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Rise of Italian Fascism. Il Duc é and Italy, 1919-1939. Origins of Italian Fascism. Problems of WWI: irredenta , inflation, ideology Fear of Communism: braccianti , strikes Mussolini = the answer. Benito Mussolini (1883-1945). Grew up in red zone of Emilia-Romagna
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Rise of Italian Fascism • Il Ducé and Italy, 1919-1939
Origins of Italian Fascism • Problems of WWI: irredenta, inflation, ideology • Fear of Communism: braccianti, strikes • Mussolini = the answer
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) • Grew up in red zone of Emilia-Romagna • Named after Juarez, grew up a socialist • Editor of Avanti • Nationalist and supported Italy’s intervention in WWI • Fought in WWI • Complete the “Risorgimento” • Modernize Italy • Formed paramilitary groups: squadristi into fasci to fight strikers • His fasci sacked the Avanti offices • Mussolini still harbored some socialist views.
Gaining Popularity • Strict party discipline • No. 1 enemy was Bolshevism • Acquire political power for Fascist Party • Glorification of his own military prowess • Corporatism • Futurism in the Arts • Refused to serve as a cabinet member in existing government
March on Rome (29 Oct. 1922) • 300,000 Fascist Party members in Spring 1922 • Staged March on Rome with complicity of King Victor Emmanuel II. (M. took train into Rome so he could be part of march.) • Mussolini allowed to form government; conservatives believed they could control him.
In Power • Murder of Giacomo Matteoti • 1925—given dictatorial powers • Enjoyed support from Big Business and Church (Lateran Accords—1929) • Appeared to make trains run on time—public works, Dopolavoro recreation program for workers, morale, and militarization. • Stresa Conference (1935) and evolving foreign policy. • Ethiopian Invasion (1935) • Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Spanish Civil War • tensions between industrial democratic peoples and supporters of agrarian feudalism • regional independence movements (especially in Catalonia and Basque territory) vs. nationalism • dispute over the role of the Church
Spanish Civil War • 1931 – monarchy fails to put down a revolt in Morocco people revolt because they perceive the government to be weak • a republic is established • the republican government separates church and state – very controversial • right and left camps • workers were upset that the government was not more radical so they rioted • right wing reaction, esp. from Spanish fascists known as the Falange • left wing groups banded together in a Popular Front movement • Popular Front wins control of the government (1936)
Spanish Civil War • Popular Front reforms • divide up some large estates • force industrialists to take back workers who had been dismissed for striking • close Catholic schools • these reforms lead the army to attempt a coup (1936) • Mussolini had been secretly encouraging this • July 12 - a monarchist leader is murdered by a republican • July 17 – army revolts saying that the government can’t guarantee safety and security
Spanish Civil War • the war should have ended quickly • prolonged, in part, by • Fascist and Nazi support of the Nationalists • Communist support of the Loyalists
Condor Legion • Hitler sent his famous “Condor Legion” • a group of skilled pilots with new planes that were skilled at dive bombing over Guernica (at right)
Atrocities on Both Sides Loyalists murder priests and nuns
Rome-Berlin Axis, Oct. 1936 • “Rome and Berlin to be points on an axis around which the rest of events in Europe will turn.” • Mussolini, who had opposed earlier threat of Anschluss, supported Hitler’s 1938 political unification with Austria.