THERI

SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

Definition
•Di ct ator shipr efer stoasy stem ofgov ernmentwher ebydeci sions( economi c,social and
poli
tical )ar emadebyasi nglef orcewi thoutconsul tation.
•Di ct ator sar er ul
er swi thcompl etepowerov ert hei rst ates.
•Aut hor it
yi snotquest i
onedbutadher edt o.Peopl edoast heyar etoldandnotast heywi sh.
Thepeopl ear etheext ensi onorshadowoft hel eader .
Reasonsf ort heRi seofDi ct
at ors
Unpopul ar i
tyofTr eat yofVer sai l
lesi nGer manyandI taly.
Theunpopul ar i
tyoft hist reatyi nGer manyandI talypr ov idedani mpet usorapusht ot herise
ofMussol ini andHi tl
er.
WeaknessofPar li
ament aryDemocr acy
Parl
iament ar yDemocr acybr oughti nmanypol itical par ti
es.Thesepar t
iesdidnothav ea
major ityt of orm agov ernment .Asar esul tshor t-l
i
v edcoal i
tionswer eformed.Ther ef ore
weakgov ernment swer et heendpr oduct .
•Failur eofgov ernment si nItalyandGer manyt odeal wi thsoci o-economi candpol i
tical
problems.
•Orat oryski l
lsofHi tlerandMussol ini gainedt hem suppor tfrom thepeopl e.
•Theypr omi sedpeopl est ablegov ernment s.
•Mussol i
ni andHi tlerstoodasabuf ferorbar rieragai nstcommuni sm andsoci ali
sm.
•Effect iveuseofpr opagandaappeal edt ot hedi f f
er entgr oupsi nGer manyandI t
aly.
•Peopl echer ishedt heday sofst rongar mi es.TheVer sai ll
esweakenedt heGer manar mies.
Hitl
erpr omi sedt hepeopl et hegl or yday sofBi smar ckandt heKai zer .
•Pov er tyamongI t
al i
ansandGer mans.
Char act eristics/Feat uresofDi ctator ship
•Noconsul tation. •Nof reedom ofspeech. •Unf airelections.
•Onepar tygov ernment /st ate.•Pr esscensor shi p. •Absol utepower .
•Vi ol ationofhumanr i
ght s. •Noi ndependentpr ess. •Ar bitraryarrests.
•Imposi tionofdeci sions. •Elimi nat i
onofopponent s.•Noi ndependentt radeuni ons
•Ter ror i
sat ionofpol iti
cal opponent s.(i.e.beat i
ng, kil
ling, torchinghouses)
•Ov erdependenceont hear myt oenf or cepar t
yi deas.

I
TALY1919-
1945
Background
 I t
alywasaf rustratedcountryafterWW1becauseshedi dnotgett heter
rit
ori
es
whichsheex pected.
 Ver sail
l
esTr eat ydidnotgiveherDalmat ia,Adali
a,Albani
a, Fi
umeandmandat es.
ProblemsfacedbyI talyaft
erFirstWorldWar( 1919- 1922)
Economi cProblems
I
talyexperi
encedt hef oll
owingeconomi cproblems:
Unempl oyment
Thiswascausedbywar ,dest
ructi
on&cl osureofi ndustr
ies,scal
ingdownof
operati
onsanddemobi li
sati
onofsoldiers.
Wardebt s
Thegov ernmenthadbor rowedf r
om out sideinordertofinancethewar.Thedebts
hadtober epaidbutt hegovernmentwasbankr upt

Landsei zures
Inf
lati
on
Lowwages
Lowi ndust ri
alpr
oducti
on
Fall
ingst andardofli
vi
ng
SouthernI tal
ywaseconomical
lyandsoci
all
ybackwar
d.I
twasagr
o-based.

1
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

Soci
alProblems
Thefol
lowingsocialproblemswer
eexper
iencedi
nIt
aly
:
 Wi despreadst r
ikes.  Demonst rat
ionsandst r
eetfight
.
 Pov ert
y.  Overpopulat
ioni nSout
hernItaly
.
 Prostit
ution.  Lackofsocial secur
it
yinindustry.
 Hungerandst arvati
on.  Lawlessnessorhi ghcri
mer ate.
 Domest icv i
olence.  Highcorrupti
on.

Pol
it
ical Pr
oblems
I
tal
yex peri
encedt hef oll
owingpol i
ti
calproblems:
 Lackofst rongdemocr atictradit
ion.
 Weakgov ernment
Thi
swasduet opol i
ti
cal instabi
li
tyresul
ti
ngfrom toomanypol i
tical
parti
es.e.g.
a)Fasci stparty(Blackshi rt
s) shi
rt
s)
b)Communi stparty( Red f) Li
beralparty(Greyshir
ts)
guar ds) g)Chr i
sti
andemocr ats
c) Soci ali
stparty h)Cathol i
cpartyorPopul ar
d)Republ i
cparty par
ty
e) Nat ionali
stparty( Blue
Theweaknessoft hegov ernmentwasal soseeninthenumberofPr i
me
Mi nistersinIt
alybet ween1916and1922e. g.Orl
ando,GiovanniGioli
tti,
IvanhoeBononi , Salandra,Busell
iNi
tt
iand,Benit
oMussol ini

Resent
mentofVer sai
ll
esTreaty
Thistr
eatywasresentedbecausei
tdi
dnotgi
veDal
mat
ia,
Adal
i
a,Fi
ume,
Albani
aand
mandatestoI
tal
y.

