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Formation of an Independent Italy
Independent Italy was formed although the Catholic Church still remained on its own separate state in Rome, as seen in the image. Prior to the independent, they struggled against Austrian Empire. As a result, Risorgimento movement allowed for Italy to become unified. As a consequence, the Italian politics were dominated by the Liberal. This is significant as they wanted to modernize Italy by using social reform: state education and stimulate economic development.. -
Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy
In 1870 of September was when the Papal State were entered by the Italians. As the Plebiscites had their back, the Italians were able to annex the Papal States and Rome in early October. As seen in the image the papal states were annexed onto Italy, causing the Italian government to have more land to rule. This is significant as it takes power away from the Catholic church. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
The Battle took place in north-central Ethiopia between the Ethiopian army (Emperor Menilek II) and Italian forces. This is significant as Italy wanted to start building an empire in Africa. The victory had further significance for being the first crushing defeat of a European power by African forces during the colonial era. Italy had a good start in the beginning, but because of Menilek’s army of over 100,000 and modern weaponry. The image displays the attack of the war with Italy's defeat. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
Italian troops invaded the Turkish province of Libya (then part of the Ottoman Empire) and started the Italo-Turkish War. As result, Italian Tripolitania and Italian Cyrenaica were established, later unified in the colony of Italian Libya. The image shows significance as it was the a unification that was not brutal but somewhat peaceful. Both flags are shown displaying a unification of Italy and Libya. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
In the year of 1912, once Mussolini was released from prison, he became an editor of Socialist party’s newspaper Avanti in Milan. In this newspaper, Mussolini advocated revolutionary violence against the liberal state. He also helped to expel pro-royalists and reformists from socialist party. This is significant as it shows his views and political stance for the government. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
At the start of WWI, while socialists were against war, Avanti newspaper, Mussolini and his friends (republicans and syndicalists) supported the entry of war on the side of France and Britain, as Mussolini advocated for dropping of class struggle- Franco Rivoluzionario di Azione. He was dismissed from Avanti, but started Il Popolo d’Italia which campaigned in favor of war, as seen in the image. This newspaper was financed by wealthy companies, FIAT, French, Britain, and Tsarist Russia. -
Treaty of London
Prior to Italy joining WWI, there were demonstrations on the street as the people (fascists) wanted to move towards an involvement in WWI. The Treaty of London allowed Italy to join sides with the Triple Entente(UK, France, and Russia). This secret Treaty was not fulfilled, as Britain and France refused. Rise of fascism led to a rise in ‘mutilated victory’ as Italy gained no African territory, Fiume and northern Dalmatia. The image is significant as it depicts the land situation. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
As 2 mil people lost their jobs in 1919-1920 industrial workers began to wave militant action, known as Biennio Rosso (2 red years). Trade Unions and peasants organized strikes and factory and land occupations across Italy. The image displays an Italian Occupation. The numbers involved went from 1 mil to 2 mil which is significant through unity with people as seen in the picture. In parts of Italy local government was seized by the socialists. Giolitti did little to prevent these outbreaks. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
The Fascio de Combattimento was formed as 118 people met in Milan. It is also known as the Fascist 1st Hour. The intentions of this group were to unity nationalists and socialists. Across Italy, it was established in 70 towns. Weakness was later seen, however, as Mussolini only got 5000 out of 270,000 votes in the November 1919 election. Only about 400 were committed to this doctrine. The image displays Mussolini as a strong man that is forceful but proud of his accomplishments. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D’ Annunzio overshadowed Fascio di Combattimento as he led 200 armed men to city of Fiume. On 12 September 1920 Fiume was taken. This is significant as it was the land in which Italy was promised by rejected in the peace treaty. It was taken in his conquest but only for 15 months was it controlled by him. The image displays their drive for taking the land; however, it was not that strong as the time was limited with their capture. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
