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Formation of an Independent Italy
Independence had been gained from Austria in 1861, however remained divided in many ways which made economic and social divisions within the country. The picture is important as it shows how divided Italy was which led to different opposition from political groups, minorities, and even the influence to join WW1. -
Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy
Italy remained a divided nation in many ways. The incorporation
of the papal states in 1870 resulted in Catholic hostility against the
new Italian kingdom, which lasted into the early 20th century. The church had a large power over Italy which later helps the support of Mussolini once fascism and the church joined forces. The picture is important as it shows the divisions and disunity in Italy. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa
In 1889, Abyssinia signed a Treaty of Friendship with Italy, recognising Italy’s purchase of Massawa and agreeing to it as a main port. However, the Italian conquest of Eritrea led the Abyssinians to oppose any Italian interference. In 1895, Italy occupied the province of Tigre in Abyssinia, but after several military clashes, Italians were defeated at the Battle of Adowa in 1896. This picture is important as it shows Italy's first failure as a new independent country. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
Italy took over Libya in order to increase the size of their country and stop the grow of French power in North Africa. In 1912, the Turkish colony surrendered to Italy. This picture is important as it shows how Italian were determined to defeat Turkish powers after their loss at Battle of Adwa. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
In Mussolini's early political views, he wrote articles for newspaper Avanti, where he advocated for revolutionary violence, expelled pro royalists and reformists. This later benefited his rise to power as he was in control of a source of propaganda. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
As WW1 began, Italy started off as a neutral, but supported internationalism. As Mussolini and his friends were on the side of the Franco- British, in November 1914 them made Il Popolo d'Italia which campaigned for war and the newspaper was financed by the French and British. Therefore, they kicked Mussolini out of the Socialist Party. This picture displays how Mussolini was fond of other countries which cause him and others to influence the country's participation in war. -
Matteotti Crisis
Giacomo Matteotti condemned fascist violence during election. Matteotti was abducted later and people were scared and avoided his regime. Many presumed it was from Mussolini and printed on newspaper, however gang member Dumini was found guilty, which is shown through the picture. -
Treaty of London
Italian parliament debate which side to choose in war as some were fasci, a mixture of anarcho-syndicalists and national
socialists who believed war would hasten revolution. Right-wing nationalists of the Italian Nationalist Association pushed for the conquest of Libya. However, the leading liberal politicians decided on Italy signing the Treaty of London and joined the war on the side of the Triple Entente. This picture shows how countries needed allies and Italy could not stand by. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso (Red Years)
Unemployment rose to 2 mil in 1919 which led to strikes from factory and land occupation and peasant leagues.Government leader Giovanni Giolotti asked for concessions response, however were met with riots of high price of food, which led to control of distribution. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D’Annunzio led 2000 armed men to Fiume – one of the areas not won in peace treaties. D’Annunzio’s force took control in open defiance of the liberal Italian government and the Allies, they ruled the city for the next 15 months. This bold action made D’Annunzio a hero to Italian nationalists, and proved an inspiration to Mussolini. This picture shows how D'Annuzio inspired many as they joined him in taking over Fiume. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
118 people met in Milan and formed Fascio di Combattimento in order to bring together nationalist and socialist and fascist programme published.It was united by syndicalists, people believed workers should control trade union and hated the liberal state. This picture also shows how in politics, women were not involved, as the "italian woman" remained at home, inferior. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Mussolini soon realized political opportunities opened as people feared fascist violence, therefore increased his popularity. Mussolini privately reassured Giolitti that the fascist revolution was not taken seriously. As a result, Giolitti offered the fascists an antisocialist National Bloc and the national elections due to be held in May 1921. During the election campaign, fascist squads killed 100 socialists were killed. This picture shows how Giolotti worked with political parties -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
Mussolini signed the peace deal, Pact of Pacification, with socialists, trade union, and Confed. of Workers. and resigned from fascist Central Committee to outmaneuver the ras. In October, he turned Fasci de Combattamiento to Partito Nazionale Fascista.The picture was the crest of PNF. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
Ras intended to march in Rome to seize power and Mussolini aided them and created a national militia. As the ras took over halls, radio station, and telephones, Luigi Facta called it a state of emergency and Salandra persuaded Mussolini to become prime minister which was accepted. The picture shows how Mussolini's power was appreciated greatly. -
Acerbo Law passed
Mussolini wanted to reform electoral system. Giacomo Acerbo outlined that the party that wins most votes 2/3 seat in parliament, no less than 25 percent, which intended to give fascist total control of politics and put armed guards on the door to ensure.This picture shows how they implemented the law. -
Corfu Incident
Italian general was murdered on Greek soil while making maps. Mussolini took advantage of this to demand that Greece pay 50 million lire as compensation, and make a full apology. When Greece refused to pay, as they were no responsible, Mussolini ordered Italian marines to invade the Greek island of Corfu. The Greek government paid them. Many Italians regarded Mussolini as a national hero after this incident. This picture shows how the L of N advised him not to do so, but proceeded anyway. -
