What role did the Fascist Party play? Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Mussolini fearful of the Party?
A
- The ras were powerful and could start a ‘revolution from below’
- More radical Fascists scared the industrialists and landowners
2
Q
How did Mussolini limit the power of the ras?
A
- Increased power of PNF so less Fascist violence was required
- Appointed Farinacci as party secretary and used him to centralise power
- Farinacci then dismissed to prevent his more radical ideas
- 1925 FGC ordered disbandment of remaining squads, who then had to join MVSN
3
Q
How did Mussolini increase his control over the party?
A
- 1926 Duce permanent leader
- Party posts appointed by him, not elected
- Mussolini appointed those he could easily dominate e.g. Starace
4
Q
How did Mussolini ensure control over the MVSN?
A
- Had to take an oath to Mussolini, and later to the King
5
Q
How did Mussolini control the ras?
A
- Increased power of prefects, therefore reducing the power of the ras
- Turati broke power of the ras
6
Q
How did Mussolini keep general support amongst his followers?
A
60,000 potentially hostile members purged between 1928 and 1929
7
Q
Who were syndicalists and what did they want from Fascism?
A
- Most coherent Fascist Left e.g. Rossoni
- Wanted to create syndicalist structure favouring workers
8
Q
Who were Right nationalists and what did they want from Fascism?
A
- Ex-nationalists e.g. Rocco
- Wanted authoritarian state and imperialism
9
Q
Who were the Moderate revisionists and what did they want from Fascism?
A
- Bottai and Grandi
- Wanted Fascism to fuse with existing elite
10
Q
Who were the Hardliners and what did they want from Fascism?
A
- Ras e.g. Farinacci
- Wanted a Fascist dictatorship
11
Q
What was Fascist membership like between 1922 and 1939?
A
- 1922, one-third workers or farmers
- By late 1920s, majority middle class
- 1922 = 477,000
- 1923 = 783,000
- 1934 = 1,851,000
- 1939 = 2,633,000
12
Q
Early Farinacci
A
- Initially joined PSI
- 1919 joined Mussolini in creation of Fascio di Combattimento
- Fascist ras in hometown
- Ran own newspaper
- Extremist
13
Q
How did Farinacci assist Mussolini?
A
- Supported him and other Fascist members during Matteotti Crisis
