Fascism and anti-Semitism

In the mid 1920s-30s how many Jews were in Italy?

50,000

What was Mussolini's stance on Hitlers anti-Semitic polices in the mid 1920s-30s?

He criticised them

What comments did Mussolini occasionally make about Jews?

Ideological racism- criticised Jews for beliefs or actions and attacked Jews as inherently inferior

In 1938 how many Jews were members of the PNF?

10,000

Who were the two Jewish government ministers?

Finzi, Interior Undersecretary and Member of the Fascist Grand Council (1922-24)
Jung finance minister (1932-35)

Who was a Fascist who was anti-Semitic even before the race laws?

Roberto Farinacci

What did Mussolini state about Jews in 1932?

Jews 'have always behaved well as citizens and fought courageously as soldiers'

Did Mussolini have the same hatred as Hitler for Jews?

No as he himself had a Jewish mistress

Who was Mussolini's Jewish mistress?

Margherita Sarfatti

How many Jewish mistresses did Mussolini have?

2

Which leading Fascist had close ties with the Jewish community?

Italo Balbo

How many German Jewish refugees did the regime allow to enter the country to escape from Nazi persecution?

3000

What did the war in Abyssinia confirm in the Fascist regime?

That Fascists were a superior race

What did some Fascists argue when there was segregation between Italians and Ethiopians?

That there was an inferior race inside Italy, the Jews

What encouraged the attitudes of inferiority towards Jews in Italy?

Close relations with Nazi Germany

When Nazi racial ideas circulated around Italy what did the Duce find himself persuaded by?

That there was a Jewish influence towards Fascism both in Italy and across Europe

What did the Duce begin to see an apparent significance in anti-fascism?

There were several members of the Italian anti-fascist group 'Justice and Liberty' were Jewish

What did Mussolini deem French opposition to the Italian civil war was down to?

That their prime minister, Leon Blum, was Jewish

What did the 1936 decrees in Abyssinia declare?

The banning of the mixing of races

When was the Rome-Berlin Axis?

October 1936

When did the first clear example of Nazism appear in the Italian regime?

July 1938

What was the first clear example of Nazism in the Italian regime?

The regime gave official blessings to the claims of Italian anti-Semites by publishing a tract entitled the 'Manifesto of Racial Scientists'

What did the 'Manifesto of Racial Scientists' declare?

'The Jews do not belong to the Italian race'

What were the reasons for the racist decrees?

-Mussolini desire to keep up with Hitler and strengthen Axis
-Racist feelings developed in Abyssinia campaign
-Several Jews prominent in campaign for sanctions against Italy for invasion of Abyssinia
-Jewish opposition groups
-Fascism became more radical
Internal pressure from Fascist radicals

Who were some Jews involved in opposition groups?

Rosselli brothers

Which Fascist radicals put internal pressure on anti-semetic laws?

Farinacci

How did Fascism become more radical in the 1930s?

Reform of Customs (were attacks on bourgeoisie)
Attempts to create a 'new Fascist man'
Hostility to Bolshevism
Internationalism and materialism associated with Jews

When were the Italian race decrees?

1938

When were foreign born Jews banned from state schools?

August 1938

When were Italian-born Jews banned from state schools?

September 1938

What did the Grand council of fascism declare in October 1938?

Jews did not 'sincerely' support the regime

What were Jews excluded from membership of?

Membership of the PNF
Professional and cultural organisations

What were Jews prevented from owning?

Large companies or large-landed estates

When were Jews forbidden to marry non-Jews?

November 1938

What positions were Jews excluded from?

Posts in military and banking

What happened to foreign Jews?

They were expelled

What type of servants were Jews not allowed to have?

Aryan

What acts of violence were Jews subject to in Italy from Fascist squads?

In 1941 number of synagogues burnt down

How did Mussolini not collaborate fully with the plans of Hitler's race laws?

He did not collaborate with exterminating all the Jews of Europe and his anti-Jewish laws were inconsistent

What exemptions did the anti-Jewish laws have in Italy?

You were exempt if you had served in the Italian military in WW1 or served Fascist regime in some way

Who did Farinacci keep during the anti-Semitic laws?

His Jewish secretary

Why did many Fascist officials make little effort to enforce the laws?

As they either shared the same view of the Church that persecution was wrong or they had personal or family connections with Jewish Italians.

What did Mussolini's own sons do in the anti-Jewish laws?

Protected their own friends from persecution

What did Farinacci say about Jews in 1942?

'The Jews want to destroy us; we will destroy them'

What did a decree of November 1943 order?

The confiscation of Jewish property and the rounding up of all Jews.

After the November 1943 decree how many Italian Jews were sent to Nazi death camps in Eastern Europe?

7500 only 600 survived

How was anti-Semitism received by the Italian public?

Resented by many, unpopular as Mussolini seen as kowtowing to Hitler

What did the anti-semetic laws and the reform of customs do for the regime?

Turned many influential Italians against the regime

What was the Pope and the Kings reaction to the anti-semetic laws?

Pope publicly critical; King privately

How many university teachers were sacked due to the race laws?

1 in 12

How were the race laws not properly enforced?

In Nice 1940, they hindered Nazi attempts to deport Jews to extermination camps

What did German occupation of Italy in 1943 lead to?

9000 Jews being sent to extermination camps

What did the race laws show?

-Mussolini coming under German influence
-Harmful effects of Abyssinian campaign
-Radicalisation of Fascism in late 1930s
-Limited impact of Fascism
-Contributed to decline of Mussolini