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The growth of Italian fascist regime

I Origins of fascism

Italy before 1914

1859: unification of Italy by the rebel nationalist Garibaldi

Problems:

1. economy : this of South of Italy = based on agriculture, land of a poor quality

=> rural population increased quickly by the end of the 19thC and the gap between north and

south increased

2. weak democratic system of government after 1870, weak sense of national identity and loyalty

to the state

3. Industrial expansion : creation of a urban working class : they felt expoilted

4. Catholic church : opposition to the unification

church lands confiscated and redistributed to peasants farmers

Pope banned Catholics from taking part in politics more tensions between state and Church5. Nationalists : wanted the regions of Trentino and Trieste (possessed by Austria) there were

a lot of Italian speakers

Referred as unredeemed Italy ( Italia Irredente)

Those problems lead to a crisis

The First World War

1914 : Italy divided : some wanted enter the war, some wanted to remain neutral

But, the Italians failed to secure Trentino and Trieste from Austria-Hungary so :

1915 : Treaty of London (alliance with Britain, France and Russia

Casualties : 600 thousand died

One million were wounded

Debt : increased from 16 to 85 billion lire

Unrest : Unemployment

Shortages of food

The Paris Peace Conference

18 January 1919

Negotiations dominated by the leaders of the more important leaders : France (Clemenceau) Britain( Lloyd George), USA (Wilson).

No place for the defeated nations.

Prime Minister of Italy Orlando : excluded

Italys gains :

South Tyrol

Trentino

Istria

Trieste

Italys failed gains :

North Tyrol

Dalmatia

Because it was not conform as

principle of self-determination,

even there were promised lands.

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Fiume

No German colonies as compensation

Not allowed to expand their African colonies

Orlando : felt his country had been betrayed

Withdrew from the negotiations This lead to unpopularity for the government

Harsh critic: Gabriel dAnnunzio(author and political critic, seized Fiume with followers, his rule was

full of parades, uniforms and raised-armed salutes)

Post-war unrest

2 millions unemployed people

=> Strikes and demonstrations

=> Some workers occupied the factories

=> Peasants in some areas seized land from large landowners

Fear of a communist take-over ( situation was like this of Russia before revolution)

People were losing faith in a democratic system and they looked for a strong leader to solve the

problems: then Benito Mussolini entered the politic life.

Mussolini:

editor of a socialist journal

1912: became editor of Italys official Socialist newspaper Avanti

His own newspaper: Il Popolo dItalia

1915: joined the army, got injured in 1917

Birth of Fascism

Mussolini called for a dictator to remedy the dire economic situation and recover the promised lands

1919 : foundation of a combat group Fascio di Combattimento

=> Roman salute

=> black shirts

=> skull-embroidered flags

=> patriotic songs

=> nationalist slogans

The fascist programme

(Mussolini, Nazis, Falangisrs in Spain, Leagues in France, Mosleys supporters in Britain = fascists)

Ultra-nationalism

=> gain lands

=> More colonies

=> glory the ancient past

Totalitarianism

Mussolinis definition : everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing

against the state

Individuals worked for the benefit of the state

One-party government

Cult of the leader Racism

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=> belief in the superitity of ones own race

Anti-communism

Fascism was a response to the Communism

Supporter anti-communist of the fascism : capitalists, industrialists, landowners

Early difficulties 1919 : poor results at the elections

Mussolini blamed the extreme leftist section of his party, the strident anti-clericals

disowned all forms of extreme socialism

Wealthy capitalists supported the party as a bulwark against socialism. Their financial support helped

them to survive.

Squadristi

= paramilitary groups

aim: intimidation for the trade unions, political foes and newspapers editors

Now the fascism programme was : monarchism, free trade and anti-socialism

March on Rome

Economic conditions deteriorated

1922 ; general strike called by the socialist in August to protest against government policies

The Squadristi posed as the unique protection against a communist takeover.

25 000 blackshirt squadristi rassembled around Rome

The Prime Minister Luigi Facta asked the King, Victor Emmanuel III to use the army but he refused,

the prime minister resigned and Mussolini took his place

March on Rome turned to be a victory parade.

II Mussolinis Italy

Move to dictatorship

first moves : slow and careful

image of a possible respectable leader

right to rule by decree

Acerbo law : reserved 2/3 of the seats in Parliament for the party wich gained most votes

in future elections

1924: Fascists duly gained control of Parliament in the 1924 election

Mussolini : minister for the Interior and Foreign Minister

Appearance of Democracy

Mussolinis Opponents arrested

Blackshirts : converted into national militia (paid by state and allegiance to Mussolini)

1924 : Matteotti (an opponent) murdered

OVRA : secret policy