The Rise of FascismThe Rise of Fascism

Italy after WWIItaly after WWI

The war had caused heavy casualties, The war had caused heavy casualties, incurred huge war debts and brought incurred huge war debts and brought destruction, economic recession, serious destruction, economic recession, serious unemployment and inflation to Italyunemployment and inflation to Italy

Despite the Prime Minister, Orlando, had Despite the Prime Minister, Orlando, had pressed hard for territorial rewards at the pressed hard for territorial rewards at the Peace Conference, his demands were not Peace Conference, his demands were not all entertainedall entertained

In face of appalling hardships at home and In face of appalling hardships at home and a successful communist revolution in a successful communist revolution in Russia, many Italians became restlessRussia, many Italians became restless

There were ‘Red Leagues’ in the There were ‘Red Leagues’ in the countryside demanded lower rents and countryside demanded lower rents and divided the property of the landlordsdivided the property of the landlords

The middle class were alarmed by the The middle class were alarmed by the situationsituation

Italian political parties were numerous and Italian political parties were numerous and smallsmall

The government was usually a coalition of The government was usually a coalition of several parties and would easily break up several parties and would easily break up owing to conflicting interestsowing to conflicting interests

The government was also corrupt and The government was also corrupt and inefficientinefficient

Many people criticized the government for Many people criticized the government for failing to secure national interests and failing to secure national interests and solve the problems of the country after the solve the problems of the country after the warwar

The Fiume IncidentThe Fiume Incident

In September 1919, an Italian patriot led 1In September 1919, an Italian patriot led 1000 volunteers to seize the city Fiume, late000 volunteers to seize the city Fiume, later, the Italian government had to expell ther, the Italian government had to expell them from the city with troops.m from the city with troops.

The incident made the government more uThe incident made the government more unpopularnpopular

Under the above situation, Italian wanted a Under the above situation, Italian wanted a strongman who promised to lead them out strongman who promised to lead them out of the difficulty of the difficulty

Mussolini and the Fascists provided them “Mussolini and the Fascists provided them “an answer”an answer”

The Fascist ideasThe Fascist ideas

Some historians insist that fascism was Some historians insist that fascism was not a proper ideology, arguing that it had not a proper ideology, arguing that it had no great philosopher and was a hodge-no great philosopher and was a hodge-podge of ideaspodge of ideas

However, the fascist usually had these However, the fascist usually had these ideas:ideas:

Extreme nationalismExtreme nationalism

Anti-liberal, no parliamentary ruleAnti-liberal, no parliamentary rule

To create a more united societyTo create a more united society

Anti-communistAnti-communist

Had an ambivalent relationship with Had an ambivalent relationship with socialismsocialism

Emphasized military virtuesEmphasized military virtues

Importance of leadersImportance of leaders

In Italy, although many of the components In Italy, although many of the components of Fascism existed before 1914, the idea of Fascism existed before 1914, the idea of Fascism were accentuated by the of Fascism were accentuated by the experiences of the warexperiences of the war

Politically, the Fascists in Italy had strong Politically, the Fascists in Italy had strong national feeling: “Nothing above the state, national feeling: “Nothing above the state, Nothing outside the state, nothing against Nothing outside the state, nothing against the state” the state”

The believed in Totalitarianism and AuthoriThe believed in Totalitarianism and Authoritarianismtarianism““One party, the Fascist Party, should direct One party, the Fascist Party, should direct and control all activities”and control all activities”The sovereignty of the atate was absolute. The sovereignty of the atate was absolute. The citizens had no rights but simply dutie The citizens had no rights but simply dutiessThe state should be governed by an elite The state should be governed by an elite who is more superior than the others who is more superior than the others

