Form 4 (Option Groups) - Causes leading to the First World War:
The Rise of Fascism:     by Louise Fiott

Fascism in Italy: October 1922 Mussolini and his Black Shirts marched on Rome from all parts of Italy

By 1943 the Fascist Party controlled the Italian State
In 1870 – Italian Unification: Italy had made little progress since then. We can mention the following reasons:

  • poverty

  • governments had done little to improve the situation

  • the Italian government was not respected by the people

  • unemployment

  • great unrest and discontent (strikes, riots, lockouts by employers,

  • violence arose all around the country, especially in the North

Origin of Fascism:

 

The EMBLEM: A bundle of rods round an axe (derived from Latin - shown in photo on the left); this was an emblem of power in ancient Rome - this power was held by the magistrate.

 

The word FASCIO: derived from Italian - meaning a group; such groups were organized to fight Socialism and Communism by violence.

 

  • fascist groups were supported by the wealthier classes who were afraid of Communism and Socialism

  • they attacked socialist and communist meetings using violence

  • Benito Mussolini was the organizer of the Milan group or fascio in 1919

  • Benito Mussolini had been a member of the socialist party till 1914

  • He left the party because it would not support the entry of Italy in the war on the side of France and Britain

  • the year 1921 saw the formation of the National fascist party

  • Political problems in Italy - great number of parties - evenly balanced - impossible for a stable government to form

  • ideal situation for a new party to gain power

On October 28 1922 fascist columns converged on the city of Rome from various parts of the country. King Victor Emanuel III and the army refused to resist them, and they entered Rome unopposed. The king then asked Mussolini to form a government and the first stage in the fascist revolution was accomplished. This was the famous March on Rome which really heralded the rise of fascism to importance in Italy. By their refusal to oppose it the king of Italy and the army showed where their true sympathies lay.

The first government of Mussolini
  • At first Mussolini continued to co-operate with other parties
  • violence still raged - elections of 1924 there were shooting incidents
  • these events strengthened the socialist party
  • Matteotti leader of the socialist party was asked to resign by Mussolini because he continuously attacked (by words) fascists
  • June 1924 - Matteotti was brutally murdered
  • Italy against Mussolini
  • Opposition Party withdrew from parliament
  • this was the point when Mussolini decided to use force in order to gain power by dictatorship thus completely suppressing the opposition
  • all opposition including newspaper offices were closed down
  • Anti fascists were arrested (sent into exile on the islands of Lipari)
  • university teachers forced to vow that they would teach according to fascist principles
THE POLICE AND THE MONARCHY DID NOTHING TO OPPOSE MUSSOLINI AND HIS FASCIST PARTY. POWER WAS NOW COMPLETELY IN THE HANDS OF ONE MAN AND HIS PARTY.

 

Mussolini is seen here with Adolf Hitler (German Nazi Dictator) during a propaganda parade when Hitler visited the italian Fascist Dictator in Rome.

 

Complete reorganization of the Italian Society:

  • Trade Unions abolished
  • Industrial corporations formed
  • Industrial Corporations take place of parliament in 1938
  • Life in Italy was based on discipline and sacrifice in the interest of the state
  • Mussolini considered war as the peak of human nature
  • the ten fascist commandments

Idea propagated was: MUSSOLINI IS ALWAYS RIGHT

Ms Louise Fiott is a History and Guidance teacher at St Joseph Junior Lyceum