1. Fascism in Italy 3rd YR: Benito Mussolini

2. What was fascism? Type of government Abolished democracy
Was a dictatorship – the country under the control of one man
Extreme Nationalists – believed that all citizens must love their country
That their country should be great
Citizens must be absolutely loyal to the dictator
Hated Communism

3. Why so popular?
After WW1 Italy very disappointed with Treaty of Versailles
Growth in Nationalism – people wanted Italy to be a great power
Rise in unemployment after WW1 – democracy had failed to solve this problem
Fear of communism – people wanted a strong government to solve these problems. Fascism seemed to promise that.

4. Mussolini Born 1883 Central Italy
A socialist at start – editor of socialist newspaper
But wanted Italy to enter WW1
Joined as a soldier
Now he hated socialism

5. Setting up Fascist Party
After WW1 Italy had many problems
Unemployment – many strikes
Communist people – people hoping for communist revolution
Anger at the Treaty – felt cheated
Mussolini used these problems to set up the Fascist Party in 1919

6. Support Grows At first it was unpopular
But as Italy’s problems increased, Mussolini seemed to offer the best solution
He set up a group of followers
Called Blackshirts
They beat up communists and anyone who opposed Mussolini

7. Blackshirts Mussolini’s personal closest supporters
Named after their uniform
Fanatical about their leader
Would do anything for him
Including breaking the law

8. Who supported Mussolini?
Businessmen who were afraid of a worker’s communist revolution – financed his party
Ex-soldiers and others disappointed with the Treaty
They wanted Italy to go to invade other countries and set up an empire
Religious people – afraid of how communists were strict atheists and would forbid all religion
Unemployed people

9. Fascist election promises
To end unemployment
To create an Italian empire
To destroy communism
Very popular – elected 1921

10. March on Rome Wanted to be PM Wanted total power
He threatened to march on Rome to seize power with the Blackshirts
Unless he was made PM
The King Victor Emmanuel 111 gave in
Mussolini was made PM – the youngest ever in Italy

11. March on Rome (1922)

12. Becoming a dictator Italy was still a democracy
He wanted a dictatorship
One man in charge of everything
No one able to disobey him
So he gradually took control

13. Becoming a dictator (2) 1923 Acerbo Law
Party with most votes got total control
1924 – a socialist leader (Matteotti) was murdered
Mussolini’s enemies were scared of him
1926 All other political parties (except Fascists)
A secret police – called OVRA – set up to arrest any opponents
Trade Unions banned
Mussolini was now known as Il Duce

14. Domestic policy - propaganda
Propaganda – spreading information that makes you look great
Good news is highlighted (or even made up)
Bad news is hidden
Mussolini used propaganda to make himself popular
Advertisements and pictures showed him as a great leader
Strong, sporty

15. Propaganda (2) School history books rewritten
Children were taught ‘Mussolini is always right’
Youth movements called The Balilla set up
Very important to brainwash people as young as possible
This is called indoctrination

16. Domestic policy - jobs
In order to cut unemployment, many public schemes set up
New motorways built
Marches were drained and towns built there
Increased Mussolini’s popularity

17. Domestic policy – Lateran Pact
Italy was very Catholic, religious country
But there was a dispute with the Pope over the Vatican’s independence
Mussolini reached an agreement
Called the Lateran Pact
Vatican made an independent state
Catholicism became official religion of Italy
Mussolini became even more popular

18. Lateran Pact

19. Foreign policy Make Italy an Empire Strengthen the army
1925 Invaded Abyssinia (Now Ethiopia)
The League of Nations condemned Mussolini
Imposed a trade ban on Italy
This annoyed Mussolini
He now turned to Hitler in Germany as an ally

20. Foreign policy – befriending Germany
Both Italy and Germany were fascist countries
1936 Signed an alliance called Rome-Berlin Alliance
1939 Pact of Steel signed

21. Italy during WW2 In WW2 Italy joined on Germany’s side in 1940
Italian army very weak
Fatal mistake for Mussolini
Italy involved in North Africa and Greece
It was beaten in both places
Mussolini (now very unpopular in Italy) imprisoned
Had to be rescued by Germany

22. Italy during WW2 (2)
But in 1945 he was captured and killed by anti-fascist Italians
Body displayed in public
End of Fascism in Italy

23. Revision Qs What is Fascism – 5 points
Mussolini’s promises in election?
How did Mussolini become dictator?
What is Lateran Treary?

24. 1. What is fascism? Q1 Answer: Hated Communism Extreme Nationalists
Abolished democracy
Dictatorship – 1 leader
Unquestioning loyalty to the leader

25. Q2 Q2 Answer: To make Italy great – an Empire Create jobs
Destroy Communism

26. How mussolini became dictator
Q3 Answer: Banned all parties
Trade Unions abolished
Secret Police – OVRA
Propaganda – history books rewritten
Indoctrination

27. What was lateran treaty?
Q4 Answer: Deal with C. Church
Pope’s Vatican independent
The C. Church given compensation
Catholicism official language
Boosted Mussolini’s popularity