The Fascist State (1925-1940) Flashcards
Avanguardia Giovanile Fascista (Fascist youth front)
December 1921, formed for boys aged 14-17
Gruppi Universitari Fascisti (GUF)
Formed in march 1923 followed by creation of Balilla for children aged 8 and 14
Opera National Balilla (ONB)
Formed in April 1926, goal of providing ‘for the physical and moral benefit of youth’ through the education of boys between the ages of 8 and 18
Organisations for girls
Figlie della Lupa (Daughters of the she wolf) 6-8
Piccole Italiane (Little Italians) 8-13
Giovane italiane (young italian women) 14-17
When were anti fascist teachers removed from jobs
1920s
Littoriali
National student games involving cultural and debate competitions centred on fascist themes (1934-1940)
Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro (OND)
Provided workers with a considerable variety of social and sporting opportunities including bars, football teams, libraries and radios
Benefits of OND
Rail ticket discounts
Consumer benefits
Holidays (mountain retreats, beaches) for virtually no cost
How many members did the OND have by 1939
4 million
What could prefects do by 1926?
Confiscate whole editions of newspapers which were unfavourable to fascist regime
Shut down offending news papers = e.g Avanti!
Types of propaganda to promote fascism
Radio, newspapers, cinema, posters, sport
The cult of il Duce
Most powerful aspect of fascist propaganda propagated through posters, cinema news reels and radio broadcasts. Portrayed Mussolini as a leader of immense ability who was leading Italy to greatness
How was Mussolini portrayed in the cult of Il Duce
A modern, dynamic leader who was a brilliant sportsman and internationally respected statesman
The National Institute of Fascist Culture
1926, artists and intellectuals organised into particular associations (fascist syndicate of artists led by Antonio Maraini.
Organised cultural events, free concerts and publications that would encourage mass Italian participation in fascist cultural propaganda
What plays/movies reinforced cult of Il Duce
Napolean, Camillo benso Di Cavour, julius caesar = three patriotic leaders who audience were encouraged ti relate to Mussolini and reinforce cult of Il Duce
Confino
The Special Tribunals could send political dissidents into exile (usually in the south) for an unspecified amount of time
When were the anti-Semitic decrees introduced
1937
Anti-Semitic decrees 1938
Anti-Jewish legislation introduced that forbade Italian Jews from marrying ‘pure’ Italians , teaching jobs, owning more than 50 hectares of land, employing ‘pure’ Italians as servants
How many Jews left Italy from 1937-1940
6,000
Totalitarian
Total control of the state
Reform of customs
An ideological campaign that forced all civil servants to wear uniforms and the army and militia to adopt the passo Romano or goose step which Mussolini witnessed in Germany and believed made the army look more imposing
What was the arm salute known as instead of shaking hands
Roman salute
What was ridiculed by people
Reform of customs
How long was Italy a constitutional monarchy for?
Until September 1943
What did the fascist grand council do in December 1928?
Granted the constitutional right to limit the king’s power to nominate future prime ministers of Italy and to advise the king on any future royal succession
What did the fascist squads do in October 1925?
Murdered 8 liberals in Florence
What had happened to the PNF by 1929?
50,000-60,000 thrown out and 110,000 leaving voluntarily
When was Federzoni appointed minister of the interior?
17th June 1924
What did Mussolini’s first economic policy focus on?
Placating the large economic interest groups such as Fiat and Pirelli
Who benefited most from the PNF economic policies?
Italian businesses
What were the fascist syndicalists in favour of?
Policies that gained the support of the working classes
Palazzo Vidoni Pact
Industrialists recognised the fascist syndicalists as the only representative body for Italian workers and ensured the disillusion of the Catholic, socialist and communist trade unions which were now irrelevant institutions
Rocco law
April 1926, named after minister of justice Alfredo Rocco. Bans strikes and lockouts
Would have no say in government policy
What was Mussolini’s first goal in his economic policy
To win over the powerful, established industrial elite of Italian society
Who was appointed minister of finance?
Alberto De’Stefani
What economic policy did De’Stefani favour? What did he do?
Little government interference and focused on reducing government spending in order to balance the budget
He deregulated the economy and cut protective tariffs
What was the success of De’Stefani’s economic policy? What were the weaknesses?
