110 likes | 119 Views
Origins of World War II. The Rise of Militarism: Mussolini & Italy. The Italian Communist Party. Italy on winning side of WWI Unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles – wanted more Many Italian veterans could not find jobs due to the Global Depression. The Italian Communist Party.
E N D
Origins of World War II The Rise of Militarism: Mussolini & Italy
The Italian Communist Party • Italy on winning side of WWI • Unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles – wanted more • Many Italian veterans could not find jobs due to the Global Depression
The Italian Communist Party • Many joined the Italian Communist Party • Urged Italians to take over land and seize factories
Mussolini & Fascism • Fascism = a military-dominated government controls all aspects of society • Mussolini founded the Fascist Party in 1921 • Goals – • Destroy the communist party • Promote his own power
The clashes between the Communists and the Fascists bordered on civil war in Italy • Blackshirts – Mussolini’s military group • - used torture, gang rape, and murder against opponents
Fascist March On Rome • Oct. 1922 • Mussolini and The Blackshirts occupied Rome • Had the support of: • Nationalists – Wanted to strengthen Italy • Business people – Disliked communism
Mussolini Becomes Prime Minister • Appointed prime minister & given dictatorial powers by the Italian King • Limited the freedom of speech, arrested political opponents, and restricted voting to consolidate his power
Mussolini & Ethiopia • Mussolini had pledged to make Italy an imperialistic power • Sent troops into Ethiopia in 1935 to fulfill this promise • Ethiopia was no match for the Italian army
Mussolini & Ethiopia • The U.S. placed a neutrality act banning arms shipments on both sides • Did not want to be drawn into the conflict • The lack of support for Ethiopia showed Fascist nations that aggression would not be punished