How accurate is it to say that the main consequence of the introduction of the
anti-semitic decrees of 1938 was a reduction in support for Mussolini’s regime?
It is accurate to state that the main consequence of Mussolini's anti-semitic decrees was a reduction of
his support in 1938. Although support has been decreasing, his radicalisation was the tipping point
and his loss of support was the most impactful event. It is not the main consequence but the loss of
culture and the road to World War Two being set are still major consequences to come out, due to the
emigration being in a small amount and the lead up to the war still would have happened even if
decrees hadn't been placed.f
It is accurate to say that the reduction and support for Mussolini's regime was the main consequence
of the anti-semitic decrees as they had the largest impact and were heavily influenced by the decrees
with immediate effecr. Although Mussolini’s popularity had been declining since 1937 it was only in
very small amounts, the decrees in 1938 were the push into that major decline from both the people
and institutions alike. Disallowing Jews from marrying ‘pure’ Italians, disallowing Jews from owning
over 50 acres of land, banning Jew from owning a company with over 100 ‘pure’ Italian workers.
These reforms set out to ostracise and isolate the Jewish population and unlike the response in Nazi
Germany the Italian public rebelled against the rules and humiliated the legality of the decrees. As
well as the major decrees in public support, institutions and political leaders also removed their
support in the regime's policies. Pope Pius XI who was the head of the Catholic church spoke out
against laws and publicly denounced the fascist regime. The Catholic church had heavy influence
around Italy and the banning of Jewish marital relationships ran against Catholic beliefs. The
influence of the church would also add to the heavy losses of support due to Italy being heavily
religious and devoted to the church. One of Mussolini's main supporters and aid with his rise to power
was the church, so the removal and condemnation thoroughly hurt his support. The inside of the
fascist cabinet is also seen to have removed / decreased their support through their intentional slow
release of policies. This illustrates that even members of his own cabinet were beginning to lose
support and faith in Mussolini's capabilities with the party becoming divided. The decrees exposed
Mussolini's incompetency to run a country due to him being so easily influenced by outsider leaders
like Hitler with the dissolution and apathy that followed the decrees being the start of the end of
Mussolini. The sudden turn to radicalisation had upset Italy as a nation, with the decrees being largely
rejected across all sectors. The immediacy of this rejection adds to the reason for this taking the
foreground in consequence as his popularity decreased immediately in a large scale. This meant that
the loss of support was the main consequence as without it Mussolini had not lost as much support as
he did, it was a major contributing factor and unlike the other consequences his loss of support
depended heavily on this implementation of the anti semitic policies with this shown by it taking
immediate effect after the decrees were announced unlike the other consequences which took longer
to take place showing that the decrees weren’t the only contributing factor and weren’t as strongly
impactful as the decrees were on his popularity.
Another consequence for the introduction of anti semitic decrees was that it paved a path straight to
World War Two in joining Hitler and Germany. Mussolini’s motivation behind the decrees was to shift
Italy to become a more radicalised militaristic nation that was unified under a common enemy - Jews.
By setting the decrees he hoped that it would prepare Italy for the potential War and make them more
imperialistic and motivated to fight in the battle for Italy. This nationalism was a constant reoccurring
propaganda Mussolini used in an attempt to push Italy into becoming more like Germany. An example
of this propaganda was the Battle of the Grain in which Mussolini hoped to motivate Italy to try and
anti-semitic decrees of 1938 was a reduction in support for Mussolini’s regime?
It is accurate to state that the main consequence of Mussolini's anti-semitic decrees was a reduction of
his support in 1938. Although support has been decreasing, his radicalisation was the tipping point
and his loss of support was the most impactful event. It is not the main consequence but the loss of
culture and the road to World War Two being set are still major consequences to come out, due to the
emigration being in a small amount and the lead up to the war still would have happened even if
decrees hadn't been placed.f
It is accurate to say that the reduction and support for Mussolini's regime was the main consequence
of the anti-semitic decrees as they had the largest impact and were heavily influenced by the decrees
with immediate effecr. Although Mussolini’s popularity had been declining since 1937 it was only in
very small amounts, the decrees in 1938 were the push into that major decline from both the people
and institutions alike. Disallowing Jews from marrying ‘pure’ Italians, disallowing Jews from owning
over 50 acres of land, banning Jew from owning a company with over 100 ‘pure’ Italian workers.
These reforms set out to ostracise and isolate the Jewish population and unlike the response in Nazi
Germany the Italian public rebelled against the rules and humiliated the legality of the decrees. As
well as the major decrees in public support, institutions and political leaders also removed their
support in the regime's policies. Pope Pius XI who was the head of the Catholic church spoke out
against laws and publicly denounced the fascist regime. The Catholic church had heavy influence
around Italy and the banning of Jewish marital relationships ran against Catholic beliefs. The
influence of the church would also add to the heavy losses of support due to Italy being heavily
religious and devoted to the church. One of Mussolini's main supporters and aid with his rise to power
was the church, so the removal and condemnation thoroughly hurt his support. The inside of the
fascist cabinet is also seen to have removed / decreased their support through their intentional slow
release of policies. This illustrates that even members of his own cabinet were beginning to lose
support and faith in Mussolini's capabilities with the party becoming divided. The decrees exposed
Mussolini's incompetency to run a country due to him being so easily influenced by outsider leaders
like Hitler with the dissolution and apathy that followed the decrees being the start of the end of
Mussolini. The sudden turn to radicalisation had upset Italy as a nation, with the decrees being largely
rejected across all sectors. The immediacy of this rejection adds to the reason for this taking the
foreground in consequence as his popularity decreased immediately in a large scale. This meant that
the loss of support was the main consequence as without it Mussolini had not lost as much support as
he did, it was a major contributing factor and unlike the other consequences his loss of support
depended heavily on this implementation of the anti semitic policies with this shown by it taking
immediate effect after the decrees were announced unlike the other consequences which took longer
to take place showing that the decrees weren’t the only contributing factor and weren’t as strongly
impactful as the decrees were on his popularity.
Another consequence for the introduction of anti semitic decrees was that it paved a path straight to
World War Two in joining Hitler and Germany. Mussolini’s motivation behind the decrees was to shift
Italy to become a more radicalised militaristic nation that was unified under a common enemy - Jews.
By setting the decrees he hoped that it would prepare Italy for the potential War and make them more
imperialistic and motivated to fight in the battle for Italy. This nationalism was a constant reoccurring
propaganda Mussolini used in an attempt to push Italy into becoming more like Germany. An example
of this propaganda was the Battle of the Grain in which Mussolini hoped to motivate Italy to try and
