Rise of Mussolini 1919-22 Flashcards
Italy at ToV
Italy fail to gain significant territory in ToV
Orlando walked out in April
Allies felt Italy’s contribution was insignificant
Fiume made a free city under the LoN
Italy gained Trentino, Treiste + Brenner
Did not recieve any of Germany’s African colonies
Occupation of Fiume
1919
D’Annunzio + 2,000 men
Govt. did not act for 15 months
Removed by Italian Navy on X-mas 1920
Demonstrated the support for + efficacy of assertive nationalism
Post-WW1 Economic issues
2,000,000 unemployed (1919)
High inflation / Lira collapsed
Fiat struggled, loss of war demand
Major banks closed
Demobed soldiers flooded the market
Cost of living increased
Foreign war loans were withdrawn
Political opinions after WW1
Rural Areas - 3.5 million farmers now owned land, labourers worked harder / greater poverty - Labour leagues created collective farms
Industrialists - Feared a loss of political power / socialist uprising, resented socialists + ‘red threat’
Middle Class - Lacked economic security, Inflation decreased the value of their savings - frustration aimed at Govt. / turning to extremism
Significance of Bienno Rosso
1919 - 20
Yes -
Violent clashes between fascists + socialists
(2000 killed 1919-22)
Socialist party membership >200,000
Socialists had the support of trade unions
Socialists controlled 1/2 of all municipal govt.
No -
After 1920, sharp decline in strikes
General Strike of August 1922 failed - only one day
Limited national cooperation
Left-wing leaders bickered between themselves
Nitti’s reforms 1919
All men 21+ could vote + any men who fought in the war
- extending the franchise by 11 million
Introduced Proportional Representation
Failed to stop Yugoslavian acquisition of Fiume
Reduced military spending
Growing political opposition after WW1
PPI created 1919 - Luigi Sturzo
PSI saw some growing support due to Russian Revolution (1917)
PSI - Bienno Rosso (1919-20)
PSI - End to trasformismo with the liberals
1919 elections
PSI won 32% vote - 156 seats
PPI - 100 seats
Giolittian Liberals - 41 seats
Fascists gained no seats - only 4,000 active supporters
Liberals form a coalition with the PPI
Key Reasons for the Rise of Fascism
Support gained from - ‘mutilated victory’ + ‘Red threat’
Presence of the Squadristi + Govt. inaction
Resignation of Nitti - 1920 / Giolitti = 80 years old
Occupation of Fiume -assertive nationalism was popular
Govt. proved weak during Bienno Rosso (1919-20)
Liberals wouldn’t work together, eg. Salandra + Giolitti
New Programme - 1919 to 1921
Formal political party established in Oct 1921 - PNF
Took advantage of Biennio Rosso - claimed they had stopped it
1921 election -Giolitti unable to form coalition, resigned
Radical PSI members split to form PCI (Jan 1921) - failed 1922 general strike
Ulterior motive of Pact of Pacification (1921) - PSI + PNF
Victor Emmanuel III was indecisive
Greater number of political parties made coalitions bad
Mussolini’s coercion of leader Ras
Nov 1921 - Overwhelming support for Mussolini as leader of the fascists
Dual Policy - anti-socialist + assurances to key groups
March on Rome (1922)
1919 Fascism vs 1921 Fascism (New Programme)
1919 -
Republic, Universal Sufferage, 8hr working day, minimum wage, National Councils of Labour, confiscation of religious property, abolition of conscription.
1921 -
8hr working day, Civil freedoms limited, working for the nation, proportional tax systems, obligatory military service, Expansion of Italian influence in the mediterranean.
Key actions of Squadrismo
April 1919 - 200-300 burn down Milan Avanti! offices.
Govt. turned a blind eye due to rising socialism
Under the comand of a Ras
Blackshirts
Key PSI members targeted
Popular with rural land owners - detroy socialist land leagues.
Formally organised in cohorts - end of 1921
Rising violence in spring 1922
Who supported Fascism + Why ?
End of 1921 - 200,000 PNF members
1922- 320,000 members
Industrialists - Offered an alternative to socialism
Agrari - Prevented socialist land reform/ broke strikes
Ex-soldiers - Strong nationalist appeal
Small landowners - Attacked Socialists land leagues
Working class - offered fair wages + prices
Petty Bourgeosie - Anti-socialist sentiment
Young People -Disillusioned with liberals wanted change
March on Rome Timeline
1922
1st August - Socialists call a strike, failure
16th October - Mussolini meets with other leading fascists and agrees to take over the Italian Govt.
24th October - Fascist Congress meet in Naples - M states they will either seize power or he will be appointed PM.
27th October - Fascists begin to March on Rome
28th October - 2am King agrees on martial law, Mussolini’s arrest is ordered, 9am changes his mind
Facta resigns.
29th October - With no avaliable liberals, Mussolini is called to become PM.
30th October - Mussolini arrives in Rome and is sworn in as PM
31st October - Squadristi hold a victory parade in Rome.
Why did the King appoint Mussolini ?
Disliked the idea of bloodshed from the March.
Fear that the army would not follow supression orders
Threat of replacement by his cousin - Duke of Aosta
Distrusted Facta
Salandra unable to form Govt.
