Rise of Italian Fascism

The Rise of Italian Fascism:The Rise of Italian Fascism:

from red shirts to blackfrom red shirts to black

J. Marshall, 2011

Part One: Italian UnificationBringing the Pieces Together

Part One: Italian UnificationBringing the Pieces Together

Pre-Unification:Pre-Unification: 3 obstacles to unification:3 obstacles to unification:

1. Lombardy: occupied by Austria-Hungary

2. The Papal States: divided Italy in two (north/south)

3. Many independent states: Piedmont/Sardinia Tuscany Parma Sicily, etc

1. Lombardy: occupied by Austria-Hungary

2. The Papal States: divided Italy in two (north/south)

3. Many independent states: Piedmont/Sardinia Tuscany Parma Sicily, etc

Count Camillo Cavour: Count Camillo Cavour: (Piedmont) “Let’s expel A/H and then slowly annex the South.”

Gets help from France’s Napoleon II - together they beat A/H, 1859. The NORTH is unified.

Count Camillo Cavour: Count Camillo Cavour: (Piedmont) “Let’s expel A/H and then slowly annex the South.”

Gets help from France’s Napoleon II - together they beat A/H, 1859. The NORTH is unified.

Giuseppi Mazzini:Giuseppi Mazzini: Patriot - use of secret societies (Young Italy, 1831) to spread nationalism and republicanism.

Mazzini’s essay: The Duties of Man

Mazzini’s essay: The Duties of Man

Liberty alone will not improve the lot of the working class As citizens of the state, one must labour to benefit all Merely demanding more rights won’t achieve anything Government, operated by the common consent of the

people, will bring about equality and social improvement

HOW CAN THIS ESSAY BE USED TO UNDERSTAND MUSSOLINI AND FASCIST ITALY?

Liberty alone will not improve the lot of the working class As citizens of the state, one must labour to benefit all Merely demanding more rights won’t achieve anything Government, operated by the common consent of the

people, will bring about equality and social improvement

HOW CAN THIS ESSAY BE USED TO UNDERSTAND MUSSOLINI AND FASCIST ITALY?

Giuseppe Garibaldi:

Revolutionary

In 1860, 1000 strong, the Red Shirts land in Sicily and then move north towards ROME.

Giuseppe Garibaldi:

Revolutionary

In 1860, 1000 strong, the Red Shirts land in Sicily and then move north towards ROME.

1861 Unification after elections1861 Unification after elections1861 Unification after elections1861 Unification after elections

Cavour is the first P.M.

Victor Emmanuel II is king

1870 Rome joins Italy and becomes the capital in 1871

Cavour is the first P.M.

Victor Emmanuel II is king

1870 Rome joins Italy and becomes the capital in 1871

Part Two: Mussolinithe chameleon changes stripes

Part Two: Mussolinithe chameleon changes stripes

(This is the material for which you are responsible)

References:References: pp 38-39 A Map History pp 35-38 Global Forces pp 67-79 DeMarco pp 47-52 Falk workbook

Recall Orlando’s dissatisfaction with the Paris Peace Treaty talks (little land) and look at the poet D’Annunzio’s exploits in Fiume, 1919

Desire for strong government to “slap back.”

pp 38-39 A Map History pp 35-38 Global Forces pp 67-79 DeMarco pp 47-52 Falk workbook

Recall Orlando’s dissatisfaction with the Paris Peace Treaty talks (little land) and look at the poet D’Annunzio’s exploits in Fiume, 1919

Desire for strong government to “slap back.”

The First World WarThe First World War

Post

Post

war

war

Italy

:It

aly

:Post

Post

war

war

Italy

:It

aly

:• Stricken with unemployment• 500+% inflation, 1914-21• Plagued by strikes and lockouts• Unhappy over poor Treaty gains• Nearing economic collapse• Peasants taking land• Courting social REVOLUTION

• Stricken with unemployment• 500+% inflation, 1914-21• Plagued by strikes and lockouts• Unhappy over poor Treaty gains• Nearing economic collapse• Peasants taking land• Courting social REVOLUTION

Socialist, ex-soldier, pacifist, internationalist, journalist, war hawk, anarchist, statist, bully, but mostly an opportunistic PRAGMATIST!

Many blame democracy (since 1912) for Italy’s post-war problems (little experience).

Workers strike (Socialists warn of revolution)

Owners fear loss of property and power.

April, 1919, Fasci Combattimento (Black Shirts) start their “brawls.”

At first, a socialist - not wanted - okay, then…

Next, anti-socialist (plus, anti-liberal,

anti-democracy and anti-free speech).

Socialist, ex-soldier, pacifist, internationalist, journalist, war hawk, anarchist, statist, bully, but mostly an opportunistic PRAGMATIST!

Many blame democracy (since 1912) for Italy’s post-war problems (little experience).

Workers strike (Socialists warn of revolution)

Owners fear loss of property and power.

April, 1919, Fasci Combattimento (Black Shirts) start their “brawls.”

At first, a socialist - not wanted - okay, then…

Next, anti-socialist (plus, anti-liberal,

anti-democracy and anti-free speech).

Race for Power: Race for Power: FastFast andand ViolentViolentRace for Power: Race for Power: FastFast andand ViolentViolent

1920: 88 Fascist groups / 20,615 members

1921: 834 groups / 250,000+ members

* In the first 4 months: 207 deaths, 800 people wounded. * Police/Army sympathized so no punishment. * Liberals thought they could control Mussolini and were intimidated by threats.

