Studied by 0 peopleWhat did Mussolini aim to create?
A personal dictatorship
When did Mussolini suppress opposition newspapers?
1926
When did the state run radio stations?
1924
How was propaganda introduced in cinema?
Films would be preceded by a short newsfeed which gave a fascist version of current events.
How did the Cult of Personality present Mussolini?
A new Caesar - a man of genius, action, culture, talent.
How did Austen Chamberlain describe Mussolini?
“a wonderful man working for the greatness of his country”
Did propaganda have an effect on opposition?
Yes, political opposition were deterred.
What role did the king play?
Very little. Mussolini deterred the monarchy from any political involvement
What role did government ministers play?
They had to follow Mussolini’s instructions unquestioningly.
What ministries did Mussolini hold?
Foreign affairs, interior and the three armed services
How was support for the socialists further diminished?
The electorate was reduced to exclude most of the working classes.
How far were elections rigged?
98% showed approval for the regime.
When was parliament abolished?
January 1939.
What was parliament replaced with?
The Chamber of Fasces and Corporations.
How did Mussolini keep control of the party?
He used patronage to reward loyal conservatives and introduced policies they could support.
What percentage of the civil service was fascist in 1927?
15%
Why did fascist party membership among civil servants increase in the 1930s?
Promotion came from supporting the regime
How did Mussolini gain support from the military?
Promoted senior generals and emphasises that he shared their views of an aggressive foreign policy.
How did Mussolini manipulate the judiciary?
He sacked judges who were too independent or unsympathetic to fascism.
What did Mussolini do increase control of the law courts?
Imprisonment without trial became common + Mussolini would occasionally directly interfere with the verdict.
How did Mussolini. control local government?
Elected mayors and town councils were replaced by appointed officials.
How did Mussolini consolidate relations with the Church?
1929 Lateran Agreements.
How did Mussolini consolidate relations with industrialists?
Vidoni Palace Pact of 1925 banned Catholic and socialist trade unions.
1926 - strikes outlawed.
What did Mussolini do to ensure loyalty from the squadrismo?
Creation of a militia provided paid employment for squadrismo.
How did the Grand Council of Fascism increase Mussolini’s power?
It was the supreme policy making body and Mussolini appointed all of its members.
When did Mussolini purge local parties of dissidents?
1923
When was the final party congress?
June 1925
When did Mussolini purge fascists suspected of disloyalty?
1928
When were all party posts appointed by the party headquarters which Mussolini controlled?
1928
Did Mussolini consult the Grand Council with the Lateran Agreements, the invasion of Abyssinia or the entrance to the second world war?
No
What did the squadristi want?
Continuation of violent raids
What did ex-socialists in the PNF want?
Reorganisation of industry
What did nationalists in the PNF want?
Revision of the First World War peace settlement
What did conservatives in the PNF want?
restoration of law and order and normality.
Who were the senior posts of the PNF held by?
Sycophants
What role did the PNF have?
Mussolini wanted the party to convert Italians into obedient, disciplined fascists.
The PNF had a significant role in education, leisure and propaganda.
Who was expected to sort out disputes between the party and state?
Mussolini - he received great power from this
When was the control of the Dopolavoro transferred from the Ministry of National Economy to the party?
1927
When was control of the ONB transferred from the party to the Ministry of National Education?
1929
What made the government slow and ineffective?
Disputes between party organisations and government departments.
What impact did Mussolini holding the most important ministries have?
Decisions were made without proper thought or consultation.
E.g: Mussolini chose the air force’s new fighter plane after a quick glance.
How many opponents had fascist squads killed by 1926
Around 2000
What was the name of the Fascist secret police?
OVRA
What did the OVRA do?
Beat up dissidents or try them in the OVRA court.
How many communists were there opposing fascism?
7000
What did Justice and Liberty do?
Inform international press of the repression and injustice in Italy.
When was Justice and Liberty formed?
1929
Why was opposition towards the regime ineffective?
They argued among themselves and could not form an anti-fascist front
How did Mussolini encourage cooperation from journalists?
Loyal journalists would receive extra pay in the form of government bonds.
How did Mussolini reward D’Annunzio?
He was given a generous pension and palatial villa
What did Mussolini do to control teachers?
Teachers had to join a Fascist Teachers’ Association to keep their job.
How many people could be held in an Italian prison camp?
5000
How many opponents were sentenced to confino? What was this?
12,000.
Detention or house arrest in isolated southern villages.
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