1. Case Study in the Rise of Fascism: Mussolini

2. Overview The disintegration of order in Italian society made possible the rise of the fascist party. These conditions were similar to those conditions present in Germany, Portugal, Greece and Spain during the rise of their respective dictatorial movements –Italy: Mussolini –Germany: Hitler –Spain: Franco –Greece: Metaxas –Portugal: Salazar

3. Economic Backdrop Large-scale post-war inflation Post-war land seizure by peasants and agricultural reorganization Agricultural prices rose from rural confusion and drop in production War debts encouraged government to devalue lire Prices rose for industrial products, but wages remained unchanged Strikes in industry and transportation –1914: 300,000 strikers in Italy –1919: 1,500,000 strikers in Italy

4. Rise of Italian Socialism Success of Bolshevik Revolution The “Communist International" unified European radical socialists Italian Socialist Party (PSI) offered industrial working class hope and power –1914: 50,000 PSI members –1919: 200,000 PSI members –1919: PSI controlled 26/69 provinces PSI controlled 156 seats in parliament Largest political party in Italy Socialist rise frightened upper classes Socialist rise frightened conservative middle and lower class members Socialist party seen as encouraging strikes

5. Public Disillusionment with WW1 Italy failed to receive all of expected land from WWI, especially Fiume on Adriatic Sense of betrayal of Treaty of London (secret 1915 treaty: Italy to join Allies in exchange for land) Massive war debt incurred Large war death toll

6. Class Antagonism Blue-collar wage stagnation bred hatred of upper class Upper-class feared national paralysis from strikes Unemployed youths blamed situation on upper classes and socialists

7. Weak Government Government unable to curtail strikes through politics Government unable to maintain stable currency Government unable to curtail independent political groups –1919: D'Annunzio occupation of Fiume (and actually declared an independent Fiume!) –1919-1922: Mussolini's organization of Black Shirts

8. Rise of Mussolini Originally a socialist newspaper writer, he switched to oppose socialists Offered stability and order to those who feared chaos Offered "approved" outlet for discontented youths: “The Black Shirts” paramilitary organization Offered working class alternative to economic collapse (scapegoat: socialists and weak government) Offered upper classes an alternative to socialism (scapegoat: strikers and socialists)

9. Rise of Mussolini Victor Emmanuel III had power to name prime minister Mussolini offered solution to chaos (and threatened to take power by force) Offered nation direction for growth in self-worth: return to glory of ancient Rome Used Black Shirts to gain power "leverage“ through intimidation, murder Used social disapproval of socialists to excuse brutal attacks upon his opposition October 1922 “March on Rome” led VE to name Mussolini prime minister