The World Between the Wars (1910–1939) Lesson 6 Fascism Emerges in Italy

The Rise of Mussolini “I hated politics and politicians,” said Italo Balbo. Like many Italian veterans of World War I, he had come home to a land of economic chaos and political corruption. Italy’s constitutional government, he felt, “had betrayed the hopes of soldiers, reducing Italy to a shameful peace.” Disgusted and angry, Balbo rallied behind a fiercely nationalist leader, Benito Mussolini. Mussolini’s rise to power in the 1920s served as a model for ambitious strongmen elsewhere in Europe.

The Rise of Mussolini Postwar Discontent Treaty of Versailles (left out – didn’t do their “fair share”) Not honored enormous amount of territory (secret treaty) (lands along its border with Austria-Hungary, islands in the Adriatic, portions of Albania and territory in the Ottoman Empire) fueled significant anti-British, anti-French and anti-American sentiment Mussolini later capitalized on this anger during his rise to power Italy's perceived mistreatment was one of the reasons he cited for Italy's entry into World War II on the side of Germany Economic Hardship Heavily indebted to the US Mussolini and the Fascist Party Control by Terror Black Shirts March on Rome

The Rise of Mussolini After World War I, Italy faced dissatisfaction with the peace settlements of the war and economic hardship. Increasingly militant Italian workers staged strikes like this one in Milan.

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule At first, Fascists held only a few cabinet posts in the new government. By 1925, though, Mussolini had assumed more power and taken the title Il Duce (eel DOO chay), “The Leader.” Suppressed rival parties, muzzled the press, rigged elections, and replaced elected officials with Fascist supporters. In 1929, Mussolini received recognition from Pope Pius XI in return for recognizing Vatican City as an independent state, although the pope continued to disagree with some of Mussolini’s goals.

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule The State Controls the Economy Loyalty to the State Building a Totalitarian State

Mussolini’s Totalitarian Rule Mussolini viewed propaganda as a key means to winning support from the Italian people. The poster here has the Italian words for 'to us' written at the bottom, promoting a unified and strong Italy.

Characteristics of Fascism Historians still debate the real nature of Mussolini’s fascist ideology. Mussolini coined the term, but fascists had no unifying theory as Marxists did. Today, we generally use the term fascism to describe any centralized, authoritarian government that is not communist whose policies glorify the state over the individual and are destructive to basic human rights. In the 1920s and 1930s, though, fascism meant different things in different countries.

Celebration – 7th anniversary Italians gather at the Palazzio Venezia to hear Mussolini speak at a celebration of the seventh anniversary of Fascist Italy.

Characteristics of Fascism - video Features of Fascism The Appeal of Fascism Fascism and Communism Compared