From 1921 to 1924, Italy’s manufacturing production improved Italy achieved a budget surplus
Made agricultural groups unhappy about reduction in tariffs, inflation problems, pressure on lira
Who replaced De’Stefani and when? What did this show
July 1925, Giuseppe Volpi. Marked a transition in fascist economic policy towards a more regulated, state-run economy. Had a greater personal influence from Mussolini
What was the lira artificially fixed at in December 1927?
19 to the American dollar and 92.46 to the British pound sterling
What was the consequence of changing the value of the lira?
Volpi and other economic experts believed it was too high so government had to introduce deflationary measures, massive price reductions, and cut worker’s wages
What were the corporations?
Mixed union of workers and employers who would discuss and implement national economic planning that was conducive to both their interests = better economy
Charter of Labour
1927, promised that these mixed corporations would organise Italy’s economy and guarantee workers’ rights in employment, social insurance and welfare
National Council of Corporations
A consultative body made up of employer and worker organisations representing seven large sectors of the Italian economy
What was the next economic law in 1934
Implemented mixed corporations representing 22 major economic sectors. Could allegedly fix the price of goods and rates of service, settle industrial disputes, regulate apprenticeships, advise government on economic issues and help produce a more productive economic system
Who was minister of corporations
Mussolini
What was the point in the corporate state?
Provided jobs for loyal fascists, excellent propaganda for Mussolini and showed he had overcome problems of class conflict, showed he constructed a “third way” between capitalism and communism that harmonised industrial relations and workers and employers work in sync towards the national interest
What did Italy do in response to the Depression?
5,000 km of railway was electrified
Welfare also increased to ease difficulties of those who couldn’t get jobs
Banks that loaned millions of lire to Italians were protected
Istituto Mobilaire Italiano
Provided credit to banks to ensure they wouldn’t collapse
Istituto di Ricostruzione Industriale
Government bought up shares in banking, industry and commerce to help prop up Italian economy and ensure that these companies did not go bankrupt and collapse.
Provided education on new management techniques
Gave financial and technical assistance to support the growth of these Italian industries which were now state owned
Cartelisation
Fascist government assisted large businesses to take over small companies with certain sections of the economy = less competition in Italian economy
Autarky
Quest for economic self-sufficiency in Italy
What drove autarky
-general decline in Italian overseas trade due to overvalued lira and Great Depression
-sanctions placed on Italy in 1936 in a response to the militaristic actions in Africa
-preparation for war (more prominent in 1930s)
When was the lira devalued
October 1936
What was the aim of the battle for births and when?
1927, aimed at encouraging Italians to increase the size of their families so that by the 1950s, Italy would have a population of at least 60 million = military strengthened, competition for employment so low wages, increase number of consumers
What was given to employed men in 1928?
Tax concessions if they were a family of 7 or more
What was the bachelor’s tax?
Ensured that single men took on more of a financial burden in comparison to married men with families. Fathers of large families given better career opportunities with promotions and employment in government jobs.
What was banned for women?
All forms of birth control
Battle for Grain
1925, an agricultural policy that was linked to autarky and aimed at making Italy self-sufficient in grain
What happened in the battle for grain
A huge propaganda campaign was launched to free Italy from the ‘slavery of foreign bread’
Ruralism and the battle for births
Th decline in Italy’s birth rates was closely related to industrial urbanisation and modern city life and it maintain traditional values and boost population, Italy had to protect peasant population and its agricultural industry. Draining of marshes reduced malaria by around 50%
‘Empty the cities’ campaign
1928, prevented internal migration from Italy’s rural areas to the cities
Bonifica integrale
Encouraged peasants to stay in rural areas, a massive land reclamation and improvement scheme was launched
What did the battle for lira do?
Cause serious deflation and hampered Italy’s export industries
Anti-clericalism
Don’t want the church involved in politics
Who was angered by Mussolini’s attitudes to the church
Futurists
Freemasonry
Worldwide organisation made up of secretive clubs, known as lodges, which initiate new members through a series of secret rituals
Concordat
Any agreement made between Catholic Church and the government of a sovereign state
Key aspects of the Lateran pacts
-solution to territorial problems with the pope and Rome = providing 44 hectares of land
-financial convention = pope have 750 million lire and 1,000 million in Italian state bonds
-Catholicism recognised as the sole religion of Italy
-Catholic youth groups allowed to continue as long as they did not carry out any political activities
Plebiscite
Direct vote where entire population vote on a particular proposal that may lead to any amendment in the constitution. March 1929 = asked Italians whether they supported the Lateran pacts
Why was there tension between church and the state
Youth organisations
Anti-Semitic decrees
