Italian Expansion Vocab

“Two Red Years”

A period of intense social conflict in Italy that consisted of strikes, factory occupations, and socialist uprisings after World War 1.

This created a fear of a communist revolution and that fear was exploited by Mussolini to gain middle class and elite support for the Fascist movement.

Black Shirts

Paramilitary group loyal to Mussolini that uses violence to suppress socialist and labor movements

These people helped Mussolini intimidate his opponents and allowed him to consolidate power and establish a dictatorship

Treaty of Trianon

Peace treaty after WW1 between the Allies and Hungary, reducing Hungary’s territory, loss of 2/3 of their territory and 60% of population

Part of the postwar settlement that angered Italy because they felt they hadn’t received enough sufficient territorial rewards, this further fuled the fascist sentiment

Gabriele D’Annunzio

Italian nationalist poet and nationalist, coined the term “mutilated victory” and also led a forced occupation of Fiume in protest against the Italian government handing the city to Yugoslavia in 1919

Inspired Mussolini’s fascist methods and ideology, specifically his use of theatrics and the Roman salute

Giacomo Matteotti

Socialist politician who accused the Fascists of violence and election fraud in 1924

Was stabbed in the back of a car by the Black Shirts and his body was stuffed up a Culver and found two months later, this caused outrage and almost led to Mussolini’s downfall but ultimately nothing happened

Pact of Rome

Agreement between Italy and Yugoslavia that officially gave the city of Fiume to Italy

marked a success in foreign policy for Mussolini, boosted his prestige and also validated his nationalist agenda

Corfu Incident

Diplomatic crisis where Italy occupied the Greek island of Corfu after an Italian general was killed on Greek soil

this showed Mussolini’s aggressive foreign policy and his willingness to use force, also showed League of Nation’s weak response which led to fascism expansionism

Treaty of St. German

Treaty between the Allies and Austria after WW1. dismantling the Austro-Hungarian empire

Italy gained South Tyrol and Istria but still didn’t get all of it’s promised territories, this fueled the idea of a mutilated victory which fed nationalist anger 

Corporate State

Economic system promoted by Mussolini where industries were organized into corporations representing employers and workers under state control 

It was supposed to replace class conflict with unity under Fascism, but in reality it just strengthened the government and weakened worker’s rights

Treaty of London

Secret agreement between Italy and the Allies promising territorial gains for joining WW1

Italy’s postwar failure to gain all the promised lands increased nationalist resentment in the country which is what Mussolini capitalized on 

Fascism

authoritarian political ideology emphasizing nationalism, dictatorship, militarism, and suppression of oppositio

core of Mussolini’s regime, used to justify aggressive expansion and total control over Italian society

Treaty of Lausanne

Treaty that replaced the Treaty of Sevres, this recognized the borders of modern Turkey

final treaty of WW1, Restored stability in the eastern Mediterranean region, and Mussolini saw this as an opportunity for Italian influence and expansion in that region

Acerbo Law

Electoral law that granted 2/3 of the seats in parliament to any party that won at least 25% of the votes

this ensured fascist dominance in parliament and allowed Mussolini’s dictatorship to come to power

Ahmed Zog

Italian backed Albanian leader in the 1920s

Mussolini investing in his regime and trained the Albanian army, allowed Mussolini to expand Italian influence in the Balkans before eventually invading Albania in 1939 and making it a protectorate

Victor Emmanual III

King of Italy (1900-1946) who appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister after the March on Rome

His decision not to oppose Mussolini and provide support is what led to the rise of Fascism in Italy

Vittorio Orlando

Italian Prime Minister during the Paris Peace Conference

Failed to secure all the promised territories for Italy and contributed to the “mutilated victory” narrative

March on Rome

Organized mass demonstration by Fascists demanding power in italy

This pressured King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint Mussolini as Prime Minster 

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Peace treaty between Germany and Bolshevik Russia, ending Russia’s participation in WW1

influenced postwar territorial changes and instability

OVRA

Mussolini’s secret police force established in 1927

Used to monitor, intimidate, and eliminate opposition to the Fascist regime

Rapallo Treaty

Agreement between Germany and Soviet Union, signed at Rapallo, Italy
reestablished normal relations between the two countries, cancelled all financial claims against each other, strenghtend military and economic ties
led to Italy and Soviet Union still being on good terms (even when Matteotti was murdered they supported Mussolini)