The Significance and Impact of The Matteotti Crisis.
The Events Leading Up:
• 30th May 1924: Giacomo Matteotti having prepared a 30-minute-long speech
rises in The Chamber of Deputies to deliver it. The speech took two hours to
deliver as Fascist Deputies shouted down his denouncement of acts of
Squadristi violence and calling for the annulment of the April 1924 election
results.
• Leaving the Chamber, Matteotti declared to a colleague
“Now you can prepare my funeral oration”
• 10th June 1924: Matteotti was blocked entrance into the Chamber by a gang of
ex-Squadristi. He was bundled into a car, resisting and shouting “you may kill
me, but you will not kill the ideal, the workers will bless my dead body”. The car
drove off with Matteotti being stabbed inside.
• 16th August 1924: Matteotti’s death is confirmed. Dogs found his naked body
lying in a shallow grave in Riano, approximately 23 km from Rome. A file was still
sticking out of his chest when he was found.
The Events After:
• The car was found to belong to the leading fascist Filipelli.
• The murder was traced to Dumini; he was a member of a secret hit squad called
the Cheka (set up by Mussolini).
• Dumini was also personal assistant to Mussolini’s press secretary and confidant
Cesare Rossi.
• There was widespread belief that Mussolini had a role in the murder.
• Large crowds gathered in the streets to protest as the communists called for a
general strike.
• There were calls within the Fascist Party for Mussolini to determine the nature of
his government, terrorist or constitutional.
• The Aventine Secession involved most opposition deputies walking out of the
Chamber to form a new government elsewhere expecting The King to dismiss
Mussolini.
Mussolini’s Response:
• Mussolini suffered extreme depression.
• Mussolini mobilised the militia and placed tighter controls on the press, he also
made concessions that the militia was to swear an oath of loyalty to the King.
The Events Leading Up:
• 30th May 1924: Giacomo Matteotti having prepared a 30-minute-long speech
rises in The Chamber of Deputies to deliver it. The speech took two hours to
deliver as Fascist Deputies shouted down his denouncement of acts of
Squadristi violence and calling for the annulment of the April 1924 election
results.
• Leaving the Chamber, Matteotti declared to a colleague
“Now you can prepare my funeral oration”
• 10th June 1924: Matteotti was blocked entrance into the Chamber by a gang of
ex-Squadristi. He was bundled into a car, resisting and shouting “you may kill
me, but you will not kill the ideal, the workers will bless my dead body”. The car
drove off with Matteotti being stabbed inside.
• 16th August 1924: Matteotti’s death is confirmed. Dogs found his naked body
lying in a shallow grave in Riano, approximately 23 km from Rome. A file was still
sticking out of his chest when he was found.
The Events After:
• The car was found to belong to the leading fascist Filipelli.
• The murder was traced to Dumini; he was a member of a secret hit squad called
the Cheka (set up by Mussolini).
• Dumini was also personal assistant to Mussolini’s press secretary and confidant
Cesare Rossi.
• There was widespread belief that Mussolini had a role in the murder.
• Large crowds gathered in the streets to protest as the communists called for a
general strike.
• There were calls within the Fascist Party for Mussolini to determine the nature of
his government, terrorist or constitutional.
• The Aventine Secession involved most opposition deputies walking out of the
Chamber to form a new government elsewhere expecting The King to dismiss
Mussolini.
Mussolini’s Response:
• Mussolini suffered extreme depression.
• Mussolini mobilised the militia and placed tighter controls on the press, he also
made concessions that the militia was to swear an oath of loyalty to the King.
