The Rise Of Fascism Flashcards
How did the Liberals contribute to the rise of fascism
-1919 elections were disappointing for Fascists but also Liberals
-Various Liberal factions in Parliament only returned around 180 of the 508 seats.
-Lacked cohesion and discipline.
-The Socialists held 156 seats and the PPI held 100.
-Nitti’s government managed to survive only with the support from Catholic deputies to ensure it had a majority of a sort.
Rise of Fascism: PPI
-PPI formed January 1919, contained an uneasy mix of ideologies – conservatives and those determined to end poverty for the peasantry
-Whilst Popolari was reluctant to enter government, it was willing to do so in return for concessions on policy.
-Extremely fragile coalition (PPI was suspicious towards Liberal anti-clericalism)
-Nitti’s government severely undermined by Fiume – disliked by both Left & Right.
-Popolari support gradually declined, forcing Nitti to resign in June 1920, replaced by Giolitti.
What was applied in Giolittis new government
Politics of trasformismo had to be applied again, attempting to appeal to both Left and Right (e.g. giving workers more say in management, but also reducing food subsidies for the poor).
The coalition was made of Liberals, Popolari and some moderate Socialists – fragile!
After the Biennio Rosso, there was an anti-Socialist backlash. In late 1920 the Right wing of Northern and Central Italy retaliated:
-Resorted to violence (felt justified in the face of a ‘revolution’)
-In Emilia and Tuscany, landowners turned to Fascist groups, sharing Socialism hatred.
-Fascist squads attacked trade unionists, burnt down Socialist offices, forced enemies to drink castor oil and eat live toads.
MARKED THE START OF THE FASCIST SQUADRISIMO (November 1920).
-Violence continued through the winter and spring of 1921.
80 TU offices were destroyed, 200 killed and 800 wounded – now Emilia and Tuscany had become Fascist strongholds.
-Police tended to ignore squadrismo (usually were sympathetic to their cause)
Supporters of Fascism gradually became more diverse:
-Ex-Arditi – demobilised soldiers who were against Socialism
-Small farmers, farm managers, sharecroppers (better-off peasantry) feared collectivisation.
-Other groups- eg landowners, shopkeepers and teachers solidified support.
The young – 25% members below voting age- movement exciting and dynamic, unlike Liberal politics.
-Some conservatives (dismayed by the Liberals) gradually pledged support for Fascism (not in huge numbers, as Fascism still seemed revolutionary)
-Fascism had over 0.2m members by 1921.
Mussolini successfully managed to maintain control over Fascist squadrismo:
Whilst Mussolini was not the guiding force behind squadrismo, he saw its opportunities.
Mussolini was keen to assert his authority over ambitious Ras, convincing even the most revolutionary that their success was dependant on him alone.
He argued that without his leadership, Fascism would fall apart.
Mussolini portrayed squadrismo as a necessary evil – an ‘anti-Socialist crusade’.