Economically, they had the Corporate StateEconomically, they had the Corporate StateIt was a economic system, and a Fascist to It was a economic system, and a Fascist to western-style democracy and to Soviet western-style democracy and to Soviet proletarian dictatorshipproletarian dictatorshipIt advocated of classes cooperationIt advocated of classes cooperationpower is given to civic assemblies that represent economic, social, cultural, and professional groups. When there was a conflict between When there was a conflict between workers and employers, the state had the final workers and employers, the state had the final authority to intervene authority to intervene

Since the Fascists believed that any state Since the Fascists believed that any state which did not expand would eventually die, which did not expand would eventually die, they believed in militarismthey believed in militarism

They also thought that war and territorial They also thought that war and territorial expansion made a state gloriousexpansion made a state glorious

They believed in RomanticismThey believed in Romanticism

Reason, for Fascists, alone could never Reason, for Fascists, alone could never solve great national problemssolve great national problems

Reason must be supplemented by hero-Reason must be supplemented by hero-worship, admiration of force, mystic faith worship, admiration of force, mystic faith and self-sacrificeand self-sacrifice

Rise of MussoliniRise of Mussolini

Early Career of Benito Mussolini:Early Career of Benito Mussolini:He was a socialist when he was young, He was a socialist when he was young, and had been an editor of a socialist and had been an editor of a socialist newspapernewspaperDuring WWI he joined the army and was During WWI he joined the army and was woundedwoundedIn 1919, he formed groups of working men In 1919, he formed groups of working men to agitate for social revolutionary changes to agitate for social revolutionary changes and the groups were merged into Fascist and the groups were merged into Fascist Party in 1919Party in 1919

The party demanded universal suffrage, aThe party demanded universal suffrage, abolition of Senate, establishment by law of bolition of Senate, establishment by law of an eight-hour day, confiscation of 85% of an eight-hour day, confiscation of 85% of war profits and annexation of Fiume and Dwar profits and annexation of Fiume and DalmatiaalmatiaThe Fascists broke up communist meeting,The Fascists broke up communist meeting, demanded full implementation of Italy’s de demanded full implementation of Italy’s demands at the Paris Peace Conferencemands at the Paris Peace ConferenceAlthough they had only 35 seats in the parlAlthough they had only 35 seats in the parliament, the King appointed him as the Priiament, the King appointed him as the Prime Minister after the March on Rome in 19me Minister after the March on Rome in 192222

Mussolini’ s Domestic policiesMussolini’ s Domestic policies

Once Mussolini was appointed the Prime Once Mussolini was appointed the Prime Minister, he changed the electoral law in faMinister, he changed the electoral law in favour of the Fascist Partyvour of the Fascist PartyIn 1924 election, the Fascist use intimidatiIn 1924 election, the Fascist use intimidation and violence to ensure a Fascist majorion and violence to ensure a Fascist majority in the parliamentty in the parliamentMussolini murdered Matteotti, the socialist Mussolini murdered Matteotti, the socialist leader and the greatest opposition and conleader and the greatest opposition and controlled the whole parliamenttrolled the whole parliamentMany other opposition leaders were killed, Many other opposition leaders were killed, arrested and exiled arrested and exiled

In 1928, the new electoral law allowed In 1928, the new electoral law allowed only candidates of the Fascist Party stand only candidates of the Fascist Party stand for parliament electionfor parliament election

In 1939, the Corporations replaced the In 1939, the Corporations replaced the parliament parliament

After purging all opposition, Mussolini After purging all opposition, Mussolini established one –party dictatorship in Italyestablished one –party dictatorship in Italy

In order to eliminate opposition, the secret In order to eliminate opposition, the secret policy were given power to arrest and policy were given power to arrest and imprison peopleimprison people

All forms of media were made state All forms of media were made state controlled and propagandized for the controlled and propagandized for the FascistFascist

School children had to join the Fascist YoSchool children had to join the Fascist Youth Organizations and were indoctrinated uth Organizations and were indoctrinated with Fascist ideaswith Fascist ideas

Personality cult of Mussolini could be founPersonality cult of Mussolini could be found in everywhere in Italyd in everywhere in Italy

