Chapter 30 Crisis of Democracy in the West

1
Chapter 30 Crisis of Democracy in the West
Section 3 - Fascism in Italy
Benito Mussolini - Il Duce"
2

• Setting the Scene
• 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
  fierce nationalist, Benito Mussolini. Mussolini's
  rise to power in the 1920s served as a model for
  ambitious strongmen elsewhere in Europe.

3
I. Rise of Mussolini

• 1919 - Italians were outraged by the Versailles
  treaties disorder and chaos Italy faced
  economic hard times

Post-WWI Europe
4
I. Rise of Mussolini

• Trade declined, taxes rose, WWI veterans faced
  unemployment, and the government seemed powerless
  to end the crisis

King Victor Emmanuel III
5
I. Rise of Mussolini

• 1919 - Benito Mussolini organized veterans and
  other discontents into the Fascist party

Roman fasces
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
6
I. Rise of Mussolini

• Mussolinis Black-shirts used intimidation and
  terror to take control of the government

7
I. Rise of Mussolini

• 1922 - the Fascists March on Rome" forced King
  Victor Emmanuel III to ask Mussolini to become
  prime minister

A picture of the March on Rome, after which
Mussolini was named Prime Minister of Italy
8
II. Mussolini's Italy

• 1925 - Mussolini took the title II Duce and Italy
  became a dictatorship ruled by terror, secret
  police and propaganda

II Duce, "The Leader"
9
II. Mussolini's Italy

• Mussolini created a "corporate state" by taking
  control of the economy but keeping capitalism

Mussolini looks over city plans for a new town
10
II. Mussolini's Italy

• To Fascists, the individual was unimportant
  people were bombarded with slogans glorifying the
  state and Mussolini

Above are examples of publications reflecting
Italian fascism P.N.F. Partito Nazionale Fascis
ta
(National Fascist Party)
11
II. Mussolini's Italy

• Men were urged to be ruthless, selfless warriors
  for Italy women were to "win the battle of
  motherhood"

12
II. Mussolini's Italy

• Fascist youth groups taught children strict
  military discipline and about the glories of
  ancient Rome

This photograph glorifies the martial spirit and
physical prowess of Italian youth. Note the line
of young men waiting calmly in turn to leap over
the wall of fixed bayonets
13
III. What Is Fascism?

• The term Fascism describes any authoritarian
  government that is not communist

14
III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascism was rooted in extreme nationalism that
  glorified action, violence, discipline, and blind
  loyalty to the state

Believe, Obey, Fight
15
III. What Is Fascism?

• The Fascists were enemies of socialism,
  communism, and democracy

Mussolini and Hitler
16
III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascists pursued aggressive expansion and Social
  Darwinism warfare was glorified as a necessary
  and noble struggle for survival

Fascism tries to interfere with people thinking
for themselves. All it tolerates is obedience to
the leader, rallied by contrived emotions, and a
ready willingness to fight. These themes dominate
the above propaganda posters from Mussolini's time
17
III. What Is Fascism?

• Mussolini built the first totalitarian state,
  which became a model for Stalin in the Soviet
  Union and Hitler in Germany

18
III. What Is Fascism?

• All three governments shared some basic features
  
  
• (1) a single-party, totalitarian dictatorship
• (2) state control of the economy
• (3) use of police spies and terror to enforce the
  
  
• will of the state
• (4) strict censorship and government monopoly
  
  
• of the media
• (5) use of schools and the media to indoctrinate
  
  
• and mobilize citizens
• (6) unquestioning obedience to a single leader

19
III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascism appealed to many Italians by promising a
  strong government and reviving national pride

20

• Looking Ahead
• Three systems of government competed for
  influence in postwar Europe. Democracy endured in
  Britain and France but faced an uphill struggle
  in hard times. Communism emerged in Russia and
  won support elsewhere, but many people saw it as
  a dangerous threat.
• In Italy, fascism offered a different formula.
  Its chest-thumping calls for action, national
  unity, and dedication to the state ignited
  patriotic feeling. As the Great Depression
  spread, other nationsmost notably Germany
  looked to leaders who preached fascist ideology.