FearofCommuni sm andSoci ali

sm amongt heCatholi
csandthebusi
nessclass.
a)Cat holi
csf earedr edatheism (ungodli
ness)posedbythecommunist
s.
b)Thebusi nesscl assfearedl osi
ngitsproper
tytothecommunist
sand
social
ist
swhot hreat
enedt ogivethispropert
ytoworker
s.
 Ital
yhadal ongt r
aditionofpol i
ticalvi
olence.
 Ineffi
cientandcor ruptci vi
lservi
ce.
 Conf l
ictbetweent heChur chandt hest at
e
ThePoper efusedt orecogni sethenewki ngdom becauseitt
ooktheChur
chpr oper
ty
duringtheItali
anuni f
ication.

Bandi
tr
y

Causedbyar medmi l
it
iawhi cht err
orisedcivi
li
ans.Thiswasaggr avated/worsened
bydemobi li
sat i
onandunempl oyment .
NBThegov ernmentf ai
ledtoof f
ersol utionstot heseprobl
ems( economi c,
socialand
pol
i
tical)andt hisresultedindisil
lusionmentamongt hepeople.Peoplenowr egarded
Mussoliniasapanacea( solut
ion)tot heirproblems.Hi svi
olentsermonsagai nstt
he
gov
er nmentr eceivedmuchsy mpathyandf ollowingamongt heI t
ali
ans.
MussoliniandFasci stparty(FASCI SM)
 Fasci sm r eferstoanex tremef orm ofnat i
onal
ism manifestedi
ntotalit
ari
anor
dictat
or shipform ofgov ernment .
 I twaspopul ari
sedbyMussol i
ni i
nItaly

Char
act
eristi
cs/Feat
uresorPri
nci
plesofFasci
sm
 Excessiv
enational
i
sm andpatri
oti
sm.
 Extensi
veuseofarmyandpol i
ce
 Racism.

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THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

 Believ edt hatt heywer esuperiorandal i

enatedorisolatedcertaingr oupsl ikeBlacks,
Jews, Gy psi es,Cat holicandt hehandicapped
 Nof r eeel ect i
ons.
 Glorificationofwar .
 Disrespectf orwomen
 Supr emacyoft hest ate
TheFasci stsbel ievedt hattheinter
estsoft hestat
epr ecede( comebef or
e)t hoseof
thei ndiv i
dual .Thi swasseenasasi gnofpat ri
oti
sm.Emphasi swaspl acedonst ate
rathert hant hei ndivi
dual.
 Onepar tygov ernment .
Theybel i
ev edt hatonl yonepar tycanmakegoodgov ernancei nItaly.Discussionand
opposi t
ionwer eseenasnoti mpor tantsinceonepar t
ywi t
hast rongl eaderwaswhat
anat i
onneeds.
 Suppr essionofhumanr i
ghts.
 Nat i
onal Uni ty
Closeal li
ancebet weengov ernmentandbi gindustr
ialbusiness.Cl assst ruggleswere
stri
ct lyforbi dden.
 Noconsul tat i
on.
 Presscensor ship.
 Mandat oryf ormember stowearuni forms.
 Useofv iolence
Treat edopponent sviolentl
yanddi dnotbel i
eveinpeace.Aggr essionwast hei
rway
oflife.

RiseofMussol i
ni toPower
 Hewor kedasat eacher ,but cherboy ,
stonemason, manual labourer,sociali
st
secretary,soldier,journalistandEdi t
orbeforebecomi ngaPr i
meMi nist
er.
 Hef ormedt heFasci stpar tyin1919underabackgr oundofchaosanddi sorderi
n
Ital
y.
FascistPar ty
 I twasf ormedbyMussol i
ni in1919.
 Thepar tywasmadeupoft hugs,unempl oyedandex -soldiers.
 Thepar tyusedasy mbol off ascesasasi gnofaut hor i
tyandpower( symbol was
deriv
edf rom Anci entRome) .
 Member swor ebl ackuni f orms.
 For medapr i
vatear mycal l
edBl ackShirt
si n1920
Thef ascistsloganswer e:
i
. Bel i
ev e,obey ,fi
ght
ii
. Mussol iniisalway sr i
ght
i
ii
. Wari stot hemal ewhatchi ldbear i
ngist othef emal e
iv
. Ami nut eint hebat tl
efiel
diswor thal i
feti
meofpeace
v
. Themanwhohasi ronhasbr ead
vi
. Bay onet st urnideasi ntorevolut
ions
v
ii
. I fIgof orwar dfol lowme, i
fIgobackki llme, ifIdieav engeme
vi
ii
. Bet teronedayasal i
onthan100y earsasasheep.
 TheFasci st sbelievedi nact i
on.Theyt ookact i
onagai nstst rikers,
brigandsand
hool i
gans.
 Thei ractionsagai nstst riker searnedthem suppor tofl andlor dsandi ndustri
ali
sts.
 Theydest royedPeasantLeaguessetupbycommuni sts.
 Communi st sandsoci ali
st swer eattackedonst reetsandt hei rmeetingswer e
disrupted.
 TheFasci st sconduct edpol i
cewor kmor eef f
ici
entlyt hanthest at
epol i
ce.Mussol i
ni
becamet heguar antorofl awandor der.

