Elements of Fascism No notion of individual, but push for a

common community Extreme nationalism Favored a strong leader who

represented desires and dreams of the nation• Il Duce (Italy) and the Fuhrer (Germany)

Anti-democracyleads to corruption Anti-socialismagainst collectivization

of private property

Used paramilitary forces to suppress opposition• Only one political party in totalitarian

system Against political emancipation of

women, hated modern art, and despised Jews• Anti-semitism was key in fascist

movementsJews seen as outsiders to national identity

Is there a difference between fascism and communism?

Communism means state ownership Fascism means state control.

• Private property and business allowed, but in coordination with the state

Fascism in Italy (1922-1945)

Italy received none of the lands promised to them through the Treaty of Versailles

1919—a depression hit Italy and communists began to stir

Propertied classes feared revolution and looked to a strong leader to restore order

Benito Mussolini and the Fascists

Mussolini created the Fascist Party (mixture of nationalists and socialism)

anti-Democratic, Anti-Marxist, anti-Parlimentary and frequently anti-Semitic.

Wanted to restore the greatness of the Roman Empire

Slogan: “Believe, Fight, and Obey

Italian Fasci Di Combattimento, “Bands of Combat,” founded in 1919 in Milan.• Mostly Italian war veterans who rejected

Versailles. Lead by Mussolini

• A former socialist• Broke with socialists in 1914, in order to support

joining the war on the side of the Allies.• Nationalism replaced socialism in his personal

pantheon. Took advantage of postwar chaos.

Reasons for popular appeal of fascists

Economic distress—high inflation and unemployment

Fear of communismoverthrow of gov’t by the workers/peasants

Landowners and middle class supported fascists against communists

Weak gov’t—no political party dominatedallowed for rise of fascism

Steps to Power--The Rise of Mussolini

The Black Shirtslocal squads of terrorists to go after socialists and other perceived malcontents• Law enforcement ignored them.

In 1921 Mussolini and 34 Fascists were elected to the government.

The Black Shirt March• In October 1922, the Fascists marched on

Rome.• The Cabinet resigned in protest.

On November 23, 1922 the king and Parliament granted Mussolini (“Il Duce”)dictatorial power for one year as Premier.

Features of Gov’t--The Fascists in Power

Political Once in power, Mussolini moved cautiously

• Changed election laws in 1924, so that the party which received the largest popular vote would have two thirds of the seats in parliament.

• In the 1924 election, the Fascists won complete control of Parliament

• By 1926 Mussolini was able to rule by decree Violence and terror continued

• Late 1924 Giacomo Matteotti, a socialist leader, was murdered

Economy In the 20s and 30s, Mussolini wanted

to make Italy self-sufficientprotective tariffs

nationalized the wheat industry to prevent foreign competition in Italy– the Great Depression affected Italy anyways

Corporatism—representatives of business, labor, and gov’t worked together to settle disputes and plan the economy

Labor unions lost the right to strike

Economy cont’d. Fascist Party controlled industry,

agriculture, and trade Private ownership permitted, but

regulatedSocial Women were encouraged to have

large families Women valued as wives not workers Mussolini glorified as a father figure

Achievements Reduced unemployment Sponsored public works More efficient governing National income increased by 15%

from 1925 to 1935 The Lateran Accord of 1929 made

peace with the Vatican Pope Pius XII recognized fascism as

legitimate

Failings Destroyed democracyterrorism was

state policy Standard of living was still low to

Western Europe Efforts to restore greatness lead to

invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and eventual defeat in WWII

League of Nations imposed economic sanctions

Many postwar problems

Foreign Policy Opposed German annexation of Austria in

1935• German attempt failed, but Italy did send soldiers

to Austrian border prepared to fight Germany Italy annexed Ethiopia, a member of the

League of Nations, in 1935• League of Nations used economic sanctions

against Italy 1936 Italy and German sign Rome-Berlin

Axis—allying Hitler and Mussolini• Italy’s industrial/military production was lower than

Germany’s so stockpiling of military goods began