WWII
I. Fascism: Italian Style
A. Benito Mussolini
1. Young Benito
– Socialist Party
Member
– Journalist
– Moved to escape
military duty in
1902
– Came back to Italy
in the 1909
– Is an anti-royalist
2. WWI
– Socialist Party splits up
over whether or not to join
the war
– Mussolini sides with those
who want to join the war
– They call themselves: Fasci
d'azione rivoluzionaria
internazionalista
– Served in the Italian army
from 1915-1917
B. Fascists Take Over in Italy
1. What is Fascism
– A political theory that calls for a strong
government ran by one person.
– The state or government is more important than
individuals
2. Fascist Party in Italy
– Becomes a political party in 1919
– Mussolini gets into parliament in 1921
3. Fascisti Activities
– Armed squads of war veterans terrorized:
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•
•
Communists
Socialists
Radicals
– Acted as strike breakers
4. Mussolini and his Blackshirts March on Rome
– Mussolini’s followers were called “blackshirts”
because of the color of their uniforms
– They marched on Rome in 1922
– demanded the government do something about the
radicals
– The King grants Mussolini dictatorial powers (lasted
over two decades)
C. Fascist Italy
1. Police State
– Mussolini used secret police to keep people under
control
– Blackshirts terrorized anyone who was against the
Fascist government
2. Government by Propaganda
– Fascists owned most newspapers
– Journalist had to swear oaths to the Fascist party
– Mussolini was called Il Duce and a legend about his
greatness was spread
– Dates were written: 13th of June of the 11th year of
Mussolini's power
D. Mussolini and Hitler
1. Blue print for Nazis
– Mussolini’s Fascist
government would be
copied by Hitler
– Hitler would copy his
political and economic set
up
2. Axis Powers
– Mussolini coined
the phrase “Axis
Powers”
– Military Treaties
were signed
between Nazi
Germany and
Fascist Italy
– Mussolini called it
a “Pact of Steel”