1919- Italy was outraged they didn’t receive any land from the Treaty of Versailles Chaos on the home front Sparked by the Russian Revolution, peasants were seizing land and factories Veterans were coming home to unemployment Trade declined Taxes rose What was going on in Italy before WWII?

Mussolini saw this chaotic time as a chance to seize power In 1919, Mussolini organized war veterans and other unhappy Italians into the Fascist Party Like Hitler, Mussolini was an intense and fiery speaker He promised to end corruption and replace the chaos with order He spoke about returning Italy to its Roman greatness Mussolini’s Rise to Power

Mussolini organized his supporters into black- shirted “combat squads” Instead of using democracy they fell into more violent forms of action Broke up socialist rallies, smashed leftist presses, attacked farmers cooperatives March on Rome Fearing civil war, King Victor Emmanuel III asked Mussolini to form a government as a prime minister Without firing a shot, Mussolini obtained a “legal” appointment from the king – undermining constitutional democracy Rise to Power Continued…

By 1925 Mussolini had more power and taken the title Il Duce – “The Leader” His leadership became a dictatorship upheld by terror Mussolini suppressed rival parties, muzzled the press, rigged elections, and replaced elected officials with Fascist supporters Anyone who criticized the Fascist Party were thrown into prison, exiled or murdered Mussolini’s Italy

Economy was under state control Under Mussolini’s “corporate state”, representatives of business, labor, government, and the Fascist party controlled industry, agriculture and trade Although production increased, it came at the expense of the workers Forbidden to strike Lowered wages Mussolini’s Economic Policy

The individual was not important EXCEPT as a member of the state Men were urged to be ruthless, selfless warriors for the glory of Italy Women were pushed out of paying jobs Instead Mussolini called on women to “win the battle of motherhood” Those who bore more than 14 children were given a medal Shaping the youth was a major Fascist goal Youth groups toughened children and taught them to obey strict military district Taught about the glories of Ancient Rome… Brainwashed? Social Policies

Mussolini coined the term Fascism Today, we generally use the term to describe any authoritarian government that IS NOT communist Its rooted in extreme nationalism “Fascists glorified action, violence, discipline, and about all, BLIND loyalty to the state. Fascism conceives of the State as an absolute” Fascist's believe that democracy led to corruption and weakness Fascism

Mussolini built the first totalitarian state Totalitarian= Single party dictatorship State control over economy Use of police and spies and terror to enforce the will of the state Strict censorship and government monopoly of the media Use of schools and the media to indoctrinate and mobilize citizens Unquestioning obedience of a single leader Totalitarian Rule

Impressed with Mussolini’s leadership, Adolf Hitler sought to establish a relationship Italy By 1939 the two countries had signed a military alliance known as the "Pact of Steel." Influenced by Hitler, Mussolini instituted discrimination policies against the Jews in Italy. German Partnership