For the May 1921 national election an alliance was formed between fascist Mussolini and Giolitti through offering electoral alliance between them. He was appreciating the support of the fascist Squadristis and seeing the large rise in fascism from Mussolini. They worked together and continued to use violence in killing about 100 socialists as they were an anti-socialist group. The significance of the image is as he is a more traditional man, leading to future conflict. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
Partito Nazionale Fascista was founded on 9 November 1921. It was of the Fasci di Combattimento and the Associazione Nazionalista Italiana merging together. This party was rooted in Italian nationalism and desire to expand Italian territory. The headquarters were in Rome and the newpapaer was Ill Popolo d’Italia with about 6,000,000 members. The image displays the Fascist Fascis which was a strong emblem just as teh strong amount of people. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
The fascist squad took over town hall, railways, telephones across northern Italy. The ras wanted to move from local to national power through urging a coup after the collapse of the central of the general strike, Mussolini struggled in restraining them. Under Balboa and Grandi, they wanted to seize major control. However, Luigi Facta, the current Prime minister, told the king to arrest him, however, the king promoted him to prime minister and he accepted the invitation, as seen in image. -
Acerbo Law passed
The Acerbo Law was passed in order to reform the electoral system. The Italian Parliament passed this law. This law was significant as it therefore strengthened Mussolini’s status, benefiting him by Giacomo Acerbo, who drafted the law. The party with the majority vote were given 2/3 of the seats. Overall, this law allowed Italy to have more stability as one party had greater control over the country. Therefore, Mussolini’s party was given the majority, therefore given more control. -
Corfu Incident
The Corfu Incident was about a one month incident between Italy and Greece. It began when an Italian general heading a commission to resolve a border dispute between Albania and Greece, as seen in image, who was murdered in Greek territory causing Mussolini to issue an ultimatum, which was not accepted in whole causing Mussolini to call forces to bombard and occupy Corfu. Mussolini defied the League of Nations and stated Italy would leave if it arbitrated in the crisis. -
Aventine Secession
The Aventine Secession was when the king was forced to dismiss Mussolini in June 1924. As the king thought highly of Mussolini, he blamed opposition and had trouble believing the facts. This cause Mussolini to call for censorship to preserve his name. An image of Matteotti was chose as days after his abduction, the king was pressured to dismiss Mussolini; however did not. -
Matteotti Crisis
On 30 May 1924, Giacomo Matteotti condemned the fascists for fraud and corruption of the election of April 1924. Matteotti was a highly respected socialist. This scared Mussolini as it would give him a bad reputation, so he ordered Dumini and the gangs arrest after they abducted Matteotti on 10 June 1924. The cartoon is significant as it displays Mussolini trying to cover up the death of Matteotti and the fraud he committed. -
Battle for Grain
The battle was in response to poor harvest aiming for more cereal to be grown. The best producer would be awarded a medal in order to entice the people. The north grew a more wheat than maize as they became more industrialized and got more tractors and fertilizers(as seen in photo), doubling production by 1939 becoming self-sufficient. As a consequence of the push for grain, the olive oil fields were turned into grain instead so they had to import olive oil, so it was a win-lose situation. -
Locarno Treaty signed
The reason for the treaty was to secure the post-war territorial settlement from the First World War Western European Allied powers and the new states of Central and Eastern Europe. In addition, it was to return normalizing relations with Germany, stating that it would never go to war with the other countries. It divided borders in Europe into western and eastern borders of Germany with Poland, which were open for revision. The significance is the image is that it shows the major men involved. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The Battle for Land(1926) was focused on gaining more territory and draining the marshes/swamps (as seen in the image) as a consequence of the loss of jobs. (Aug1926)Battle for Lira was a consequence of loss in value of Italian currency as they were not able to trade with other countries. As a result, coal and iron were able to be imported. However, it only artificially raised currency and although there could be an increase in imports, the exports declined, causing unemployment and a recession. -
Battle for Births
Mussolini wanted a larger army and so he was led to make incentives, less taxes, to have more kids to expand the empire and increase the people in army. He was an example as he had many kids seen in picture. Women were forced out of the workplace to become a housewife. It backfired as the number per 1000 decreased from 29.9 in 1925 to 23.1 in 1940. In addition, as men were conscripted into the army women had to take their positions in the work force so the birth rates decreased. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
