Fascism In ItalyFascism In Italy

Rise of MussoliniRise of Mussolini

Ms. GarrattMs. Garratt

Post WWI ProblemsPost WWI Problems Italian nat’lists felt betrayed by Paris peace Italian nat’lists felt betrayed by Paris peace

treaties.treaties.– YugoslaviaYugoslavia

Veterans returned to econ & pol chaosVeterans returned to econ & pol chaos– StrikesStrikes– UnemploymentUnemployment– Conflict between workers & industryConflict between workers & industry– Feuding political factionsFeuding political factions

Mussolini responds to these problems by Mussolini responds to these problems by creating the Fascist partycreating the Fascist party

What is Fascism?What is Fascism? Extreme form of Extreme form of

aggressive nationalismaggressive nationalism Anti-democraticAnti-democratic Anti-communistAnti-communist Race used to justify Race used to justify

aggression & Social aggression & Social Darwinism.Darwinism.

Individuals subservient to Individuals subservient to the state.the state.

Children were Children were indoctrinated indoctrinated

Strict obedience. Strict obedience. demandeddemanded

Mussolini – Il DuceMussolini – Il Duce Organized the Organized the

Fascist partyFascist party

Spoke of reviving Spoke of reviving Roman gloryRoman glory

Organized “black Organized “black shirts” (combat shirts” (combat gangs)which used gangs)which used violence & terror violence & terror against political against political opponents such as opponents such as communists.communists.

Black Shirts – Pre 1922Black Shirts – Pre 1922

Black Shirts 1922Black Shirts 1922

Mussolini’s Black Shirts After Mussolini’s Black Shirts After 19221922

March on Rome 1922March on Rome 1922

Demands Demands change in govchange in gov

King King succumbssuccumbs

Allows him to Allows him to become the become the prime ministerprime minister

Mussolini’s “Totalitarian” ItalyMussolini’s “Totalitarian” Italy

– Single party Single party DictatorshipDictatorship

– State terrorism & State terrorism & police spiespolice spies

– Use of schools & Use of schools & media for media for indoctrinationindoctrination

– State control of the State control of the econecon

– Censorship Censorship – Demands absolute Demands absolute

obedienceobedience

Corporate State: Economic Corporate State: Economic PolicyPolicy

Economy was under state control.Economy was under state control. His “corporate state” preserved some His “corporate state” preserved some

elements of capitalism but policy was elements of capitalism but policy was forged with representatives from business, forged with representatives from business, labor & the fascist gov.labor & the fascist gov.

The economy did show improvement.The economy did show improvement. This came at labor’s expense as strikes This came at labor’s expense as strikes

were outlawed & wages dropped.were outlawed & wages dropped.

Social PoliciesSocial Policies

Citizens were bombarded with slogans Citizens were bombarded with slogans glorifying the state & Musso.glorifying the state & Musso.

““Believe, obey, fight” were blasted from Believe, obey, fight” were blasted from loudspeakers.loudspeakers.

““A minute on the battlefield is worth a A minute on the battlefield is worth a lifetime of peace” was the fascist position.lifetime of peace” was the fascist position.

Women were expected to be “baby Women were expected to be “baby machines”machines”

Women who bore 14 or more children Women who bore 14 or more children were rewarded w/ medals from Musso were rewarded w/ medals from Musso himself.himself.

Similarities of Communism & Similarities of Communism & FascismFascism

Both flourished during difficult Both flourished during difficult economic times.economic times.

Both promoted extreme programs of Both promoted extreme programs of social change.social change.

Both had totalitarian governments to Both had totalitarian governments to bring about a social revolution.bring about a social revolution.

Both were dictatorships.Both were dictatorships. The USSR, Italy, Japan & Germany The USSR, Italy, Japan & Germany

were all totalitarian regimes.were all totalitarian regimes.

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

Single party dictatorship.Single party dictatorship. (2) State controlled economy.(2) State controlled economy. (3) Use of spies & state terrorism.(3) Use of spies & state terrorism. (4) Strict censorship & control of the (4) Strict censorship & control of the

media.media. (5) Use of schools & media to indoctrinate (5) Use of schools & media to indoctrinate

& mobilize citizens.& mobilize citizens. (6) Civil rights are sacrificed for strict (6) Civil rights are sacrificed for strict

obedience to the state.obedience to the state. (7) War & militarism are glorified(7) War & militarism are glorified

Mussolini & TotalitarianismMussolini & Totalitarianism Musso built the 1Musso built the 1stst totalitarian state which totalitarian state which

was never as extreme as Germany’s or was never as extreme as Germany’s or Soviet Unions.Soviet Unions.

What was its appeal?What was its appeal?– Promised strong, stable gov & to end political Promised strong, stable gov & to end political

feuding which had paralyzed democracy.feuding which had paralyzed democracy.– Nationalism appealed to many – revived nat’l Nationalism appealed to many – revived nat’l

pridepride– Promised to restore the former glory of the Promised to restore the former glory of the

Roman Empire by turning the Mediterranean Roman Empire by turning the Mediterranean into a Roman lake.into a Roman lake.

– Projected sense of power during times of Projected sense of power during times of despair & disorderdespair & disorder

For more information of For more information of totalitarianism go tototalitarianism go to

www.fresno.k12.ca.us/.../totalitarianism.htm

Three IdeologiesThree Ideologies

Three ideologies vied for power during the Three ideologies vied for power during the postwar years.postwar years.– DemocracyDemocracy in Brit & Fr was challenged by in Brit & Fr was challenged by

difficult economic challenges & labor.difficult economic challenges & labor.– CommunismCommunism in USSR – attractive to some in USSR – attractive to some

workers but seen as a threat to capitalist govsworkers but seen as a threat to capitalist govs– FascismFascism in Germ & Italy attractive for its in Germ & Italy attractive for its

appeal to national unity & patriotism. As the appeal to national unity & patriotism. As the Great Depression deepens fascist ideology will Great Depression deepens fascist ideology will become more attractive.become more attractive.

Female Fascist Youth GroupFemale Fascist Youth Group

Catholic Church Supports MussoliniCatholic Church Supports Mussolini

The Black Shirts. What Art Form The Black Shirts. What Art Form is this?is this?