Aventine Secession
Dumini was found guilty for the murder of Matteotti, this led to the opposition of deuputies to boycott parliament under Giovanni Amendola. Thy were also intending to kill Mussolini, however king blamed oppposition. This picture shows the opposition of deputies. -
Battle for Grain
A campaign in response to poor harvest and increase grain imports and to produce more grain/ cereal, gave medals and newspaper reported to good farmers to encourage, became easier with industry, however involved misallocation of resources, resulted in Italy having to import olive oil, while exports of fruit and wine, and numbers of cattle and sheep, dropped. In the picture it shows how farmers were heavily involved with economy. -
Locarno Treaty signed
Pact of Locarno, series of agreements whereby Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy mutually guaranteed peace in western Europe. The picture shows how country's representatives had to collaborate. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
August 18, 1926, when Italian currency dropped , to restore value and prestige, lire was revalued, allowed to continue its imports, however resulted in declining exports and increased unemployment.Battle for land wanted to incease farmland for crops, therefore they drained marshes, however this worked only in one area. This picture shows how they drained the marshes and used help of industrial tools. -
Battle for Births
Attempt to increase the Italian population to create a large future army that would help expand Italy’s empire, aimed to increase the population from 40 million in 1927 to 60 million by 1950. fascists encouraged early marriage, offered generous maternity benefits, women not to work, and gave jobs to married fathers in preference over single men., however plan failed. Number of births actually declined – dropping from 29.9 per 1000 in 1925 to 23.1 in 1940 -
The Kellogg–Briand Pact
The Kellogg–Briand Pact is a 1928 international agreement in which signatory states promised not to use war to resolve "disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them". The picture shows how many countries wanted peace after the World War. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
Ended the conflict between the papacy and the Italian state since 1870, the government accepted papal sovereignty over Vatican City, Roman Catholicism would be the religion of Italy, made laws like Catholic education in schools, state pay the salaries of clergy, In return, papacy agreed that state could veto the appointment of bishops, and that the clergy should not join political parties, no one could get divorced without the consent of the Church, and that civil marriages were not necessary. -
Stresa Front
A coalition of France, Britain, and Italy formed in April 1935 at Stresa, Italy, to oppose Adolf Hitler's announced intention to rearm Germany, which violated terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The picture shows that although Italy was on the side of Germany, their ideologies changed from German attitudes. -
Abyssinian Crisis
1935 Mussolini was eager to go to war and wanted glory and raw materials for Italian Industry. Abyssinia had Raw Materials and was conveniently located next to Eritrea, part of the Italian Empire. Buoyed by the failure of the League of Nations to deal with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and reports that neither France or Britain were wiling to go to war in defence of Abyssinia, he began preparations for an invasion. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
Took place during the Spanish Civil War in order to support the nationalist cause against the Second Spanish Republic. As the conquest of Ethiopia in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War made Italy confident in its power, Benito Mussolini joined the war to secure Fascist control of the Mediterranean. However, Spain was successful and Italy was defeated. The picture shows how Axis countries wanted more power. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
An agreement formulated by Italy’s foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano informally linking the Germany and Iutaly was reached on October 25, 1936. This coalition grew with Japan, another country willing to fight with Allied nations. The picture shows how they wanted to fight and optimistic of they power. -
Munich Conference
A settlement reached by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that permitted German annexation of the Sudetenland, in western Czechoslovakia.Mussolini introduced a written plan that was accepted by all as the Munich Agreement. The picture shows how countries were in need of seizing more power. -
Italy invades Albania
A brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Kingdom of Albania. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Albania was rapidly overrun, its ruler, King Zog I, forced into exile, and the country made part of the Italian Empire as a protectorate in personal union with the Italian crown. The picture shows how Italy wanted to save Albania. -
Italy enters WW II on side of Germany
By 1942, Germany was taking more from Italy than it was offering in military aid.In addition to coal and iron, about 50% of the 350,000 workers sent to Germany by Mussolini were skilled workers. The food he ordered to be sent to Germany caused serious shortages in Italy, and rationing was introduced in 1941. The inefficiency and inadequacy of the rationing system led to the rise of the black market. This later created a dissatisfaction with Germany. The picture shows their intial thoughts in war -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
The military setbacks of May and July 1943 finally triggered a coup against Mussolini on 24 July 1943, when the Fascist Grand Council voted 19 to 7 to remove him from power. On 25 July, the king formally ordered Mussolini to resign. He was arrested and imprisoned. He was replaced by Marshal Pietro Badoglio.The picture shows how Mussolini had never been able to impose a totalitarian regime. -
Mussolini killed
In April 1945, they captured the northern city of Bologna, and the Germans decided to pull out of Italy. Mussolini tried to flee with the Germans, but was recognised by a group of Italian partisans and arrested on 27 April. The following day, Mussolini was taken by another, communist-led, group of partisans and he and his
mistress were shot. Also executed were 15 other fascist leaders and ministers were hung upside down outside a garage in Piazzale Loreto in Milan, shown in the picture.