The Kellogg-Brand Treaty’s goal was to outlaw war signed in Paris at the French Foreign Ministry by the representatives from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, the Irish Free State, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, and the United States. It took effect on 24 July 1929. Italy was not a major power in this Treaty, giving them little influence. The image is significant as it shows the amount of people involved and the importance. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
This treaty was between the Italy and the Vatican. Mussolini signed it for the Italian state while Gasperri signed it on the side of the papacy. This treaty agreed that the papacy would recognized the state of Italy (with the capital as Rome); however, in turn, Italy would have to recognize papal sovereignty over the Vatican City. The pope would be given full independence. The image is significant as it shows the pope signing of the treaty as he agrees to the terms place upon them, pos./neg. -
Stresa Front
The Stresa Pact was an agreement between Britain, France, and Italy which formalised opposition to German rearmament. It committed Britain, France and Italy to work together against Germany as seen in his anger. Even though it was negotiated at the same time as the Abyssinian Crisis, it did not once mention Abyssinia. Mussolini therefore felt comfortable in invading Abyssinia without intervention from Britain and France. -
Abyssinian Crisis
The second Italian-Ethiopian war or the campaign of Abyssinia was an armed conflict between fascist Italy led by the dictator Benito Mussolini and the Ethiopian Empire of Haile Selassie I, from October 3, 1935, to May 9, 1936. The image depicts the land divides and what becomes Italy's. This is significant as it shows their expansion. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
Italian participation in the Spanish conflict had consequences: the Italian aid to the Nationalists leading to victory as they brought a major downfall to the Second Republic before WW2, the diplomatic consequences of Italian involvement in the war hindered Ethiopian War reconstruction on Stresa Front, and the Italians were drained by material support to the Nationalist and the involvement of Italian ground and air units in War. This image shows that Italy got too involved in their war. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
Rome-Berlin Axis, Coalition formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany. An agreement formulated by Italy's foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano informally linking the two fascist countries was reached on October 25, 1936. It was formalized by the Pact of Steel in 1939. The term Axis Powers came to include Japan as well. The image is significant as it shows the agreement between the two men, although the people may not have approved. This was the start of their relationship. -
Munich Conference
On 29 September 1938 the Munich Conference occurred. The results of this conference was when the leaders of Great Britain, France, and Italy agreed to allow Germany to annex certain areas of Czechoslovakia. It wrote that Czechoslovakia must surrender its border regions and defenses (the so-called Sudeten region) to Nazi Germany. German troops occupy these regions from October 1-10, 1938. The image shows the major leaders discussing the terms and Germany, Hitler, is involved, showing progress. -
Italy invades Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania (April 7–12, 1939) was 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. The image displays the conflict about to occur as they are entering the city with their materials and large trucks showing power. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
On 25 July 1943, Mussolini was voted out of power by his own Grand Council and arrested upon leaving a meeting with King Vittorio Emanuele, who tells Il Duce that the war is lost. Mussolini responded to it all with an uncharacteristic meekness. Although he was taken down, the image is significant as it shows that Hitler will break him out of isolation to help him rise up Germany. -
Italy enters WW II on side of Germany
On October 13, 1943, the government of Italy declares war on its former Axis partner Germany and joins the battle on the side of the Allies. With Mussolini deposed from power and the collapse of the fascist government in July. The image shows how powerful Germany is compared to Italy as Italy is dragging along with a small horse. They are not as militarized and prepared for the war. This is significant as it shows them being a burden to Germany. -
Mussolini killed
Mussolini and his mistress were shot by Italian partisans who captured them in Switzerland. Allies pushed from south and killed him by shooting him and hanging him upside down with 15 other fascists. The graphic image is significant as it shows the hate that people had for Mussolini as they brutally killed him and by hanging them upside down shows the dehumanization of them.
