Rise of Totalitarianism: Italy

1
Rise of Totalitarianism Italy

• The Italian Fascist Experience

2
Italy Ripe for Change

• Versailles
• Land Cheated
• Weak Government (Orlando Vs. Giolitti)
• Inflation/Unemployment

Giovanni Giolitti (1842-1928)
Facta
Premier Vittorio Orlando
Was appointed to the position of Prime Minister
of Italy five times between 1892 and 1921. He
was unsuccessful in keeping Italy out of World
War I
Heading a divided cabinet and lacking personal
courage, he failed to take decisive action when
the Fascists marched on Rome (October 28), even
though the chief of staff and the military
commandant of Rome were prepared to quell the
impending insurrection. Pressured by Liberal
leaders, Facta at the last moment proposed to
proclaim a state of siege and order the army to
protect the government. The king, however,
refused to sign the decree, in order to avoid
civil war. Facta was forced to resign in favour
of Mussolini. He made no open opposition to
Fascism, and Mussolini nominated him as senator
in 1924.
3
Benito Mussolini (Il Duce)

• Rise of Fascism in Italy
• Basic Ideas

• exalts nation and sometimes race above the
  individual
  
• uses violence and modern techniques of propaganda
  and censorship to forcibly suppress political
  opposition. For militarism of the state and the
  army
• Against Democracy
• Against Marxism
• engages in severe economic and social
  regimentation
  
• engages in corporatism
• implements totalitarianism
• No Immutable Beliefs

4
How Did He Take Over?

• Conditions in Economy and Government
• Rise of Communism
• Appeal of Nationalism
• Leadership of Mussolini
• March on Rome (Black Shirts)
• Governments response
• Initial Actions
• Acerbo Law 25-66
• Assassinations

5
Italy Under Fascism

• Government Il Duce, No dissent
• Bureaucracy
• Corporate State
• Labor
• Industry
• Religion Lateran Pacts (1926 - 1929)
• Pope sovereign ruler of Vatican
• Italy pays for Papal states
• Catholicism is state religion.

6
Italy Under Fascism

• Militaristic Nationalism
• Lack of Raw MaterialsMare Nostrum
• Initial steps
• Ethiopia
• Warning

• Rome Berlin Axis
• Spanish Civil War

7
A Fascist Detour Spain

• Dictator in Spain from 1936-1975
• Youngest General in any European Army in 1926
• 1931 Spanish Monarchy falls
• 1933 right-wing party gains power
• 1936 left-wing and republican parties align and
  win narrowly
  
• Franco takes command of rebellious colonial army
  in Morocco conflict degenerates into Spanish
  Civil War

8
Spanish Civil War Overview
Spanish Civil War (1936-39)
Between 500,000 and 1 million killed
Republican government (supported by some
moderates, anarchists and socialists) vs.
fascists under Generalissimo Francisco Franco
(who established rule in Spain from 1939 until
his death in 1975) Attracting volunteers to bot
h sides from around Europe and beyond (Huxley,
Hemingway, Picasso on Republican side, Salvador
Dali and many Irish Catholics on fascist side)
Mussolini and Hitler supporting Franco with
troops, Stalinists aiming to control Republican
movement
9
Spanish Civil War Events

• Manuel Azana becomes president
• Army generals launch rebellion, capture 1/3 of
  the total Spanish Territory
  
• Social revolution spreads throughout the country
• Franco named head of state by nationalists
• International volunteers join the popular front.
  Organized under the aegis of the Comintern, and
  who also sought to "make Madrid the tomb of
  fascism
• July 1938 Republicans initiate the Battle of the
  Ebro and advance into Nationalist territory.
  
• November 1938 Nationalists win the Battle of the
  Ebro, devastating the Republican army.
  
• April 1939 After weeks of fighting, Madrid
  surrenders to the Nationalists on March 27, and
  on April 1 Franco declares victory, ending the
  war.
• 1939-1975 General Franco rules Spain as caudillo
  (supreme leader) until his death on November 20,
  1975.

10
The Spanish Civil War

• Reds? liberals and moderates supporting
  democratic principles, anarchists, communists
  
• Blacks? landed elite, urban bourgeoisie, Roman
  Catholic Church, conservatives

• Francos Nationalists (conservative, favor
  centralization of power) ultimately defeat
  republicans by 1939
  
• Casualties estimated at 500,000 to 1,000,000

Scene during the Siege of Teruel, Spain, April 1
1938
11

• British Union of Fascists
• Founded by Oswald Mosley in 1932
• Modeled on Mussolini
• Anti-communist and protectionist later shifted
  heavily towards anti-semitism

• Members wore black shirts as a uniform
• October 4, 1936Battle of Cable Street between
  police backing fascist marchers and anti-fascist
  locals (e.g. Jews, communists)
  
• Violence led to Public Order Act of 1936,
  forbidding the wearing of political uniforms
  during marches and requiring police consent for
  marches (led to decline)

12
Fascisms Legacy in Italy
Jealousy of Hitlers new prestige and power
-Albania
-WW2 (France and Greece)
A movement to rehabilitate the legacy of Benito
Mussolini as an Italian hero is gathering
momentum, breaking a 50-year taboo surrounding
Italy's fascist leader.
There are now about 400 guards, volunteers who
come from all over Italy.