THE MARCH ON ROME

• How did Mussolini become Prime Minister• The phrase suggests people marching to Rome

and seizing power when they get there.• What did happen?

The lead-up• Legacy of disorder from WW1 – Fiume and the Bienno Rosso.• General disorder from Socialists fighting the squadristri. Government

can’t cope.• Mussolini gets 7% of the vote in 1921• Mussolini offers a truce with the Socialists – Pact of pacification.• Mussolini drops anticlericalism republicalism and other left wing

policies.• Socialists call a general strike - failure.• Mussolini calls for the overthrow of the Government in Naples –

warrant for his arrest.• Several towns in Northern Italy seized by the Ras. Italo Balbo in

Ferrara, Dino Grandi in Bologna and Roberto Farinacci in Cremona• The Bonomi government collapses to be replaced by Luigi Facta

The process

• 10,000 squadristi are marching on Rome led by the Quadrumvirs. They don’t get very far.

• Luigi Facta calls for martial law. The King initially agrees then refuses and Facta walks out

• The King asks Salandra to form a government. Salandra advises that Mussolini become foreign minister. Mussolini turns it down and Salandra can’t get any support.

• The King offers Mussolini the job of Prime Minister• Mussolini takes the train from Milan to Rome• The squads travel by train for a ceremonial march in Rome

with the Army

Why did it happen

• The general state of Italy• The threat of violence from the squads• Incompetence cowardice and disunity from

the King, Facta and Salandra• The socialists and PPI let it happen• Mussolini had the backing of big business, the

Church and elements in the Army• Mussolini was clever.

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GENERAL DE BONO

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