fascist state

what was the group that followed mussolini called?

cult of il duce

judicial killings by fascist state

9 between 1922-40

what was the average sentence of someone convicted by the fascist state?

5 years

how many people in ‘confino’?

13,000-17,000

what does ‘in confino’ mean?

exile of antifascist dissidents to remote locations to do manual labour

why can ‘confino’ not be specifically used as a criticism of the fascist state?

liberal governments also used it (although much larger under fascism)

threat of the secret police?

20,000 people a week taken away

problems faced to workers by fonfino

health issues (dust), eye damage (UV exposure)

what did mussolini do with confino in practice?

released many people before their release date, policy of ‘forgiveness‘

what did the party rely on?

fear, neighbours betraying one another - Silone

how was the abyssinian war funded?

oro alla patria

how successful was oro alla patria?

24,000 rings donated (Venice)

2262 kg of gold was collected (Italy)

mussolinis interest in economic policy - historian

‘had little understanding of the subject and not much interest’ - Mack-Smith

fascist economy success - historian

‘One thing is certain, Fascism failed to narrow the fap between Italy and other industrialized countries’ - Zamagni

what were the fascist battles?

Battle for Grain

Battle of the Marshes

Battle for the Lira

positive results of battle for grain (3)

wheat imports fell by 75%

benefits for italian grain producers

1940 - italy almost self-sufficient in fertilisers

negative results of battle for grain (4)

raised cost of grain and bread

decline in quality of italian diet

1940 - italy not self-sufficient in fertilisers

increased meat/egg imports

positive results of battle for the marshes (2)

jobs created

public health improved

negative results of battle for the marshes (4)

only 80,000 hectares in 10 years

¾ of land was in north

southern landowners blocked plans

new towns created as showpieces

positive results of battle for the lira (2)

cost of imports fell

propaganda - authority, prestige

negative results of battle for the lira

exports fell as they were more expensive

smaller firms were taken over by larger ones

serious deflation

20% cut in wages (government imposed)

1936 government forced to devalue

arms expenditure - change over time

1935 - 7 billion lira

1936 - 14 billion lira

how did the fascist state deal with the depression

increased expenditure on public works, social welfare, armaments

how hard was italy hit by the depression?

not as hard as more heavily industrialised countries such as britain, germany, america

decline in GNP 1927-33 - compared with western europe

italy - 5.4%

western europe - 7.1%

steps taken to handle depression

IMI (banks), IRI (industry)

result of IRI?

intended as temporary, however after 1936 the Italian state owned/controlled a large share of the industry

which two policies destroyed the unions?

Palazzo Vidoni Pact (1925)

Rocco Law (1926)

what was the effect on corporations by 1934?

major industries controlled by 22 corporations

what was the corporative state?

collaboration between state, employers, and employees (in reality, favoured state and employers)

when was the policy of autarky introduced?

1936

how modernised was the italian military

for 35/80 divisions, there were only rifles from 1891

only 5 months of supply fuel in 1939

1500 tanks

outdated airforce

no anti-aircraft guns or aircraft carriers

8 battleships

how effective was the submarine fleet?

1/10 lost in first 3 weeks of war

production of electricity over time (million KW hours)

1920 - 3,000

1940 - 15,000

chemical engineering over time (100 base)

1923 - 60

1938 - 150

direct taxation of the elites under fascism

39% → 28%

what was dopolovoro?

centralised leisure activities at the expense of income

when was dopolovoro created/taken under fascist control

created - 1925

fascist control - 1927

how popular was OND?

3.8 million members by 1939

why were most people not against the fascist regime?

1929-1936 - consensus

peoples lives weren’t too bad

why did the fascist state want to control education?

control teachers, breed children to grow up loyal to mussolini

banning of history texts?

101 of 317

how was education geared towards mussolini?

portraits of mussolini in all classrooms, songs about mussolini sung as part of school day

how was education geared towards germany?

antisemitism was taught from 1938

impact on teachers

1925 - public employees with views against the governments interest could be dismissed

1929 - teachers take oath of loyalty

1937 - teachers fascist organisation becomes compulsory

1938 - jewish teachers dismissed

illiteracy rate - change over time - fascism

1926 - 27%

1936 - 17%

school leaving age - change over time

1926 - 12

1935 - 14

ONB - fascist youth group - membership

1927 - 1.2 million

GIL (renamed from ONB) - membership

1939 - 6.9 million

battle for the births policies

taxation on bachelors (1926)

tax relief, birth grants, marriage loans

battle for the births aims

increase population from 40m (1925) to 60m by 1950

reality of population change by 1950

47 million

what agreement improved relations between the church and state

lateran agreement 1929

positives for the state - lateran agreement (5)

pope recognised italian state

clergy do not belong to political parties

church helped fascists win support in rural areas

church political youth movement dissolved

foreign prestige increased among catholic nations

positives for the church - lateran agreement (6)

state recognised church control over vatican city

pope received £30m for loss of rome

catholicism recognised as state religion

state would pay salaries of the clergy

catholicism would be compulsory part of state education

divorce not permitted without the consent of the church

lateran agreement - historian

‘the greated political achievement of Mussolini’s life’