A summary of the Rise of Mussolini & the creation of a fascist dictatorship, 1919-26. Taken from classroom notes, lectures, "Nationalism dictatorship & democracy in the 20th century Europe", "Italy: the rise of fascism, 1915-45" & the official Edexcel AS/A-Level History textbook.
The Rise of Mussolini & the Creation of
a Fascist Dictatorship
Challenges to the Liberal State
The ‘Mutilated Victory’
• Italy was successful in its peace negotiations, achieving most of its territorial
gains promised in the Treaty of London
• Granted 14,500 Square kilometres of land, more than any other victorious
country
• Didn’t receive all territorial promises, despite gaining some land that was not
promised
• PM Orlando claimed he faced assassination if Italy was not granted its
demands
• Allowed to receive German reparations & a seat in the League of Nations
• Italian nationalists adopted ‘mutilated victory’ to target the weak liberal
government
The occupation of Fiume
• Italy wanted Fiume due to its 50% Italian-speaking population
• The Allies rejected the demands to receive Fiume
• This led to nationalist Gabrielle D’Annunzio seizing Fiume in September 1919
Events of the occupation of Fiume
• Gabrielle D’Annunzio lead a coup of 2000 former soldiers to take Fiume
• Allied troops withdrew & did not resist the takeover
• Giolitti openly negotiations with Yugoslavia & declared Fiume an independent
city
• The Italian Army was sent in December to remove D’Annunzio
Signifcance of the occupation
• Italian’s criticised Giolitti’s actions & lead to further support of the nationalist
& fascist movements. More Italians became attracted to political extremism
• Demonstrated success could be achieved through violence
Post-War Economic Crisis
• Italy faced severe economic problems from 1919-22 due to involvement in
the war
• Inflation, the ending of military contracts & unemployment were huge
problems
• Lira collapsed & more people turned to political extremes
Rural areas
• Returning soldiers occupied lands in the south & the number of peasant land
owners increased. They made lots of money from the food they sold due to
inflation
• Giolitti’s Coalition legalised land confscations causing farmers to feel
threatened
Social discontent
• Biennio Rosso – socialists released from prison encouraged strikes, riots &
looting
• Huge increase in strikes; 1663 in industry & 208 in agriculture
• September 1920, 400,000 workers went on strike & took over their factories
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