Repression and terror Flashcards
What did Mussolini do in 1926 to consolidate Fascist power politically?
He introduced legislation that banned all other political parties and banned all protests against the dictatorship
What was the penalty for attempting to assassinate the king or Mussolini?
Death penalty (reintroduced directly for this)
What was the process known as confino?
The process by which special tribunals could send any suspected anti-fascist dissidents into exile, they did not require any evidence to do so
In what year were the Italian secret police, known as the OVRA, set up?
1927
What was the OVRA’s purpose?
To spy on Italians across Italy and to ensure that any domestic anti-fascist movements were put down
How many informers were estimated to be operating throughout Italy?
5,000
How many files did the OVRA hold on Italians?
Over 130,000
How many Italians were sent into confino?
10,000
What constituted an arrest for ‘anti-fascist activities’?
Being heard making anti-fascist, or anti-Mussolini, remarks
How many death sentences were carried out before WW2 and why was this significant?
9 - Highlights the efficiency of the secret police and Mussolini in ensuring there was little serious opposition to the regime
What evidence is there that terror and reppression was, and was not, significant in the consolidation of fascist power?
Significant - Antifascist organisations and agencies were successfully reppressed
Not significant - low numbers of people arrested/executed may show that there was not a large anti-fascist sentiment within Italy during the period
