Question 2: What were the causes of the rise in fascism in Italian politics?
In the first half of the 20th Century Mussolini’s fascist party was very successful. In 1919 the official fascist party was formed the movement spread from town to town recruiting, they wore ‘blackshirts’ which reflected their uniformity and by organising the labour unions and installing the ‘eight hour day’ Mussolini won over many socialists and by 1924 Mussolini had become Prime Minister and had all the powers of a dictator. Mussolini’s objectives were to strengthen the authority of the state and encourage national syndicates (labour unions).
Political instability was the main cause of the rise of fascism in Italy, politicians were more loyal to their area rather than the country as a whole, this meant that governments were ineffective, incompetent and lasted an average of two years, and in particular the resignation of ‘Nitti’ in 1919 was a major factor, this political chaos was to the fascists advantage, here was a party that appeared calm and offered an alternative. Other causes were the general strike of 1922, which was seen as a threat to the establishment. Despite all the illegal activities including attacks on socialists, illegal possession of arms and the ‘letter-bombing’ of the archbishop of Milan, Mussolini was never brought to justice. In fact on the 29th October 1922 when he led the ‘March on Rome’ instead of declaring martial law the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel 111 refused to back the existing government and invited him to become President.
Once he was Prime Minister Mussolini persuaded the king to let him rule as a dictator for one year and then pass the ‘Acerbo Law’. This law stated that whichever party won the next general election would receive two thirds of the seats in Parliament. In April 1924 the Fascists won 60% of the votes and gained 375 seats out of 535. Mussolini emulated Hitler by creating the totalitarian state while removing basic democracy. Giacommo Matteotti the leader of the socialist party spoke out against the fascists he was consequently kidnapped and murdered. Mussolini was not involved but it was a warning for the future. In the next few years Mussolini set up a secret police force, the OVRA, and built concentration camps on the Lipari Islands for his opponents.
Question 3 Accurately explain the impact of fascism on Italy on the following, Political developments, Social developments, Economic Developments and Ideological developments 2 points from each.
Political Developments
Fascism provided a stable government (12 months emergency powers) due to the Acerbo Law. In 1925 Opera Volontaria Repressione Ant-fascists – Volunteer Organisation for the Repression of Anti-fascism (OVRA) was set up, the Italian secret police. The death penalty was reintroduced. Italy was a diarchy, a state with two political heads, Mussolini and the King, although Mussolini did more or less what he liked, he chose his own ministers and the Grand Council met only at his command. In 1928 the election system changed, a 1000 list of names drawn up by the union of workers and employers was presented to the Grand Council who chose 400 candidates, these were in turn presented to the voters who had to vote for or against the whole list, they had no choice between one candidate or another.
Social Developments
In Italy school teachers were ordered to promote the cult of Mussolini, history and literature were a priority but were edited, boys were expected to become soldiers and all children were encouraged to join the Balilla. Concerning the family Mussolini wanted a population growth (‘battle of the births’) in 1927 birth control was banned and dress codes were introduced, women were ordered to wear long skirts, discouraged from working and have as many children as possible. Leisure was organised by fascists ‘Dopolavor’ took over.
Economic Developments
Mussolini began a number of schemes to improve the Italian economy, he called these ‘battles’, he wanted to make Italy self sufficient in food and to increase the population. Farmers took over the Pontine Marshes, they were given grants cars etc, and were encouraged to grow more wheat (the battle for grain), and land was reclaimed for agriculture (battle for land). Industry experienced a short term boom e.g. textiles doubled and tariffs were placed on foreign goods.
Ideological Developments
Mussolini’s ideas were to govern the nation and ensure the moral and national greatness of the people of Italy, he was called ‘Il Duce’ (leader) by his followers and Italians believed that the Duce cared about them. Italy was disunited for a long time, each state had its own ruler and had no interest in a united Italy, Mussolini wanted Italy to be a nation state, one in which the Italian people would have pride in (the risorgimento), the re-birth of the empire, the greater Italy of ‘Mare Nosta’.
Question 4 Explain fully what you consider to be the longer-term consequences of Italy’s adherence to fascism.
Long-term consequences of fascism in Italy include, a distrust of the political system, the people of Italy also became suspicious of each other.
The ‘Pact of Steel’ was signed in 1939 this was an alliance between Italy and Germany; it committed each other to support any military action the other may take against another country. Hitler planned his attack on Poland, to ensure that Russia would not attack them, Germany signed a non-aggressive pact with Russia, this was done behind Mussolini’s back, although he was delighted with it as he saw the three countries, Germany, Italy and Russia as a force to be reckoned with. However Russia was a major communist power and the people of Italy were disappointed with Mussolini’s involvement.
In 1946, Italians voted to dissolve the Monarchy, and then in 1948, the first political elections were held. Now labeled the First Republic, this 50-year period renewed Italian confidence in the process.
Successes included improvements in public transport and success in the campaign against the Mafia, but the one major success was the ending of the conflict between the state and the church. (The establishment of the Vatican as an independent state).