May 1921: Fascists win 35 of 535 seats in Chamber of Deputies,

but…

Oct 1922: March on Rome

1920: 88 Fascist groups / 20,615 members

1921: 834 groups / 250,000+ members

* In the first 4 months: 207 deaths, 800 people wounded. * Police/Army sympathized so no punishment. * Liberals thought they could control Mussolini and were intimidated by threats.

May 1921: Fascists win 35 of 535 seats in Chamber of Deputies,

but…

Oct 1922: March on Rome

Result: King Victor Emmanuel III asks Mussolini to be P.M. on 29 Oct, 1922.

=dictatorial power for 1 year to get control

THEN:the 26,000 fascists made their march - by train?

Okay, some walked.

Result: King Victor Emmanuel III asks Mussolini to be P.M. on 29 Oct, 1922.

=dictatorial power for 1 year to get control

THEN:the 26,000 fascists made their march - by train?

Okay, some walked.

Oct 1922Oct 1922: : ““Either the government is handed Either the government is handed over or we take it by attack on Rome.over or we take it by attack on Rome.””

Steps to total control:

Fas

cist

Non-F

ascist

Lateran Accords: a most unholy pact

Lateran Accords: a most unholy pact

Reichskonkordat, 1933Reichskonkordat, 1933

33 Phases: Phases:33 Phases: Phases:1. 1922 - 1925 a state seeking an ideology

2. 1925 - 1938 - first state operation strong modern nation-state capitalism

syndicalism

Encourage monopolies: more productivity = stronger state. At this point 400 deputies are still being approved by the people

BUTIn 1928 the election is gone: election is gone: Il Duce has

total power and doesn’t have to hide it.

1. 1922 - 1925 a state seeking an ideology

2. 1925 - 1938 - first state operation strong modern nation-state capitalism

syndicalism

Encourage monopolies: more productivity = stronger state. At this point 400 deputies are still being approved by the people

BUTIn 1928 the election is gone: election is gone: Il Duce has

total power and doesn’t have to hide it.

3. After 1938, Mussolini is Hitler’s puppet

Corporate

StateCorporate

State

Corporate State = law and order? “Mussolini is always right”Corporate State = law and order? “Mussolini is always right”

Climate of fear

In theory, management and workers run business together

In reality, it was a means to enact a centralized economy that eliminated workers’ rights – unions outlawed. Terror became commonplace

Climate of fear

In theory, management and workers run business together

In reality, it was a means to enact a centralized economy that eliminated workers’ rights – unions outlawed. Terror became commonplace

Mare Nostrum: the glories that were once Rome

Mare Nostrum: the glories that were once Rome

Libya, 1912

Eritrea, 1886

Italian Somaliland, 1889

Abyssinia 1936

= Italian East Africa, 1938

And did appeasement work?And did appeasement work?

1. Remember Sykes-Picot

2. The Spanish Civil War allowed Italians to test equipment & tactics, and

3. Learn to coordinate with the Germans on the battlefield.

4. Albania…

1. Remember Sykes-Picot

2. The Spanish Civil War allowed Italians to test equipment & tactics, and

3. Learn to coordinate with the Germans on the battlefield.

4. Albania…

“The claw of Italian invaders will enslave us”

King Zog fallsKing Zog falls

19391939

All that was left to do was solidify… All that was left to do was solidify…

THE PACT OF STEEL

THE PACT OF STEEL

1939

Cult of Personality!Cult of Personality!

Chronology Review:dondon’’t yell out the answers or It yell out the answers or I’’ll sick the OVRA on ll sick the OVRA on youyou


___1. The Pope and Mussolini sign the Lateran Accord.

___2. The Acerbo Law will give a winner with 25%, 2/3 of the seats.

___3. Mussolini rides to Rome ahead of the marchers demanding power and WINS.

___4. Albania’s King Zog is exiled.

___5. Italy’s voters can’t vote any more.

___1. The Pope and Mussolini sign the Lateran Accord.

___2. The Acerbo Law will give a winner with 25%, 2/3 of the seats.

___3. Mussolini rides to Rome ahead of the marchers demanding power and WINS.

___4. Albania’s King Zog is exiled.

___5. Italy’s voters can’t vote any more.

A) 1922B) 1923C) 1928D) 1929E) 1939

A) 1922B) 1923C) 1928D) 1929E) 1939



_D_1. The Pope and Mussolini sign the Lateran Accord.

_B_2. The Acerbo Law will give a winner with 25%, 2/3 of the seats.

_A_3. Mussolini rides to Rome ahead of the marchers demanding power and WINS.

_E_4. Albania’s King Zog is exiled.

_C_5. Italy’s voters can’t vote any more.

_D_1. The Pope and Mussolini sign the Lateran Accord.

_B_2. The Acerbo Law will give a winner with 25%, 2/3 of the seats.

_A_3. Mussolini rides to Rome ahead of the marchers demanding power and WINS.

_E_4. Albania’s King Zog is exiled.

_C_5. Italy’s voters can’t vote any more.

A) 1922B) 1923C) 1928D) 1929E) 1939

A) 1922B) 1923C) 1928D) 1929E) 1939

endend

Education

Rise of Italian Fascism