the rise of Mussolini Flashcards
Which nationalist led an armed band that occupied Fiume?
Gabriel d’annunzio
When was Fiume invaded?
Fiume was under the control of Yugoslavia (as Britain and USA had arranged)
However in September 1919 d’annunzio led 2,000 formed soldiers (the Aristide) and seized Fiume and this occupation lasted 15 months
Why did land and business owners fear a revolution?
A revolution against the tsar and later against the provisional government in Russia sparked fears in many European countries that the same would happen
When was the fasci Italiani di combattimento established?
23rd March 1919
What was the goal of the early fasci movement?
Return Italy to the glory of victory at vittorio veneto, and to protect the Italian state from communist and socialist revolutionaries
Why was the liberal government unpopular with soldiers after the war?
The land reforms promised after caporetto failed to materialise, and many demobilised soldiers occupied the lands they were promised by force as an act of protest against the lack of action by the government in Rome.
How did soldiers view the workers who had been exempted from conscription?
Negative,y
Many workers that had stayed in Italian factories due to exemptions were viewed as cowards and returning soldiers lacked respect for them
How many men were unemployed in 1918
2 million
How replaced Orlando?
Francesco niitti
Why was nitti hated by the military and by the general public?
Because he cut government spending, played down it,Italian claims which had not been granted at Versailles, and handed over control of northern Dalmatia to the new,y created Yugoslavia
When were d’annunzio and his occupation and his occupation force removed from Fiume, and who removed them
They were removed by the Italian navy on Christmas Day 1920
Who were the futurists?
Led by filippo Marinetti, they were a far right group who were Highly influential in the origins of racism. They were admirers of violence and war, seeing it as a modernising influence and were opposed to parliamentary democracy
What were the beinnio Rosso?
The ‘two red years’ in 1919-29 which was a period of social unrest perpetuated by socialist and communist opposition groups, many feared revolution.
What happened during biennio rosso?
In 1919, there were 1,663 strikes in industry and 208 in agriculture
In September 1920 the ‘occupation of factories’ took place with over 400,000 workers taking over their factories
Why was there a banking crisis in 1921?
Two major munitions factories collapsed
What catholic party was formed in 1919?
The partition popolare Italiano
( the Italian people party)
How many seats did the PSI and PPI win in the 1919 elections?
PSI = 156
PPI = 106
Who formed the government after the 1919 elections?
The liberals under Nitti, as the PSI and the PPI refused to work together in a coalition
How many men had joined radical labour unions by 1920?
2 millions (up from 250,000)
What does biennio rosso translate to?
Two red years
Agitation by which political group characterised the biennio rosso?
Socialists and communists
What were the key policies of the first programme of the Fasci di Combattimento?
Policies were mainly left-wing, and to-monarchical and anticlerical. Focused on reforms that would improve the lives of Italian veterans, including advocating for the redistribution of wealth from the rich and from the church
Which specialised military units formed the majority of the early fasci?
The arditi, which were crack commando troops thy formed the backbone of the Italian offensive power after caporetto
What was the colour of the shirts worn by the members of the fasci?
Black (hence the blackshirts) (inspired by d’annunzio)
