How far did How far did Mussolini’s power Mussolini’s power

depend upon depend upon repression?repression?

2. What was the role of the secret 2. What was the role of the secret police?police?

3. Was the opposition to Fascist 3. Was the opposition to Fascist rule of any real significance?rule of any real significance?

4. Was Mussolini an all-powerful 4. Was Mussolini an all-powerful dictator?dictator?

How far did Mussolini’s power How far did Mussolini’s power depend upon repression?depend upon repression?

How many people did Mussolini’s How many people did Mussolini’s government kill and imprison?government kill and imprison?

Compare with Stalin and Hitler?Compare with Stalin and Hitler? Few died in Italy due to their Few died in Italy due to their

oppositionopposition Possible around 400?Possible around 400? Shouldn’t think they weren’t too bad Shouldn’t think they weren’t too bad

after all!after all!

Fascist violence?Fascist violence? Violence more prominent between 1920 and Violence more prominent between 1920 and

19251925 But regime still used But regime still used repressionrepression Historian Morgan has said ‘ Repressiveness Historian Morgan has said ‘ Repressiveness

was not the most distinctive feature of the was not the most distinctive feature of the Fascist Totalitarian system, but it was an Fascist Totalitarian system, but it was an essential and inescapable component of it’.essential and inescapable component of it’.

The The police’spolice’s preventative and repressive preventative and repressive powers were extensive and sought to create a powers were extensive and sought to create a real climate of fear. real climate of fear.

Policing increasingly came to involve Policing increasingly came to involve information gatheringinformation gathering and comment on and comment on practically everything which talked or moved.practically everything which talked or moved.

SummarySummary After a period of cautious consolidation in 1922-After a period of cautious consolidation in 1922-

24, from 1925-1927 Mussolini established a 24, from 1925-1927 Mussolini established a personal dictatorshippersonal dictatorship

Italy remained a monarchy, but Mussolini held Italy remained a monarchy, but Mussolini held real powerreal power

Mussolini was a skilled politician but lacked Mussolini was a skilled politician but lacked many of the attributes of a strong leadermany of the attributes of a strong leader

Mussolini’s power was sustained by a personal Mussolini’s power was sustained by a personal cultcult

Nature of Fascist Italy = strong on style weak on Nature of Fascist Italy = strong on style weak on substancesubstance

Fascist movement was taken over by the state Fascist movement was taken over by the state not vice versanot vice versa

Individual liberty was suppressed but violence Individual liberty was suppressed but violence was not so extensive or systematic as in other was not so extensive or systematic as in other dictatorships.dictatorships.

a) So where did power lie in a) So where did power lie in Fascist Italy?Fascist Italy?

‘‘Terror & violence played only a Terror & violence played only a minorminor part in ensuring Mussolini’s hold on part in ensuring Mussolini’s hold on

power in the years 1924-39’power in the years 1924-39’How farHow far do you agree with this do you agree with this

judgementjudgement??

AgreeAgree – what else – what else did they do?did they do?

ChurchChurch

ElitesElites

Civil servantsCivil servants

KingKing

PropagandaPropaganda

EducationEducation

DisagreeDisagree

OVRAOVRA

Political executionsPolitical executions

MilitiaMilitia

Informer societyInformer society