1. Mussolini Social policy & Propaganda

2. Classless state?
According to the “Third Way” of Fascism, there was supposed to be a classless state where the employers and employees worked in partnership for the good of the nation (sounds like socialism/communism doesn’t it?)
How was Mussolini’s appointment of De Stefani as finance minister similar to Hitler (or vice versa actually)?
Was a “classless society” created? What happened to the industrial workers? What happened to the rural workers? Big business owners? Large land owners? Middle class?

3. Women
Suffered especially under Fascism, as their status was deliberately and consistently reduced,
1927 “battle for births”: Target for families was 5 children each.
1933 Mussolini met 93 women who had produced 1300 children (13 each on average!!)
Target of 60 million births by 1950 (37 million in 1920)
Battle for births failed: birth rate went down between 1927 and 1934
Traditional role of women as housewives and mothers.
1938 a law was passed saying that only 10% of jobs should be held by women.

4. Roman catholic church
May 1929, three Lateran Agreements signed: 1. Mussolini accepted papal sovereignty over the Vatican City (became an independent state), in return for the pope formally recognising the Italian state and its possession of Rome and the former papal states in central Italy. 2. State paid pope 1,750,000,000 lire in cash and gov’t bonds as compensation for the loss of Rome. 3. Roman Catholicism is official state religion of Italy, there is compulsory Catholic religious education in all state schools, and the state would pay the salaries of the clergy. In return, the pope agreed that the state could veto the appointment of politically hostile bishops and the clergy couldn’t join political parties. Also, no divorce w/o consent of the Church and civil marriages no longer necessary.
Catholic Church never completely controlled by Mussolini

5. Racism
Racism not official Fascist policy early on, but it was used later to show that Italians were superior to African races (Libya & Abyssinia) and much later against Jews.
Anti-Semitism not used used until after Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)...why?
How did Charter of Race (1938) change this?
How did Catholic Church respond?

6. Propaganda: Il Duce How was the cult of Il Duce created?
How did Mussolini use technology (radio, film, theatrical effects) to spread propaganda?
Other tricks used?

7. Education
Younger generation was very important to Mussolini, but there was conflict with the Church for them
In infant schools, the day started with a prayer that began “I believe in the genius of Mussolini” and in primary schools children were taught that Mussolini and the Fascists had saved Italy from communist revolution.
1929 all teachers in state school had to swear an oath of loyalty to the king and Mussolini’s Fascist regime. Extended to universities in 1931 with only 11 resigning rather than take oath
History textbooks censored and by 1936 there was only 1 official history textbook

8. What were the problems with the education system under the Fascists?
How were these problems attended to?

9. Fascist youth movement
1926 all Fascist youth groups were made part of the ONB. Boy Scouts abolished in 1927 and ONB became main youth group in Italy (besides for the Catholic groups)
1937 ONB merged with the Young Fascists to form the GIL and membership was made compulsory for all children (over 7 million members)
Followed physical fitness programs and attended summer camps (pre-military training) and older children also received political indoctrination. All members had to swear oath of loyalty to Mussolini (including university group GUF)

10. Did it work? How successful were the youth movements of the Fascists?
Similarities and differences to Nazi Youth?

11. Adult indoctrination
OND set up to organize concerts, dancing, and summer holiday activities in most towns and villages. Also established vast network of clubs, libraries, and sports grounds.
By 1930’s, OND controlled all of Italy’s football clubs, along with 1,350 brass bands and 8,000 libraries
Sport given particular emphasis and Italy began to do well in international sporting events.
How well did OND work to gain support for Fascists party and ideology?

12. Romanita Movement
Fascists tried to link themselves to the greatness of Ancient Rome and its emperors.
From 1926, Mussolini referred to as Il Duce and portrayed as a new Caesar. Adopted the “fasces” (bundle of rods and axe used by the lictor or speaker of the Roman Senate) as Fascist emblem
Claimed that Fascists was derived from fasces and not fascio
Claimed that the Fascist “new man” was a modern version of the idealized Roman centurion