Arm forces were reorganized and strengthArm forces were reorganized and strengthenedened

Reforms were introduced in various fields Reforms were introduced in various fields to build a stable and prosperous Italyto build a stable and prosperous Italy

New farm land were provided and “Battle New farm land were provided and “Battle of Wheat” was launched to increase of Wheat” was launched to increase agricultural productionagricultural production

Communication were improvedCommunication were improved

Hydro-electric schemes were introducedHydro-electric schemes were introduced

Mussolini ended the disagreement Mussolini ended the disagreement between the Pope and Italy in 1929 by the between the Pope and Italy in 1929 by the Lateran TreatyLateran TreatyBy the Treaty the Pope recognized Italy By the Treaty the Pope recognized Italy and Italy recognized the Pope as the head and Italy recognized the Pope as the head of Vatican City, where the Italian of Vatican City, where the Italian government recognized it as a sovereign government recognized it as a sovereign statestateThe Pope was compensated for the loss of The Pope was compensated for the loss of powers outside the Vaticanpowers outside the VaticanCatholicism was made the state religion of Catholicism was made the state religion of ItalyItaly

Fascist government introduced the Fascist government introduced the corporate state idea to Italiancorporate state idea to ItalianEconomic groups of similar nature were to Economic groups of similar nature were to form a corporation, in which form a corporation, in which representatives of employers, employees representatives of employers, employees and the government were to sit together to and the government were to sit together to improve production and conditions of workimprove production and conditions of workAll disputes were settled in the corporationAll disputes were settled in the corporationBy 1934, 22 big industrial and professional By 1934, 22 big industrial and professional corporations were set up corporations were set up The system planned the whole economy The system planned the whole economy of the country of the country

Foreign Policies Foreign Policies

Mussolini adopted an aggressive foreign Mussolini adopted an aggressive foreign policy, he strove for policy, he strove for

1.1. Domination over the Adriatic SeaDomination over the Adriatic Sea

2.2. Hegemony in the Mediterranean SeaHegemony in the Mediterranean Sea

3.3. The extension of Italian colonial The extension of Italian colonial possession in Africapossession in Africa

The Treaty of Lausanne (1923) , the final treaty The Treaty of Lausanne (1923) , the final treaty with Turkey, assured Italian annexation of the Dwith Turkey, assured Italian annexation of the DodecaneseodecaneseThe Corfu Incident (1923): making use of the mThe Corfu Incident (1923): making use of the murder of 4 Italian, Mussolini ordered troops to ocurder of 4 Italian, Mussolini ordered troops to occupied Corfu. After Greece accepted most of thcupied Corfu. After Greece accepted most of the Italian demands, Mussolini returned the place te Italian demands, Mussolini returned the place to Greeceo GreeceThe occupation of Fiume (1924)The occupation of Fiume (1924)Rome Protocols (1934) with Hungary and AustriRome Protocols (1934) with Hungary and Austriaa

Treaty of Stresa with France and Britain (1935)Treaty of Stresa with France and Britain (1935) Italy was afraid of a strong Germany after the Italy was afraid of a strong Germany after the coming of power of Hitler. Mussolini wanted to coming of power of Hitler. Mussolini wanted to make use of Britain and France to make use of Britain and France to counterbalance German threat counterbalance German threat

Abyssinian Incident (1935-36): In 1935 Italians atAbyssinian Incident (1935-36): In 1935 Italians attacked Abyssinia and annexed it in the next year. tacked Abyssinia and annexed it in the next year. Although the League of Nations declared Italy as Although the League of Nations declared Italy as aggressor , Italy ignored the Leagueaggressor , Italy ignored the LeagueParticipation in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39)Participation in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)

Anti-Comintern Pact (1937)Anti-Comintern Pact (1937)

Occupation of Albania (1939)Occupation of Albania (1939)

Pact of Steel (1939)Pact of Steel (1939)