Politics and Administration

Origins and Growth of Fascist Regimes in Europe

The Growth of Dictatorships

• Between WWI AND WWII many dictatorships-totalitarian and fascist developed.
• They rose to power due to-WWI, depression, weak democracy, fear of communism and strong leadership coupled with use of violence.

Mussolini and Fascist Italy

Rise to Power

• Italian nationalists not happy with Paris Peace Conference after World War I and they failed to receive North Tyrol, Dalmatia or Fiume as promised. They also failed to receive an African colony as compensation.
• The economy of Italy was in depression-200m unemployed, 500% inflation.
• Strikes and riots took place in cities and people feared Communism would take over.
• The government were weak and could not solve the problems.
• Benito Mussolini-Father was Socialist. Worked in journalism and was editor of Socialist newspaper ‘Avanti’ in 1912. Expelled from Socialists after advocating Italy to enter the way in 1914. After the war he called for a dictator In the country and in 1919 formed the Fascio di Combattimento (Blackshirts). By 1922 they had 250,000 members.
• Characteristics of Fascists-Ultra-nationalism, totalitarianism, cult of the leader, racism, anti-communism.
• Mussolini then organised the March on Rome in October 1922 (in which he didn’t actually march). The P.M Facta asked the King Victor Emmanuel II use the army to stop Mussolini but he refused and Facta resigned.
• The king now appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister of Italy

Establishing Dictatorship

• He passed the Acerbo Law in 1923 which said the party with the most votes in the next election would set two thirds of parliament seats and then used violence to ensure that this was won by him.
• After Socialist leader-Matteoti was murdered the Socialists withdrew from parliament, giving Mussolini more power.
• Mussolini set up his secret police (OVRA) who arrested political opponents.
• Mussolini converted the Blackshirts into a national militia.
• Mussolini then in 1926 got the right to rule by decree-issued over 100,000.
• Mussolini engaged in a lot of propaganda and controlled the media.
• He developed a cult of personality (Il Duce) as propaganda.
• He used education to support his fascist regime and got the youth involved by forming the Balila.
• However, he never had full power over the king or church.

Church-State Relations

• Relations had been poor since 1870 and Mussolini aimed to improve this by:
• Bringing in compulsory religious education, allowing crucifixes in classrooms, introducing measures against abortion and baptising his children.
• Pope Pius XI now withdrew support from Catholic Popular party and backed the Fascists.
• The Lateran Treaty was signed in 1929 in which the pope recognised the Italian State and Italy recognised the Vatican City. Italy also paid the pope £30m in compensation for taking Rome and Catholicism was recognised as the State-religion.
• This was often seen as Mussolini’s greatest success.
• However, friction remained when the group Catholic Action became out of control of government and also when the Pope condemned Mussiolini for his anti-semitic legislation.

Corporate State

• Mussolini set up the Ministry of Corporations and divided up the economy into 22 and dissolved trade unions.
• Wages on average fell by 10% but better social welfare came about as a result.
• It helped prevent the collapse of the economy during Mussolini’s time in power.

The Economy

• Mussolini began by appointed Alberto di Stefani as the Minister of Finance who cut government spending and reduced unemployment.
• Mussolini then fired him and brought in a policy of protectionism.
• Mussolini then organised a series of battles to help the economy.
• Battle for Grain-Doubled production between 1925 and 1929 but less efficient farmers survived due to protectionism.
• Battle for Land-Most successful-drained the Potine Marshes and settled people from the poorest regions there.
• Battle for the Lira-Mussolini revalued the lira in 1926 and became stronger abroad. However, Italian products became too expensive to foreign customers and exports fell. Mussolini then had to devalue the lira in 1936.
• Battle for Births-Encouraged marriage and tax incentives were given to large families. He also banned homosexuality and taxed bachelors. However, the birth rate failed to increase.
• Fascists also helped to increase electricity production, built new motorways (the autostrada) and electrified the railways.
• He also helped education by raising the school leaving age and building new schools-between 1922 and 1939-number of secondary schools increased by 120%.
• Finally, Mussolini had success when dealing with the Sicilian mafia due to the ruthless methods of the Fascists.