3
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

 In1922, t heFasci stst hwar tedagener alstri

keor gani sedbyt hesoci alists.Theyburnt
downof ficesoft heAv antianddr ovet hesoci ali
stsoutoft het ownhal l
.Thisaction
wont hem popul arsuppor t.
 Consequent ly,theFasci stscapt ur etheci ti
esofMi l
an, GenoaandLi vorno.
 By1923, Mussol i
ni had26000ar medf ol
lower s.
 TheFasci st st ookpar tin1921gener al el
ectionsandwon35seat sout533seat s.
 Howev er ,el ectionr esul tscont i
nuedt odi sappoi ntMussol ini.In1922hel ostpati
ence
andpl annedt osei zepower .
TheMarchonRome
 Thiswast hef i
nal stepwhi chbr oughtMussol init
opoweri n1922
 Mussol ini demandedashar eint hegov ernmentofI taly
 Hedecl ar edt hat ,“eithert hegov er nmentwi l
lbegi vent ousorweshal ltakeit”
.
 Heor gani sedaFasci stMar chtoRome.
 Thousandsofar medBl ackShi rtsguar dedt her oadst oRomeandot herst rat
egic
places.
 Theai m oft heMar chwast osei z epubl i
cbui l
dingsandf orcet hegov ernmentt o
compl ywi thMussol i
ni '
sdemands.
 ThePr imeMi nisteradv i
sedt heKi ngt odecl areast at eofemer gencyanduset he
armyandpol icet ocr ashMussol ini'
sFasci sts.
 Howev er ,t heKi ngwasagai nstthepl an.Hehopedf oracoal it
iongov ernmentwi th
Mussol ini.
 ThePr imeMi nisterr esi gned.
 TheKi ngt heni nvitedMussol initobecomePr imeMi nister.
 Het rav elledt oRomef r
om Mi l
anbyt rain
 Theref or e, thesocal ledMar chonRomewaspeacef ull
yconcl uded.
 On29Oct ober1922, Mussol i
ni becameI taly'
sy oungestPr imeMi nisteratt heageof
39.

Reasonsf orthesuccessesofMar chonRome

Thegov ernmentsur renderedt oMussol i
ni because:
 Thegov ernmentwast ooweakt of ightt heFasci sts.Theweaknesswasduet osocio-
economi candpol i
tical chall
engesf acingt hegov ernment .
 Thegov ernmenti t
sel fsympat hisedwi thMussol ini.
 Theki ngt houghtt hatt heFasci stwoul dpr ov i
deast ronggov ernmentcapableof
restori
ngl awandor deri nthecount ry.
 Thear myandt hepol i
cewer ef rustratedwi ththest ateofaf f
airssuchthattheydid
notwantt of i
ght .
 Theki ngr efusedt ouset hear myt ost opt heBl ackShi rt
sbecausehehopedf ora
coaliti
ongov ernmentwi t
hMussol ini.
 Theki ngf earedt hatr esistancet otheBl ackShi rtswoul dleadtoaci vi
lwar .
 TheKi ngf earedl osinghi st hronet ohi scousi n( DukeofAost a)whowassuppor terof
Fascism.
 TheQueenMot her
,Mar gher i
tawasasuppor t
erofMussol ini
.
 TheFasci st
shadt hesuppor toft hePope.
 Fasci stshadsuppor tfrom influent ialmember sofI tali
ansocietyli
keindustri
ali
sts
andl andowner s.
MethodsUsedbyMussol ini toriset oPower
Violence
TheFasci st
s' BlackShi rtsat t
ackedandki lledopponent s.Thesociali
stsandt he
communi stswer ethemai ntar get.Ral l
iesofpol i
ticalopponent sweredisrupted.

Mussol
ini
'
sorator
yskil
ls
Hewasanoratororademagogue.Hehadt
heabi
l
ityt
orouseemot
ionsofpeopl
e

4
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

becausehespokef
luent
ly,
eloquent
lyandconv
inci
ngl
y.

Propaganda
Hepromi sedt odi sr egardTr eatyofVer saill
es.
Hepromi sedast abl egov ernment .
Mussolinipr omi sedmi l
itarygl ory.
Heassur edI talianst hathewoul ddest royCommuni sm andSoci ali
sm compl etel
y.
Mussolinipr omi sedt oendsoci o-economi candpol iti
cal problems.
Hispropagandat ar getedal lthediscont entedgr oupse. g.Unempl oyed,Ex-soldi
ers,
I
ndustri
alists, Landowner s, Catholi
cs, Conser vatistsandWor ker s.
Hepromi sedt odeal withissuesaf fectingdifferentgr oups:
i. I ndust riali
st s–Hepr omi sedanendt ost ri
kest hatt hreat enedtheirindustri
es
andassur edt hem ofsecur i
tyoft heirproper t
y.
ii. Wor kers-Hepr omi sedbet t
erwagesandi mpr ov edwor kingconditions.
i
ii. Landowner s-assur edt hem secur i
tyoft hei rpr oper ty.
i
v . Or dinar ypeopl e-pr omi sedt hem abet terI talythatr ecogni sestheirpri
deand
digni ty.
v . Ex -soldiers-Hepr omi sedre-admi ssioni ntot hear my .
vi. Unempl oy ed–Hepr omi sedt hem empl oy ment .
v
ii. Cat holics–Hepr omi sedf reedom oft hei rreligion.
vi
ii. Monar chi st s-Mussol inipromi sedtopr eser vet hemonar chy .
i
x . Conser v atists-Mussol inipromi sedthem ol dt radi t
ional society
.

I
nti
midati
on
Fearwasintr
oducedint
oopponent
s.
Theopponentsoffasci
sm wer
easkedt
odr
inkcast
oroi
lorswal
l
owl
i
vet
oads.
 Ralli
es
 Electi
ons
 Useofslogans

Ri
seofMussol ini/St epst akenbyMussol ini torisetopower
 I
dent ifi
edhi mselfwi tht hepoorandsuppor tedSoci ali
stideasatf ir
st.
 Suppor t
edsei zureoff act ori
esbywor kersintheear lyday s.
 Hechangedsi desandst artedsuppor ti
ngweal thybusi nesspeopl e.
 Hef or medt heFasci stPar t
yin1919.
 Mussol i
ni formedapr ivatearmycal ledt heBl ackshi rt
s.
 Usedsl ogans.
 Attackedt heSoci alists.
 Bur ntdownt heof f i
cesandpr inti
ngpr essoft hesoci al
ist
s.
 Thi sgai nedhi m suppor toft heCat holi
cs,indust r
ialistsandlandowner
s.
 Her eceivedf i
nanci alsuppor tf rom them.
 Participatedi nel ect i
ons.
 Fasci stscr ashedt heGener alstrikeof1922or ganisedbyt heSociali
sts.
 Mussol i
ni tookcont rolofi mpor tantci ti
essuchasMi lan,Genoa, andLeghorn
(Li
v orno) .
 Mussol i
ni announcedhi ssuppor tfort heMonar chyi n1922.
 Fasci stsusedv iolence.
 Mussol i
ni wasgoodor ator.
 Mussol i
ni forcedpeopl et ojoint heFasci stparty.
 Forcedopponent st odr i
nkcast oroil andswal lowl i
v etoads.
 Propaganda
 Ralli
eshel pedMussol i
ni tospr eadhi spr opaganda.
 Hedemandedpowerf rom t hegov ernment .

