounts of Fascist Italy
Why can the reform of customs be seen as symbolically important even if it was not that important in and of itself?
They could be illustrative of the fundamental shift towards radicalism that the regime underwent in the 1930s
Why did M want to make Italians proud of being members of the new Fascist Italy?
- Because he hoped this would favourably change their behaviour. For example they would work harder, have more children, and crucially go to war for him
- With the conquest of Abyssinia in 1936, and the growing likelihood of European war, it seems that M was determined to try and forge a nation that could meet its imperial and aggresive destiny
Give three fascists who had a very negative opinion of the Italian people
M, Starace and Bottai
Why did they have such a negative view of the Italian people?
They thought they had failed to take on board the fascist spiritual revolution. M criticised what he called their ‘bourgeois mentality’ - meaning that they were pacifist, complacement and materialistic, too attracted to Western democracies and needed toughening up
What did M say to Ciano in July 1938 to illustrated the fact that he wanted to create a new nation of fascists?
‘Henceforth the revolution must impinge on the habits of Italians. They must learn to be less sympathetic in order to become, hard, relentless and hateful - in other words masters
What was the name of the type of march M introduced for soldiers?
The passo romano
What did fascist leaders have to do to show how fit they were?
All key party officials were ordered to learn how to ride horses and motorcycles. Party leaders had to learn how to do gymnastics
What did Starace do to illustrate his physical prowess?
Jumped through a hoop of fire
