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Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator. Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator. Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator. November 1922: Problems Facing Mussolini He was 1 of only 4 Fascists in the Cabinet Only 35 Fascists in 535-member Chamber of Deputies - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
November 1922: Problems Facing Mussolini
He was 1 of only 4 Fascists in the Cabinet
Only 35 Fascists in 535-member Chamber of Deputies
Fascists had won only 7% of vote—power came partly from violence & threat
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
November 1922: Problems Facing Mussolini
Mussolini had no detailed policies & little experience as a leader
Mussolini’s coalition faced same problem as earlier ones
Fascist supporters split between moderates & radicals
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Why had Mussolini become Prime Minister?
Fascist Revolution or Effective Government?
Radical Changes or Moderate Normalization?
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Nov. 1922: Parliament passes vote of confidence in new govt.; grant Mussolini emergency powers, 1 yr.
Dec. 1922: Mussolini creates Grand Council, cabinet-like org. w/in Fascist Party—way to increase control
Jan. 1923: creates new militia paid by state—many from Fascist squadristi
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Oct. 1922 – Jan. 1923:1. Strengthening power in Fascist Party2. Moving towards authoritarianism instead of
radical changes—passed policies favoring industrialists, agrarian landowners & few for Church
3. European econ0my improving
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Feb. 1923: Nationalist Association joins Fascist Party—strengthens moderate elements of party
Mussolini knew support of elites more important than support from radical elements of party
Use the powers of the state to reduce & eliminate enemies
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Despite early successes his position as PM still weak
1. King could dismiss him at any time2. Parliament likely to cooperate w/a successor
(small rep. of Fascist in parliament)3. Needed to control parliament4. Needed to change election laws to end
proportional representation
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
ACERBO LAW, July 1923
Chamber of Deputies meet to vote on Acerbo Bill—give 2/3 of seats to party w/ most votes in election & having at least 25% of vote
Chamber of Deputies—surrounded by blackshirts—passed the Acerbo Law, 303 - 40
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Corfu Incident, Aug. 1923: foreign policy success demonstrating Italy’s growing strength
Fiume, Jan. 1924: Italy gains control of Fiume
Major foreign policy successes helped Mussolini’s reputation & support
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
April 1924 Election (Acerbo Law in effect)1. Govt. list of approved candidates, non-Fascists2. Leftist opposition remained split3. Heavy govt. influence in election process4. Militia violence v. Socialists5. Opposition meetings disrupted & voters
intimidated6. Fascist voters often allowed more than 1 vote
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
April 1924 Election
A. Lyttleton, The Seizure of Power:“the use of violence, police repression and
electoral fraud was on such a large scale that the expression of popular will was radically falsified.”
Fascist won 66% of vote w/275 Deputies (100 others)
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
April 1924 Election
Fascist now have control & full power of State at their disposal
Official critics would be targeted; violence & intimidation by squadristi continues along w/ govt sanctioned violence; Socialist meetings, buildings, publications, members attacked
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
“Italy has never been so united as she is today… Fascismo has abolished the game of parliamentary chess; it has also simplified the taxation system and reduced the deficit to manageable proportions; it has vastly improved the public services, particularly the railways; it has reduced the superfluously large bureaucracy without any bad results in the way of hardships or unemployment; it has pursued a vigorous and fairly successful colonial policy. All this represents hard and useful work, but the chief boon upon Italy are national security and national self-respect…
Fascismo has had a great deal of courage, very considerable wisdom and immense luck… it has deserved the sincere birthday greetings of the world.”
—The Times, 31 October 1923
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Murder of Giacomo Matteotti, June 1924
Leader of the Socialists
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
Leading opponent of Mussolini & Fascists
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Matteotti to Chamber of Deputies, 30 May 1924:
“No one has been free because every citizen knew… that even had he dared with majority support to express his opposition the government had a force at its disposal that would have nullified his words… We are defending the sovereign freedom of the Italian people… by demanding the nullification of the elections.”
“Now you can prepare my funeral oration.”—to colleagues as he left the chamber
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Mussolini in Il Popolo, 31 May 1924:
“Matteotti made a speech of an outrageously provocative nature which should deserve some more concrete reply than the label scoundrel.”
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
1o June 1924: Matteotti forced into a car
License plate number of the car (55 12169) belonged to a leading Fascist
Investigation led to leader (Dumini) of a secret hit squad called Cheka
“Nine Homicides” Dumini, was personal asst. to Cesare Rossi, Mussolini’s press secretary
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Did Mussolini order the murder? Did he know about it? Was he involved in any way?