5
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

 Mussol i
ni organisedt heMar chonRomet osei
zepower.
FascistOffi
cial
s
Ross( HeadofPr essBur eau),
Bottai(Mini
sterofCor por at
ions),
Stefani(Fi
nanceMi nister),
CountVol pi(
FinanceMi nist
er )
,
Gal eazzoCiano( Forei
gnMi nist
er,Mini
sterofPr
essandPropaganda)
,
ArturoBocchini(LeaderofOVRA)

Mussoli
ni’
sDomest i
cPol i
cy/Consol
idationofPower
/Establ
ishmentofFascist
Di
ctator
shiporTot ali
tar
ianstate
Pol
it
icalRefor
ms
ArceboLawof1922
 Thel awgav eapartywi t
hmaj or
it
yvot
esinanyelecti
ontwo-t
hirdsofseat
sin
theChamberofDeput ies.
 I n1924el ecti
onstheFasci st
swonmajori
tyvotes.Thi
senabl
edt hem t
ofast
trackanybillt
hroughpar l
iament.

Pr
essCensor ship
 Pr i
vateori ndependentmedi awasbanned.
 Medi awasor deredtopr i
ntpro-f
asciststories.
 Opposi t
ionmedi awasei t
herbannedorhadt heiredi
tor
sr epl
acedwith
Fascisteditor
s.
 Fasci stpresswasest abli
shedundert heleadershipofMussol i
ni'
sbr
other
.
 Theat re,fi
lmsandr adioswer ealsocont r
olled.
 Jour nali
sm wasr estri
ctedtoFasci st
sonl y.
 Cr i
ti
cism ofMussol inii
nt hemedi aandChamberwasf orbidden.
 Asar esultmostofnon- FascistquittheChamberofDeput i
es.

BannedPolit
icalParti
es
 Al l
polit
icalpar
tieswerebannedexceptt heFasci stpart
y .
 Thebancameasar esultofatt
emptsonMussol ini'
sli
fe.
 Ital
ybecameaonepar tystatewithMussol i
niasDeuce( l
eader)
.
 Opponent sofFascism wer etakentoLipariIsl
ands( exi
le)
.
 BlackShi rt
skil
ledFascistsopponents.Mat t
eotiandAmendol awer
e
murderedforopenlycrit
ici
singtheFascists.
 Opponent sofFascism wer eforcedtodrinkcastoroilandswal l
owli
vet
oads.

Mussol
init
ookchar
geofal li
mportantmini
str
ies.
 Conver
tedtheBlackshi
rt
sint
oaper manentFasci
star
mycall
edVolunt
eer
Mil
it
ia.
 I
tsworeall
egiancetoMussoli
ni.
 I
tsmaintaskwast oensuret
hatMussoli
niremainedi
npowerfor
ever

Rul
edbyDecr ee
- In1926Mussoli
niwasgivenpowert
opassanylawwit
houtconsul
ti
ngthe
Chamber.
Asaresul
t,t
hefewremai
ningopponent
sofFasci
sm r
esi
gnedfr
om theChamberof
Deputi
es.

BannedFreeTr adeUnions
AFascistLabourFrontwassetupt
olooki
ntol
abouri
ssues.

OVRA

6
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

Thiswasasecretpoli
cecreatedt ohuntdownFasci
stenemi
es.OVRAoper
ated
every
where.
Fasci
stGrandCouncil
 ItwasheadedbyMussol ini.
 Madeal limpor
tantdecisions.
 Tookov ertheroleofChamberofDeput i
es.
 Nomi natedpar
liamentarycandidat
es.

Propaganda
Usedtomaket hepeopl
esupportt
heregi
me.
Promotedthr
oughthepress,
radi
o,ci
nema,wal
lpost
ersandschool
s.

 Setupacommi tteet or eformt heconst i

tution.
 Abol ishedLocalgov er nment sr unbyel ectedmay or
sandcounci
ls.
Townswer enowbei ngr unbyFasci stof fi
cialsf r
om Rome.
Soci
alReforms/ Policy
Mussol
inii
ntroducedt hef oll
owi ngsoci al r
ef orms:
 Wor kinghour swer er educedt o8hour s.
 TheLabourChar terof1927pr oclai
medheal th, unemploy
mentandacci
dent
insurancef orwor ker s.
 Annual hol
idaysf orwor kerswi thpaywer eintroduced.
 Wor kersalsobenef i
tedf rom soci alsecur it
yandf r
eeSunday
s.
 Theat refacili
ti
eswer epr ovi
dedf orpeopl e'
sl eisure.
 Healthser vicesimpr oved
Forex ampl einfantmor tali
tyratewasr educedandcasesofTBandMal ari
adecl
i
ned.

Bat
tl
eofBir
ths
 Encour agedhi ghbi rthr at
e.
 Largef ami l
iesrecei vedst at
eassi stance.
 Present edmedal st omot herswi t
hmanychi l
dren(Motheroft
heYearaward)
.
 Beli
ev edt hatov erpopul ati
onwasusef ul i
njusti
fyi
ngItal
y'
sneedf
orcoloni
es.
 Bachel orshadt opayt axtoencour aget hem tomar r
y.
 Divorcewasout lawed( i
ll
egal).
 Newl ywedsr eceivedl oansf r
om thegov ernment.
 Abortionandcont racept i
veswer ebanned.
 Adulteryandabor t
ionwer eil
legal
.

