Topic 1: Mussolini’s Italy 1919-1941
1.1 Why did Mussolini gain power in 1922?
1.1-1 Problems facing Italy after the First World War: dissatisfaction with the peace settlement; social and
economic
Background
World War One
- 460,000 deaths
- Wanted Germany's colonies
Italian Unification
- 1948-1971
Paris Peace Conference 1919
- Vittorio Orlanda represented Italy at the Conference; could not speak english + was humiliated by the Allies who insulted
Italy’s contribution to the war compared to the Allies
- Did not get the promised land from the Treaty of London (1915)
“Mutilated victory”
Post War Problems 1920
Social Economic Political
A disgruntled population (mad and Inflation; one lira was worth only ⅙ of Rise of different political groups that
unsatisfied) due to the Paris Peace its 1913 value seek political power over the
Conference - Savings became worthless incompetent government
- Communists, socialists,
nationalists, fascists
Farmers lost their agricultural land Major arms and shipbuilding firms went Failure of democratic government;
(South) bankrupt failed to solve any post-war problems
Unemployment rose to 2 million Government lacked funds, land and Rise of communism caused the Fascism
resources to appeal to the middle class
(bourgeoisie)
Trade unions pressed for higher wages
and strikes (Communists)
Socialists seized factories in the North
Treaty of London 1915
Promised territory
- Wanted to have control over territory on its border with Austria-Hungary stretching from Trentino through the South
Tyrol to Trieste
- Expand around the Adriatic Sea
1. Trieste
2. Trentino
, 3. South Tyrol
4. Dalmatia
5. Albania
Biennio Rosso; 2 red years (1919-1920)
What Intense social and political conflict in Italy.
- Communists led workers to go on strike
- Socialists took over factories in the North
- Workers tried to run factories by themselves
- Land occupation in the South
- Riots and lootings against shopkeepers/owners
- Socialist deputies walked out of parliament in December 1919 to protest the presence of the king.
They were attacked by nationalists, and widespread general strikes followed.
Why The post-war economic problems, like low wages and bad working conditions, made workers protest,
Communists and Socialists encouraged the workers' behaviors as they also wanted a revolution to
overthrow the liberal government.
How did this Used this in party propaganda; to show that they were stronger and better than their opponent
help Mussolini?
Socialists posed a threat to the king and political system; this encouraged the king to appoint Mussolini in
order to retain his power and status in the government.
The middle class and businessmen supported fascism (scared of communism); this gave Mussolini more
funds, which helped him and his party carry out their plans and propaganda.
March on Rome 1922
- Oct 27th - 31st 1922
Quote: “Either the government will be given to us or will seize it by marching on Rome.” - Mussolini
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/italy-1900-to-1939/the-march-on-rome/#:~:text=The
%201922%20March%20on%20Rome,important%20political%20party%20in%20Italy.
What Fascist party leaders planned to March on Rome and seize power from the liberal regime
- Over 30,000 militia known as the Blackshirts marched on the capital city
- All-important public buildings would be taken over including those outside of Rome in the
important cities in the north.
- Burnt down communist and socialist offices
- Mussolini would demand the resignation of the government and that a new Fascist government be
allowed to take over.
- Armed Fascists would be near Rome. If the government failed to meet these demands, they would
march into Rome and take over by the use of force.
- Mussolini was not keen on this idea in the beginning, it as initiated by the fascist party leaders
Mussolini threatened to march on Rome to take control of the government through violent force if it was
not handed over. King Victor Emmanuel and the government were slow to act, eventually dispatching
troops, though Fascists had already seized control of some local governments.
Refusing to pass martial law, Victor Emmanuel watched as thousands of armed Fascists entered Rome. He
dissolved the government and asked Mussolini to form a new one.
Why Wanted to pressure the liberal government and king with force. They wanted the liberal government to
resign and let the fascists establish their own government
1.1 Why did Mussolini gain power in 1922?
1.1-1 Problems facing Italy after the First World War: dissatisfaction with the peace settlement; social and
economic
Background
World War One
- 460,000 deaths
- Wanted Germany's colonies
Italian Unification
- 1948-1971
Paris Peace Conference 1919
- Vittorio Orlanda represented Italy at the Conference; could not speak english + was humiliated by the Allies who insulted
Italy’s contribution to the war compared to the Allies
- Did not get the promised land from the Treaty of London (1915)
“Mutilated victory”
Post War Problems 1920
Social Economic Political
A disgruntled population (mad and Inflation; one lira was worth only ⅙ of Rise of different political groups that
unsatisfied) due to the Paris Peace its 1913 value seek political power over the
Conference - Savings became worthless incompetent government
- Communists, socialists,
nationalists, fascists
Farmers lost their agricultural land Major arms and shipbuilding firms went Failure of democratic government;
(South) bankrupt failed to solve any post-war problems
Unemployment rose to 2 million Government lacked funds, land and Rise of communism caused the Fascism
resources to appeal to the middle class
(bourgeoisie)
Trade unions pressed for higher wages
and strikes (Communists)
Socialists seized factories in the North
Treaty of London 1915
Promised territory
- Wanted to have control over territory on its border with Austria-Hungary stretching from Trentino through the South
Tyrol to Trieste
- Expand around the Adriatic Sea
1. Trieste
2. Trentino
, 3. South Tyrol
4. Dalmatia
5. Albania
Biennio Rosso; 2 red years (1919-1920)
What Intense social and political conflict in Italy.
- Communists led workers to go on strike
- Socialists took over factories in the North
- Workers tried to run factories by themselves
- Land occupation in the South
- Riots and lootings against shopkeepers/owners
- Socialist deputies walked out of parliament in December 1919 to protest the presence of the king.
They were attacked by nationalists, and widespread general strikes followed.
Why The post-war economic problems, like low wages and bad working conditions, made workers protest,
Communists and Socialists encouraged the workers' behaviors as they also wanted a revolution to
overthrow the liberal government.
How did this Used this in party propaganda; to show that they were stronger and better than their opponent
help Mussolini?
Socialists posed a threat to the king and political system; this encouraged the king to appoint Mussolini in
order to retain his power and status in the government.
The middle class and businessmen supported fascism (scared of communism); this gave Mussolini more
funds, which helped him and his party carry out their plans and propaganda.
March on Rome 1922
- Oct 27th - 31st 1922
Quote: “Either the government will be given to us or will seize it by marching on Rome.” - Mussolini
https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/italy-1900-to-1939/the-march-on-rome/#:~:text=The
%201922%20March%20on%20Rome,important%20political%20party%20in%20Italy.
What Fascist party leaders planned to March on Rome and seize power from the liberal regime
- Over 30,000 militia known as the Blackshirts marched on the capital city
- All-important public buildings would be taken over including those outside of Rome in the
important cities in the north.
- Burnt down communist and socialist offices
- Mussolini would demand the resignation of the government and that a new Fascist government be
allowed to take over.
- Armed Fascists would be near Rome. If the government failed to meet these demands, they would
march into Rome and take over by the use of force.
- Mussolini was not keen on this idea in the beginning, it as initiated by the fascist party leaders
Mussolini threatened to march on Rome to take control of the government through violent force if it was
not handed over. King Victor Emmanuel and the government were slow to act, eventually dispatching
troops, though Fascists had already seized control of some local governments.
Refusing to pass martial law, Victor Emmanuel watched as thousands of armed Fascists entered Rome. He
dissolved the government and asked Mussolini to form a new one.
Why Wanted to pressure the liberal government and king with force. They wanted the liberal government to
resign and let the fascists establish their own government
