The Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy, 1911-1946
The fascist state, 1925-40
Potential roles for the PNF (National Fascist Party)
1) Forming a new ruling elite- Most members after 1922 were middle-class, but the King was
not too involved.
2) Implementing a fascist revolution- Mussolini did not want a ‘revolution from below’.
3) Ras controlling their own areas of the country- The ras slowly had less power once
Mussolini gained more power.
4) Means to get good jobs in the administration- Many officials wanting good jobs joined the
PNF.
5) Propaganda- PNF was to be used as a vehicle for propaganda to try to reform the Italian
character.
What was the nature and importance of Mussolini’s relationship with Italy’s
political and economic elite?
Monarchy and Conservative elites
-Until September 1943, Italy remained a constitutional monarchy
-Mussolini was prepared to work with Victor Emmanuel III, to make sure he retained power
-Slowly eroded the King’s power:
-December 1928, power to nominate a Prime Minister was eroded
-March 1938, Parliament passed a law creating a ‘Field Marshal of the Empire’ this power
was shared between Mussolini and the King.
-Second World War, Mussolini took complete control of the military
-Although Head of State, the King played a subservient role, as long as he could keep his
position
-Legal system much unchanged, judges independent from party, but many joined PNF to
keep jobs
-Compliant civil servants kept their jobs in government
-Highest state authority in each Italian province remained a prefect
- Conservative elite was able to retain political influence through the position of ‘podesta’,
older ruling class found an accommodation with fascism.
Central and local government
-December 1925, Mussolini head of government, only he could initiate legislation
-1928, change meant Parliament was made up of 400 deputies chosen by the Fascist Grand
Council
-December 1928, Grand Council most important legal body
-Grand Council had not consultation of major policies- entry into second world war
-1932, 148 members of the Senate not in the PNF
-Mussolini did not allow the ras to have control of provinces, prefect’s job (organising police,
ensuring censorship).
-Prefects and podesta owed their position to Mussolini, unlikely to undermine him
PNF and Nationalists
-Minimised the power of his own party
-1925, Farinacci purged the party of those who did not agree with Mussolini
-October 1925, fascists murdered 8 liberals, becoming increasingly unpopular with public
The fascist state, 1925-40
Potential roles for the PNF (National Fascist Party)
1) Forming a new ruling elite- Most members after 1922 were middle-class, but the King was
not too involved.
2) Implementing a fascist revolution- Mussolini did not want a ‘revolution from below’.
3) Ras controlling their own areas of the country- The ras slowly had less power once
Mussolini gained more power.
4) Means to get good jobs in the administration- Many officials wanting good jobs joined the
PNF.
5) Propaganda- PNF was to be used as a vehicle for propaganda to try to reform the Italian
character.
What was the nature and importance of Mussolini’s relationship with Italy’s
political and economic elite?
Monarchy and Conservative elites
-Until September 1943, Italy remained a constitutional monarchy
-Mussolini was prepared to work with Victor Emmanuel III, to make sure he retained power
-Slowly eroded the King’s power:
-December 1928, power to nominate a Prime Minister was eroded
-March 1938, Parliament passed a law creating a ‘Field Marshal of the Empire’ this power
was shared between Mussolini and the King.
-Second World War, Mussolini took complete control of the military
-Although Head of State, the King played a subservient role, as long as he could keep his
position
-Legal system much unchanged, judges independent from party, but many joined PNF to
keep jobs
-Compliant civil servants kept their jobs in government
-Highest state authority in each Italian province remained a prefect
- Conservative elite was able to retain political influence through the position of ‘podesta’,
older ruling class found an accommodation with fascism.
Central and local government
-December 1925, Mussolini head of government, only he could initiate legislation
-1928, change meant Parliament was made up of 400 deputies chosen by the Fascist Grand
Council
-December 1928, Grand Council most important legal body
-Grand Council had not consultation of major policies- entry into second world war
-1932, 148 members of the Senate not in the PNF
-Mussolini did not allow the ras to have control of provinces, prefect’s job (organising police,
ensuring censorship).
-Prefects and podesta owed their position to Mussolini, unlikely to undermine him
PNF and Nationalists
-Minimised the power of his own party
-1925, Farinacci purged the party of those who did not agree with Mussolini
-October 1925, fascists murdered 8 liberals, becoming increasingly unpopular with public