Spor
ts
 Sportwascont rolledbythestat
e.
 Mussoliniencouragedsuccessi nspor
tstodemonst
rat
esuper
ior
it
yof
Fascism.
 Fascist
scont r
olledOlympi cGamesCommi t
tee.
 Boxingwasr egar dedasani mport
antsport.
 Tennisplayerswer eorderedtowearBlackshi
rts
 Regardedwomenasi nferi
ortomen.

Educat
ionPoli
cy
 Educati
onwaspr o-f
ascist.
 Thegov ernmentcloselysuperv
isededucati
on.Itcamedirectl
yunderthe
Fasci
stPar t
y.
 Chil
drenwer eencouragedt ocr
iti
ci
seteachers.
 Teachershadt owearuni for
ms.
 Teachersandpr ofessorsweretosignanoathofl oy
altyt
ot heFasci
stpart
y.
 Newt extbookswer ewritt
entoglori
fyt
heFascistsystem.

7
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

 TheCurri
culum waschangedt osuitFascism.
 Emphasiswasputonpat ri
oti
sm andobedi ence
 Chi
ldr
enwer etaught
,"Mussoli
ni i
salway sright.
"
 Chi
ldr
enwer eencouragedtojoinFascistYout hOrgani
sations.
 I
ndoctr
inat
ionofchil
dreni.
e.teachingchildrentolovefascism

TheLat
eranTr eaty,1929
 Si gnedbet weenMussol i
niandt hePope.
 Endedhost il
it
ies( dif
f erences)bet weent heCat hol
icChur chandt hestat
e.
 ThePoper ecognisedt heI t
alianst ateandMussol i
ni r
ecognisedt he
Pope'saut horityov ert heVat icanCi tystate.
 Cat hol i
ci
sm becamet hest ater el
igion.
 Rel i
giouseducat ionwasl eftinthehandsoft heCat holi
cChur ch.
 Thechur chaccept edcompensat ionf orpropertyacquiredearlierbythe
I
tali
anst atedur ingI tali
anUni f i
cation.
 Thechur chwasexempt edfrom pay ingt ax.
 Mar ri
agesi ntheCat hol i
cChur chwer erecognisedbyl aw.
 Thecr ucifi
xwaspl acedi nallschool s.
 Cat hol i
corgani sationswer eal l
owedt ooper atewithouthindrancefrom
thestate.
 Thet reatygav eMussol init
otal controlov erallci
ti
zens.

 Yout
hBr
igades

I
n1926al awwaspassedwhi chmadeitcompul
sor
yforal
lchi
l
drent
ojoi
nthe
Fasci
stYouthBrigade.
TheFascistBr
igadesindoct
ri
natedt
olovewarandt
aughtsl
oganswhi
chglor
if
ied
Mussoli
niandv i
olence.

NameofFasci
stBr
igade AgeGr
oup

Sonsoft
heshewol
f 4-
8year
s

Bal
i
ll
a 8-
14y
ear
s

Vanguar
d 15-
18y
ear
s

YoungFasci
sts 19-
21y
ear
s

Economi
cpoli
cy
 Hiseconomi
cpol
i
cywasdr
ivenbyaut
arky
/sel
fsuf
fi
ciency

Cor
por
ateSt
ate

 Itorgani seduni onsandempl oyersint

ocor porati
ons.
 Thest at ewasr epresentedineachoft hecor porati
ons
 Establishedt opr omot ecooper ati
onbetweenwor kersandempl oyer
s.
 Eachi ndust ry(e.g.manuf actur
ing,agri
cultur
e, f
il
m maki ng)hadit
sown
corporat ion.
 Thecor porationswer eundertheMi ni
stryofCor porati
ons.
 TheMi nisterwasanswer abl
etoMussol ini.
 Wor kersandempl oyersweretosuppor ttheinterestsofthestat
ebefor
e
thei
rs.
 Stri
kes, lockout sandcl asswar far
ewer eforbidden.
 Tradeuni onswer ebanned.

8
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

 Disputeswer esolv
edbycompul soryarbit
rati
on.
 TheCor porati
onsfixedwagesandwor kinghour s.
 TheFasci stUnionwast hesoleLabouruni on.
 Theuni onr egulat
edwages, conditi
onsofwor kandwor ki
nghour s.
 Local unionsofwor kersandempl oyers'associati
onswer eorganisedi
nto
corporations.
 Thecor por at
ionsfellunderNati
onal CouncilofCorporati
ons.
 Wor kersnei t
herownednorcont roll
edt heindustri
es.
 Mussol ini'
saim wast ocontrolt
hewor kersandt heproduction.
I
ndust
ry
 Reducedcont roloveri ndustri
es.
 Corporatet axwasr educedi nordert ostimul ateoratt
ractinvest
ment.
 I
ndust r
ywasgi vensubsi di
esbyt hegov ernment .Thisresult
edinincr
easei
n
i
ronandst eelproduct ion.
 Telephonecompani eswer er estoredtopr ivatecompani es.
 Statemonopol yov erinsurancecompani eswasended.
 Tourism wasencour agedbyconst ructi
onofanci entbuil
dings.
 I
ndust r
ieswhi chmanuf act
ureweapons, air
cr aft
sandv ehicl
eswere
promot ed.Thiscr eatedempl oyment .
 Hydro-electri
cpowergener ati
onwasst ar t
ed.

Bat
tl
eforLi
ra
 Mussol i
nir
eval
uedt
heLi
ra
 Anat t
emptwasmadetostrengt
hent
hel
i
rabycont
rol
l
ingwagesand
i
nfl
ati
on.

