SST2772-ABED_1: 4.4.1 Italy

Hopefully, by now, you know the effects of World War I were not limited to the dead and wounded of each nation. The Treaty of Versailles, along with economic and political factors led to the development of ultranationalism through the pursuit of national interests.

The diagram below shows a comparison of Italy, Germany, and Japan's pursuit of national self-interests, ultimately leading to the development of ultranationalism, both within each nation and as part of their foreign policies leading up to World War II.

View the tabs below to learn about the factors that caused Italy to develop ultranationalism leading up to WWII, and take notes using the 4.4 Notebook Organizer.

Italy and the Treaty of Versailles

Italy was very dissatisfied with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Before World War I, Italy had supported Germany and Austria-Hungary. But during a secret conference with Britain in 1915, Italy made an agreement (Treaty of London) to switch sides to the Allies.

For switching sides and committing to fight on the side of the Allies against Austria-Hungary, Italy was promised Austria-Hungarian territory (both in Europe and in African colonies).

However, during the Paris Peace negotiations, there were arguments levelled against Italy's claim to the promised territories.

The United States refused to recognize the secret Treaty of London, and Wilson specifically criticized Italy's treatment of the Yugoslav peoples in their own pursuit of self-determination.

Britain and France felt Italy did not put requested resources to good use during the war. Britain and France had also been forced to send their own troops to the Italian front to fight.

The Italian Prime Minister had come back from the Paris Peace Talks in 1919 to a troubled country. Italy was disappointed in its unsupported claims to Austria-Hungarian territory and colonies. Many Italians believed their part in the war and their victory had been for nothing. Italian nationalists were upset because Italy’s demands for territory had not been met in full by the Treaty of Versailles.

Italy and the Great Depression

World War I created a massive debt for Italy, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Italians killed in battle. WWI cost Italy more than the Italian government had spent in the last 50 years. By 1918, there was huge unemployment, high inflation, and poverty along with much social unrest and violence. When the Great Depression hit in 1929, all European countries, including Italy, suffered economically.

Be sure to review key information about the Great Depression here to develop a better understanding of how economic crises can lead nations to ultranationalism.

Watch the video "The Great Depression Explained in One Minute" for an overview of the impact of the global economic crisis.

In the Italian countryside, poverty-stricken peasants seized land from their landlords. In some towns, unemployed workers organized communist groups. Communism had come to Russia during the Russian Revolution of 1917, and its effects were being felt across many European countries. The middle and upper classes in many European countries were afraid of a communist revolution that would take away their wealth and maybe even their lives. With high unemployment and high prices for food and basic products, strikes and riots were commonplace in Italy. Italy had much social unrest and violence.

Benito Mussolini and Fascism

"Better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb". - Mussolini

Italy feared the spread of a communist revolution based on recent events in Russia. This threat, along with anti-American sentiment and dissatisfaction over the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles brought about a harsh reaction from extreme conservative groups.

Benito Mussolini (left) and other ex-soldiers and dissatisfied nationalists formed the first fascist groups in Italy. View the tabs below in order to gain an understanding of fascism and its role in Italy's road to World War II.

Facism

Origins

The word fascism comes from the Latin word fascis meaning “bundle”. Fascists often use the image of a bundle of sticks and an axe, from the Roman Empire (fasces), in their propaganda. The idea is that one stick is easy to snap, but a bundle of sticks is very difficult (if not impossible) to break. As such, the bundle represents strength through unity. An axe is usually tied into the bundle as a symbol of authority. In the image (right) the fascis is being used by the Italian fascist party as a symbol (in the 1930s).

Main Ideas

Fascism is, at its core, an ultranationalist political belief that places the nation (and often race) above individuals. Fascist nations are led by a leader (dictator) with an autocratic (absolute) government.

Racism: Italy, under Facism, became increasingly focused on discrimination, which was reinforced through a set of racial laws that allowed racial discrimination against Italian Jews. These laws removed civil rights, banned books, and allowed for the government to take away Jewish-owned businesses.

Militarism: Mussolini convinced the Italian people that, in order to regain strength as a world power (as Italy was during the Roman Empire) an increase and focus on military resources was key. During his time in power, he would create programs to encourage Italian youth to become more militant, as well as support the local fascist militia alongside his own militia (called the OVRA) to enforce his wishes and suppress opposition.

Elitism: Elitism is when people are led by a select and specific group of people who are in some way considered superior to others.

Mussolini and the fascists would eventually win power by their actions in the streets. By attacking communists with demonstrations and street fights, fascists generally took advantage of the fears of the middle and upper classes who were afraid of a communist revolution. The middle and upper classes gave the fascists their support so a communist revolution would not happen.

The fascists were deadly. Between 1920 and 1922, the fascists killed approximately 3 000 political opponents. Their behaviour won the fascists support from the middle and upper classes, and in 1922, Italian King Victor Emmanuel III invited Mussolini to form a fascist government in Italy. Mussolini was then in a position to put into effect his domestic and foreign policies based on making Italy "great, respected, and feared". Eventually, Mussolini became dictator of Italy.

Throughout the 1920s, the fascists promoted the idea that Italy had not received a fair deal in the Treaty of Versailles. Mussolini believed that to overcome the disappointment of the Versailles Treaty, Italy must follow a foreign policy of imperialism and take colonies by force.

Mussolini and the Italian fascists promoted ultranationalism in Italy with speeches, policies, and media propaganda such as the posters shown above. Opposition political parties were banned, and any disagreement was crushed by the fascists.

In a speech to fascists in 1935, Mussolini said it is"better to live one day as a lion than a thousand years as a lamb".

By then, Mussolini’s militarism had taken over Italian foreign policy. Mussolini considered himself destined to build an Italian empire by dominating the regions around Italy. This national interest of creating a militarily stronger Italian nation with imperialist goals conflicted with the national interests of France, Britain, Greece, and Yugoslavia.

In this picture, Mussolini (right, in the long coat) inspects Italian troops.

Italy's Road to War

Fascist Italy under Mussolini was looking to gain territory around Italy and create an empire in Africa.

1925: Mussolini ordered the bombing of Corfu. While attempting to settle a border dispute between Greece and Albania, five Italian officers were killed by the Greeks. Mussolini, the Italian Prime Minister, demanded compensation from the Greeks. When the Greeks did not respond, Mussolini, following militaristic foreign policy, ordered the bombing and capture of the Greek island of Corfu. Italy later withdrew from Corfu.

1935: Mussolini invaded Abyssinia. Following a militaristic expansionist policy, Mussolini invaded and took control over Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in Africa.

Go to your textbook, Understanding Nationalism, and read "Ethiopia" on page 142. This page will further your understanding of the development of ultranationalism.

1936: Italy and Germany developed a partnership. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany formed an official friendship. They likened the German and Italian friendship to a powerful axis (axis is plural for axle) around which the rest of the world’s nations would revolve. When France and Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Italy joined with Germany against France and Britain.

Download the 4.4 Notebook Organizer (Word, PDF, Google Doc) and take notes about what you have read about Italy. You may want to review the tutorial How to Take Notes. When you are done, return here to continue.