The Matteotti Crisis

1. The Matteotti Crisis

2. Giacomo Matteotti The murder of the Socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti in 1924 almost cost Mussolini his position as Prime Minister. Matteotti was the foremost opponent of Mussolini and made outspoken attacks on Fascist violence. On 10 May 1924 Matteotti accused Mussolini and the Fascists of winning the 1924 election by use of terror. He went on to claim that the results were therefore invalid. Mussolini was furious, particularly as he had been working hard to disassociate himself from the excesses of the squadristi.

3. The murder of Matteotti • On 10th June 1924 Matteotti was stabbed to death. He was abducted in broad daylight by a Fascist gang known as the CEKA. His body was not found until 16th August. • Mussolini claimed to know nothing of the murder before it occurred, however the CEKA acted on the orders of two leading members of the PNF, both of whom were close associates of Mussolini. • On 12th June 1924 Mussolini was questioned about the disappearance of Matteotti. He answered evasively and went onto ban any further discussion of the crisis within the Chamber of Deputies. • For the duration of the summer of 1924 Mussolini’s position appeared under threat…

4. Reactions to the Matteotti murder • Mussolini implemented measures to placate his critics and demonstrate that Fascist illegality was at an end. • Many PSI, PPI, Communist and Liberal deputies withdrew from Parliament in what became known as the Aventine Secession. • The king, fearing civil war or socialist government, refused to withdraw his support for Mussolini, therefore frustrating the aims of the leaders of the Aventine Secession. • In July 1924 the Pope intervened to end discussion between the PPI and the leaders of the Aventine Secession. He still regarded Socialism as far more of a threat than Fascism. • The army used the crisis to secure concessions from Mussolini. In August Mussolini issued a decree to amalgamate the Fascist Militia and the army. Militia members would also now swear an oath of allegiance to the King. • The ras were also agitated by the crisis and were angered by concessions to the army. By December there were rumours of a proposed coup.

5. The crisis reaches its peak By December Mussolini’s position was seriously under threat. The Liberals in the government were on the verge of resigning, whilst the ras and other leading Fascists demanded that Mussolini end the Matteotti affair once and for all. Mussolini was faced with the challenge of placating non-Fascists whilst meeting the demands of his leading Fascist followers.

6. The declaration of dictatorship • On 3rd January 1925 Mussolini boldly told the Chamber of Deputies that he accepted responsibility for Fascism and Fascist actions. • He argued that those deputies that had walked out of the Chamber were the ones that had acted unconstitutionally. • He did not accept responsibility for Matteotti’s murder, but blamed the opposition for the breakdown of constitutional rule, promising tougher measures in the future. • Both the Chamber and the King backed Mussolini and over the next few months further repression followed as Mussolini’s dictatorship became firmly established.

7. Why was Mussolini able to survive the Matteotti crisis?