Negativeef fectsofrevaluationoft helir

a
i
. I tali
anex portsbecameex pensive
ii
. Or dersofI t
ali
angoodsdecr eased.
i
ii
. Wageswer ereduced.
i
v. Thenumberoft our i
stsdecl i
ned.
Agr
icul
tur
e ( Battl
eforWheat /Grain)
 Far mer swereencour agedtoconcent rateonwheatpr oductiontopromote
selfsuf fi
ci
ency
 TheBat tl
eforGr aininvolveddestructi
onofv i
neyardsandol iveorchards
whi chhadt akeny earst ogrow.
 Apr ogrammeofl andr eclamationwasl aunchedwhi chinvol
v eddrai
ningof
mar shes,i
rri
gati
ngandpl ant i
ngofforestsinmount ainareas.
 Fer ti
li
serwasmanuf act uredonal argescalef orusei nrecl
aimedmar sh
lands.
 Dest r
oyedpeasantl eaguessetupbysoci al
ists,

Posi
ti
veresul
tsofBat t
leforGrain
i
. Reducedwheati mpor t
s.
ii
. Gr ainproducti
onincreasedbetween1922and1939.
i
ii
. I nt
roducti
onofuseofmachi neinagri
cult
ure.
i
v. I mprovedmet hodsofagr i
cul
tur
ewer eused.
v. Mor el
andf oragri
cult
urebecameav ail
abl
e.
vi
. Foodsuppl yi
ncreasedinItal
y

Negat
iveresult
sofBat tl
ef orGrai
n
i
. Ot herformsofagr icult
urewer
eneglect
ed
ii
. Costofgr ainremainedv er
yhi
gh.
i
ii
. Thecl i
mat einsouthItal
ywasbet
tersuit
edt
ogr
azi
ngandor
char
dst
han
growingwheat .

9
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

i
v. Wagesofagri
cult
ural
worker
sfell
v. Theri
chremainedwit
hplent
yoflandbutthepoorremai
nedl
andl
ess.
v
i. Wheatcouldhavebeenboughtatcheaperpr
icef
rom t
heUSA.
Publ
icworks
 Thi swascar riedoutt or educeunempl oy mentandi mpr oveItaly’
s
i
nf rast ruct ur e.
 Thi si nv olved:
 Bui l
di ngofmot orway s.
 Dr ainingofPont i
neMar shes.
 Const ruct i
onofbr idges, bl ocksoff l
ats, canal sandr ailwaylines, schools,
hospi talsandspor tsst adi ums.
 Const ruct i
onofhi stor ical archaeol ogical buildingsandnat ional museumsi n
Rome
Achievement si nDomest i
cPol icy /Benef itsofMussol ini’sDomest i
cPol i
cy
 Peaceandor derr etur nedt oI taly.
 Ast abl egov er nmentwasest ablishedi nI taly
.
 St ri
keswer eout lawed.Thi sbr oughtst abilit
yt oi ndust ryandeconomy .
 TheLat eranTr eat yendedt heconf l
ictbet weent hest at eandt heChur ch.Thi s
fost er eduni t
y .
 Unempl oy mentwasr educed.
 Foodsuppl yi ncr eased.I talybecamesel f-
sufficient .
 Wel f areofwor ker si mpr ov edt hr oughsoci alsecur i
ty,annual hol i
daywi thpayand
reducedwor kinghour s.
 Heal thi mpr ov edi .
e.mor talityr atedecr eased.
 St andar dofl i
fei mpr ov edt hroughpr ov isionofl eisur ef acil
iti
es.
 Banni ngofcommuni st sandsoci ali
st sgav esecur ityt othei ndust ri
alistsand
Cat hol ics.
 Mar riageswer epr eser v edt hrought hebanni ngofdi v orces.
ProblemsofMussol ini '
sDomest icPol i
cy/NonBenef i
t sofMussol ini’sDomest icPol i
cy
 Mussol ini hadnor espectf ordemocr acyandhumanr i
ght s.
 Peopl ehadnof reedom.
 Peopl el ivedi nper pet ual fearoft hef asci sts.
 Di srespect edi ndi vidual liber ty.Thest atewasmor ei mpor tantt hant heindi vi
dual
inter est .
 Bat t
lef orwheatwasdoneatt heex penseofot herpr oj ects( i
.e.itinvolvedt he
dest r uct ionofv i
ney ardsandol iveor char dswhi chhadt akeny earstogr ow) .
 Pr esscensor shi pbl ockedf r eedom ofexpr ession.
 Onepar tyst at edepr i
v edpeopl eofchoi ce.
 Opponent soff asci sm wer eki ll
ed.
 Mussol ini disrespect edwomen.Her egar dedt hem asbabymaki ngmachi nes.
 Wor ker swer edeni edi ndependentt radeuni ons.
 Wor ker s'wageswer et ool ow.
 Cor r
upt edt hey oungones' mi ndsbygl orifyingv iol ence.Thi scr eatedav i
olentand
aggr essi vey out h.
 Educat ionsy stem waspr o-f ascistandbi ased.
 Noheal thi nsur ance.
 Embez z l
ementormi suseofpubl i
cf undswascommon.
 Unempl oy mentwasnotcompl etel ywi pedout .Af terGr eatDepr essionunempl oyment
roset o1. 1mi lli
on.
 Di scr i
mi nat ionofJews.