Widespread outrage in Italy: newspapers, demonstrations, torn up Fascist membership cards
Was Mussolini head of a terrorist regime? Was he the head of a strengthened form of
parliamentary govt. that operated w/in law?
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
June 1924: Aventine Secession
Most opposition deputies walked out of Parliament in protest to Mussolini’s govt.
Met elsewhere & declared themselves the true representatives of the Italian people
Expected the King to dismiss Mussolini
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Mussolini’s Position June 1924-Dec.1924:o repression & concession—press censorship
increased; militia mobilized & integrated into army; loyalty oath to King; Rossi & chief of police fired; Mussolini steps down as Interior Minister
o Ras & radicals wanted Mussolini to seize power in dictatorship
o Dec. 1924 evidence implicated Mussolini in Matteotti’s assassination
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
Mussolini’s Position June 1924-Dec.1924:
o radicals in Fascist Party saw power slipping from them unless Mussolini acted
o 31 Dec. 1924: tense meeting of Fascist Partyo Mussolini vacillation ended
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1922-1924
3 Jan. 1925: Mussolini addresses Chamber of Deputies
Mussolini takes responsibility for Fascism not for Matteotti’s murder Dictatorship to go into effect in 48 hours
Process of Dictatorship Began (completed May 1928)
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
How did Mussolini survive the Matteotti Crisis?
a. King Victor Emmanuel III unwilling to act—safer to keep Mussolini in office & had learned lesson
b. Elite not completely happy, but thought had done a good job—esp. given alternatives
c. Church—Mussolini had saved Italy from Socialismd. Army—would obey the Kinge. Moderate Deputies—saw Mussolini weakened &
thought could control himf. Opposition unable to cooperateg. Ras wanted dicatorship
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
How did Mussolini survive the Matteotti Crisis?
“Mussolini panicked and would have resigned had the King required it. The King did not demonstrating the unwillingness of conservatives even now to abandon Mussolini, partly from fear of a left-wing revival and partly in the hope of exploiting Mussolini’s vulnerability to increase their influence over him.”—M. Blinkhorn, Mussolini and Fascist Italy
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
How did Mussolini survive the Matteotti Crisis?
“The reluctant attitudes of the King and Pope summarized the problems in a nutshell: the Italian power structure was slow to admit that its creature, Fascism, was out of control, and without leadership from the power structure, the anti-Fascist opposition remained fragmented and embryonic.”—A. Cassels, Fascist Italy
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
How did Mussolini survive the Matteotti Crisis?
“His victory, once again, owed much to the militant squads and to their power in the provinces; and, once again, it owed much to the King’s unwillingness to use the army against the Fascists. Yet once again, it was not inevitable. If the opposition parties had been present in the Chamber… or if the Rossi memorandum had not been published when it was [during holidays]… or if the militia ‘consuls’ had not put pressure on in late December, or if the elder statesmen… had shown more initiative, then Mussolini might have fallen… the King had decided, and Mussolini was safe.”—M. Clark, Modern Italy 1871-1982
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1925-1928
Arrests of opponents
Increasingly repressive decrees & laws
Fascist Movement into a personal dictatorship—centralized control of party into a govt. ministry then fired the Ras leader in charge of the ministry
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1925-1928
Jan. 1925: arrests & closing of hostile organizations
All Fascist Cabinet Dopolavoro, mass leisure org., established Oct. 1925: Battle for Grain—make Italy self-
sufficient (economic policy) Dec. 1925: greater press censorship Dec. 1925: Law on Powers of Head Government—
gives Mussolini great executive power—rule by decree
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1925-1928
Feb. 1926: elected mayors replaced by appointed podestas
April 1926: strikes forbidden; youth organization, Balilla, created
July 1926: Ministry of Corporations established
Oct. 1926: opposition parties banned
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1925-1928
Nov. 1926: Special Tribunal for the Defense of the State—wide admin powers including arrests w/o justification
Nov. 1926: OVRA established—secret police
Nov. 1926: all press freedom ended
Mussolini in Power: From PM to Dictator
Mussolini, 1925-1928
Parliament: lost power to intiate laws; Mussolini responsible to King not parliament
Local Govt: judges, civil servants & teachers purged; elected councils eliminated; podestas
Judiciary: repressive administrative powers w/o need resort to former republican judicial system
Trade Unions: strikes & lockouts illegal, Fascist unions recognized as only legal unions
Fascists: Mussolini centralized Party under his leadership Opponents: all non-Fascist parties banned Electoral Laws: plebiscite system replaced individually
elected MPs
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