Supporters of Mussolini 1919-22

Question 1

What groups made up the squads in early Fascism?

Answer 1

• The squads contained middle class students and demobilised soldiers, usually ex-army officers
• They later attracted farmers, farm managers, and share-croppers.

Question 2

How many active supporters did Fascism have by the end of 1921?

Answer 2

Fascism had 200,000 active supporters by the end of 1921.

Question 3

What percentage of Fascist members were ex-servicemen?

Answer 3

Roughly 50% of Fascist members were ex-servicemen

Question 4

What other groups were represented in the Fascist membership?

Answer 4

Other groups included landowners, shopkeepers, and teachers

Question 5

What percentage of Fascist members were students and below voting age?

Answer 5

• 10% of members were students and 25% were below voting age.

Question 6

What was the conservative reaction to the parliamentary system during the rise of Fascism?

Answer 6

Conservatives and Liberal conservatives despaired at the ineffectual parliamentary system.

Question 7

What did the Fascist leaders in the provinces think of their movement?

Answer 7

Fascist leaders in the provinces thought of themselves as leading a revolutionary movement.

Question 8

Who were the Ras

Answer 8

• local fascist leaders, usually with their own fascist squads

Question 9

Who were the two important local Fascist leaders (Ras)?

Answer 9

Italo Balbo from Ferrara and Dino Grandi from Bologna.

Question 10

What roles did Italo Balbo hold?

Answer 10

Italo Balbo was later appointed as a minister under Mussolini and governor of Libya

Question 11

What roles did Dino Grandi hold?

Answer 11

• Dino Grandi ran one of the most violent squads and was appointed party secretary in 1925
• Pro-Nazi during the 1930s and advocated anti-semitism

Question 12

What was Mussolini’s challenge with the Ras?

Answer 12

Mussolini faced reluctance from the Ras to surrender their independence to him.

Question 13

How did Mussolini persuade the Ras to follow him?

Answer 13

He persuaded them that their success depended on his leadership and that his newspaper, Il Popolo d’Italia, could publicise Fascist activities.

Question 14

How did Mussolini re-package the squads’ violence?

Answer 14

He created the image of the Squadrismo as anti-Socialist crusaders, led by him, that would save Italy.

Question 15

What was Giolitti’s view of Fascism?

Answer 15

• Giolitti saw Fascism as another political force to be absorbed into the political system
• He encouraged this belief

Question 16

What electoral strategy did Giolitti propose?

Answer 16

Giolitti offered an electoral alliance to produce an anti-Socialist governing coalition

Question 17

What was the outcome of the election campaign regarding violence?

Answer 17

The violence continued during the election campaign, and the police turned a blind eye.

Question 18

Which party remained the largest after the election?

Answer 18

The Socialists remained the largest party with 123 seats.

Question 19

How many seats did the Popolari and Fascists win in the election?

Answer 19

The Popolari won 107 seats, while the Fascists received 7% of the vote, totaling 35 seats.