Concl
usi
ononMussoli
ni'
sDomest
icPoli
cy
Al
lin al
l
,Mussol
ini
'
sr efor
ms were meantt
o per
pet
uat
e Fasci
stdi
ctat
orshi
p.Fasci
st

10
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

propagandapopul arisedt her egime.Thel ittl

ebenef itstot hepeopledidnotmakef or
widespreadv i
olat i
onofhumanr ights.Ther ewasl it
tlepr ogresstowardshappi er
,mor e
prosperousandf reerl i
fef orordinarypeopl e.Consequent l
yFasci sm hadtotalcontr
olover
al
laspect s ofl i
fe and t his hamper ed cr eati
vi
tyand f reedom ofexpr ession.Mor eso
parti
cipat
orygov ernment( democr acy)wasputi nintensivecar e.
Mussol i
ni'
sForei gnPol icy
Mussol i
nivi
ewedhi msel fasasuccessort ot heCaesarandnothi simmediatepredecessors.
AimsofMussol ini’
sf or eignpol icy
a.TomakeI t
alygr eat .
b.TomakeI t
alyr espect ed.
c. TomakeI t
alyf ear ed.
d.Todomi nateMedi terr
aneanSea.
e. Toex t
endI t
aly ’
scol oni
esi nAf rica.
f. Todisregar dt heVer saill
esTr eat y.
 Ver sail
lesTr eat y :Mussol inidet est
edorhat edt heVer sai
ll
esTreat
yfornotgi v
ing
It
aly:
Dal mat i
a, Adal i
a,Corf u,Albaniaandmandat es.

CorfuIncident ,
1923
o Thi si nvolvedI talyandGr eece.
o Thepr oblem wasbr oughtaboutbyt hemur deroff ourI tal
iannat ionalson
Greeksoi lbyunknownassai l
ants.
o TheseI t
al i
answer eamongacommi ssionsentt odr awaf rontierli
neor
boundar ybet weenGr eeceandAl bani a.
o Mussol i
ni decidedt ouset hi
sincidentasanoppor tunitytocr eateFascist
gloryandt riumph.
Hesentanul ti
mat um toGr eecedemandi nganapol ogy,asal ut etot heItali
anflag,an
enquir
ybyGr eecewi ththeassi stanceofanI tal
ianof fi
cial andt hepay mentofal arge
repar
ationi.e.compensat ionof50mi ll
ionl i
ra.
 Gr eecer efusedt oacceptt hedemandsoft heul ti
mat um anddenouncedt hem
asout r
ageousandv i
olatingthesov ereigntyofGr eece.
 Mussol i
ni seizedt heGr eekIslandofCor fu.
 Gr eeceappeal edt ot heLeagueofNat ions.
 Mussol i
ni refusedt ocooper atewi tht heLeagueofNat i
ons.
 Themat terwasr eferredt otheConf er enceofAmbassador s.
 Acommi ssionofenqui r
ywassentt oi nvest i
gatet hei ssue.
 Thi scommi ssi
onpr esent editsrepor twi thouthav ingdi scov eredwhowas
guilt
yoft hemur der s.
 TheConf erenceofAmbassador st henor der edGr eecet opay50mi l
li
onl i
ra.
 Theamountwaspai dandI t
ali
anf orceswi thdrewf rom Cor fu.
 I n1924Mussol inicamet oanagr eementwi t
hYugosl av i
abywhi chItaly
gainedFi ume.

Locar
noPact
,1925
 Mussol
inisi
gnedtheLocar
noPactwhi
chagreedt hat:
i
. Germany '
sfront
ier
swithFr
anceandBel
gium shouldbemaint
ainedf
orev
er.
i
i
. TheRhinelandshouldr
emainper
manentl
ydemi l
it
arised.

Kel
l
og-
BriandPact
 Italysignedthi
spactoragreementwhi chr
enouncedwarasawayofsol vi
ng
internati
onalprobl
ems.
 Kel l
ogg-Bri
andPact,al
socalledthePactofPari
sand,moreformally
,the
Tr eatyfort
heRenunciat
ionofWar ,wasamul t
il
ater
alt
reat
ysignedby15
nat i
onsi nPari
sonAugust27, 1928.Thetr
eatywassponsoredanddr af
tedby
U. S.Secret
aryofStat
eFrankB.Kel l
oggandForeignMi
nist
erArist
ideBriand

11
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

ofFr ance.
 TheKel logg-Bri
andPacthadi t
sgenesi sinthei nter
national
ant i
warand
disarmamentconf erencesheldint he1920si nt heaft
er mat
hofWor l
dWarI .
I
n1927, BriandsuggestedthattheU.S.andFr anceabol i
shthepossibi
li
tyof
warbet weent hem.Kell
oggex pressedt heU.S.desiretocastt heproposali
na
gener altr
eatyamongal lworl
dpower s.Asar esultofthenegot i
ati
onsthat
foll
owed, thepactboundi t
ssignatoriestorenouncewarasani nstr
umentof
nationalpolicyandtosettl
einternati
onaldi
sput esbypeacef ulmeans.

DisarmamentConf er ence
 Mussol i
ni par tici
patedindisar
mamentconf er
enceswhi chsoughtgeneral
disar
mament .
 Between1923and1934hef ol
lowedamor ediplomati
cf orei
gnpolicy
.
 Thusdur ingt hisperiodhecooper at
edwi t
hBrit
ainandFr ance.Thisgavean
impressiont hathewasoneoft heLeagueofNat i
ons’
pill
arofstrengt
h.
 In1934Mussol i
nisuppor
tedtheAust r
iansagainstNaziaggressi
onand
thwartedHi tler ’
sat t
emptofunitingGermanyandAust ria(anschl
uss).
St
ressaFront,
1935
 Mussol i
ni renewedLocar noobligati
onswi t
hBritai
nandFr ance.

I
nvasi
onofAbyssni
a/Ethi
opi
a,1935
 Mussol
i
ni i
nvadedanddefeat
edEt
hiopi
ain1935.

