This Unit is concentrated on the developments in Italy 1922-45 and on the rise to power, consolidation, and fall of Benito Mussolini as Il Duce of Italy.
Key Ideas
Key Idea One | Establishing the Fascist Regime | This Key Idea requires you to know the events before 1922, the establishing of the Fascist Regime 1922-1929, The March on Rome, political changes and compromises. It also includes the Matteoti affair, ways of controlling Italy and exercising Fascist power through propaganda. The relationship with the Catholic Church and the Concordat of 1929.
Key Idea Two | The Corporate State | This Key Idea requires you to know in detail the Corporate State. You’ll learn the economic ‘battles’ and the goal of autarky, economic management and the structure of the Corporate state. Lastly living standards, the OND and welfare and leisure will be explored.
Key Idea Three | Fascist Ideology and social change | This Key Idea requires you to know what changes and how successful were Mussolini’s policies for women, children, education, totalitarianism, class structure. Increasing radicalisation from 1936 and the impact of the Abyssinian war will also be studied.
Key Idea Four | Foreign Policies 1923-39 | This Key Idea requires you to know how successful were Mussolini’s dealings with other countries, what treaties he signed (Corfu, Fiume, Locarno, Austria, Stresa Front) before 1936. Also looking at FP after 1936 and the failure of Abyssinia, also considering Italy’s relationship with Germany and the Pact of Steel in 1939.
Key Idea Five | War and the Fall of Mussolini 1940-45 | This Key Idea requires you to know detailed reasons for the collapse of Mussolini’s regime; the position in the 1930s, entry into war, Italians making war in the Mediterranean; opposition he faced, his capture and death.