Reasonsf orinv adi

ngEt hiopia:
a)Tor emov et
hest igmaof1896Bat tl
eofAdowa.TheI t
ali
anarmywas
defeat edatthi
sbat tl
ebyt heEthi opianarmy.
b)Toenl ar geI
tal
ianempi rebylinkingEt hi
opiawit
hItal
y'
sexisti
ngcoloni
esof
Somal iaandEr it
rea.
c) Togetl andforreset t
li
ngItali
ans.
d)Cr eatingempl oymentf orItal
i
ansi .
e.peoplewouldbeempl oyedassol
dier
s.
e)Tobr ingFascistgl ory.
f) Tocr eat emarketsf orItal
i
angoods.
g)Toacqui rer
awmat eri
als.
h)Todi vertpubli
cat tentionfrom thef ail
uresathome.

Ev
ent
sofi
nvasi
onofEt
hiopi
a

 Mussol i
ni usedoasi sat t
ack( 30I tal i
ansoldi erswer ekill
ed)asan
excusetoat t
ackEt hiopia.
 Mussol i
ni demandedcompensat ionf r
om Et hiopia.
 Ethi
opianEmper or,Hai l
eSel l
aiseappeal edt ot heLeagueofNat i
ons.
 TheLeaguet ri
edt onegot iatewi tht hetwocount riestoav oi
dwar .
 Meanwhi le,Mussol iniwaspour ingt roopsint oEthiopia.
 Negotiati
onsf ail
edandMussol ini launchedaf ul
lscaleinvasi
onof
Ethi
opia.
 TheLeaguecondemnedI tal
yandi mposedeconomi csanct i
onsonher.
 Oil
,steelandi ronwer eexcl udedf rom sanct i
ons.
 Moreso, Ger many ,JapanandUSAdi dnotr espectt hesanct i
ons.
Thesecount r
iescont inuedt otradewi thIt
aly .Thereforesancti
ons
werelessef fecti
v e
 It
ali
anAr mywasheadedbyGener al DeBono.
 Mussol i
ni appealedf orsuppor tf rom t heItalians.
 Peoplesuppor t
edt hewaref fortbygi v
ingv aluablepossessionslike
j
ewellery.
 TheItali
anar myusedai rpower , poi sonousgasandmechani sed

12
THERI
SEOFDI
CTATORSHI
PINEUROPE(
ITALY&GERMANY)

equipmentt osubdueEthiopians.
 Adowawascapt ur
ed.
 GeneralBadogl i
orepl
acedDeBonoanddef eat
edtheEthi
opianar
my
atthebattl
eofLakeAshi ngiin1936.
 It
alycomplet edherconquestofAby ssi
nia.
 TheEt hi
opianEmper orfl
ed.
 AddisAbabawascapt uredandt heKingofItal
ywasprocl
aimed
emper orofEt hi
opi
a.
 InJuly1936t heLeaguelift
edt hesanct
ionsimposedonItal
y.

Spani
shCi
vi
lWar
,1936

 Thewarwasf oughtbet
weenNati
onali
strebelsandtheRepubli
can
Gover
nment .
 Mussoli
nisentar
myt ohel
pGeneralFr
ancof orm aFasci
stdi
ctat
orshi
pin
Spai
n.
 Gener
alFrancoandhisNati
onal
i
strebel
swon.

Rome- Berl
inPact,1936
SignedbetweenGer manyandItaly
.Mussoli
niagr
eednottoint
erfer
ewithNazi
mov ementinAustria.
Thet wocountri
esagreedtosupporteachotheri
ncaseofaggressi
on.Ger
many
recognisedIt
aly
'sconquestofEthi
opi
a.

Ant
i-
Comi
nter
nPact/Rome-
Ber
li
n-Toky
oAxi
s,1937

Si
gnedbyGer
many
,It
alyandJapan.Thesepower
swer
eagai
nstcommuni
sm.

 Mussol i
ni wal kedoutoft heLeagueofNat ionsin1937
 Mussol i
ni gav eagoaheadt oGer man’ suni onwi thAust ria
 PactofSt eel ,1939: Itwasami l
it
aryal li
ancebet weenMussol i
niandHi t
ler
 I nv asi onofAl bani a1939.
Mussolini'sachi ev ement si nFor eignPol i
cy
 Hebr oughtaddi tional territor
yt oItalye. g.EthiopiaandAl bania.
 Mi li
tar ygl oryi nCor fu,Et hiopia,SpainandAl bania.
 Cr eat edmar ket sf orItali
angoodsi nconquer edlands.
Fai
lur
esi nFor eignPol icy
 Di dnotr eal isehi sgoal ofmaki ngI talygr eatandf eared.
 Mi li
tar yadv ent uresi nEt hiopiaandSpai nwer ecost l
ytoI tal
yfinancial
lyandint er
ms
ofhumanl ife.
 Et hi opi awasofl i
ttleeconomi cbenef i
tandpr ovedt obeabur dent oItal
y.
 Hi sdr eam ofr ev i
v ingtheCaesar eaner awasaf i
asco.
 Sanct ionst houghl essef fectiveaffect edt heeconomyofI t
aly.
 Hi swi thdrawal f
rom t heLeagueofNat i
onsandi nvolvementi nSpani shCivilWarcost
himt hef ri
endshi pofBr itainandFr ance.
 Hi sassoci ationwi thHi tl
erpr ecipit
at edt heSecondWor l
dWarwhi chcont ri
butedto
hisdownf all.
Summar yofMussol ini'
sFor eignPol i
cy
 Mussol inimanagedt oacqui readditional terri
tori
esf orItalybutatahi ghcost.His
aggr essi oni nEt hiopi a,inv olv
ementi nSpai nandwi t
hdrawal f
rom theLeagueof
Nat ionshi ghl ightedhi sshor t
comi ngsandmi scalcul
ations.Hence, hisdream of
rev i
v ingt heCaesar eaner awasanut opi aoradr eam.Thust heloudmout hedCaesar
prov edt obenot hi ngbutapapert i
ger .

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