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Formation of an independent Italy
The state of Italy emerged as an independent nation state in 1861 with Victor Emmanuel as the king after acquiring Rome by force. This picture best symbolizes this event as it symbolizes unity, much like with the unity that Italy eventually acquired after years of division. -
The Papal States were taken over by the new nation of Italy
Through the backing of a plebiscite held in early October, Italy annexed the Papal States. The image below represents this event as it is a church, and with control over the Papal States, the Italian government gained more control over the papacy. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
The Ethiopian army dealt the heavily outnumbered Italian soldiers and Eritrean askaris a decisive blow and forced their retreat back into Eritrea. The photo below represents this and the tactics that the Ethiopians used to surround and defeat the Italians. -
Italy Invades and Takes Over Libya
The Italian invasion of Libya occurred in 1911, when Italian troops invaded the Turkish province of Libya (then part of the Ottoman Empire) and started the Italo-Turkish War. The war cost Italy millions of Lira and had a great economic toll on Italy. The photo below represents this manner of how Italy wasted money, putting it "down the drain". -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
Mussolini became the editor of the famous newspaper, Avanti, where he published anti-liberal messages. The image below represents this by displaying one of these newspapers he published. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
November 1914, Mussolini was fired from Avanti! because he switched his views from one of war-neutralist to one of a war-interventionist. Along with this, Mussolini was kicked from the Socialist party and published his own newspaper, Popolo d'Italia. This image represents this as this is a newspaper displaying the socialist new "distaste" of Mussolini. -
Treaty of London Signed
The Treaty of London was an agreement between Italy and the Triple Entente promising certain territories and populations in return for Italy's support. However, Italy was not provided as much as they had expected. This image reveals how many people of Italy felt "stabbed in the back". -
Start of Biennio Rosso
The Biennio Rosso was a violent period (1919-1920). It was caused by the resulting unrest of rising unemployment, poor economical state of Italy, and poor political state of Italy. This image represents the Biennio Rosso as Biennio Rosso translates to "the two red years", further shedding light on the violence of the period. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
D'Annunzio went to Fiume with 2,000 people to occupy the territory for several months and his followers joined Mussolini and his movement after the occupation was over. The photo of Mussolini and D'Annunzio represent another collaboration of Mussolini on his way to dictatorship. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
This movement was made up of all different people with different nationalistic and political views. The goal was to unite them. The photograph above is significant because it represents people with different views coming together. -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
Giolitti was the head of the Italian government. Mussolini worked with him to strengthen his role in the Italian government/parliament as the leader of the PNF. Giolitti formed the National Bloc and during the election campaign around 100 socialists were killed by Fascist violence. The picture shows Giolitti and represents another party that Mussolini had to work with on his way to becoming dictator. -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
To separate from the ras Mussolini signed the Pact of Pacification with socialists and trade unions and resigning from the Fascist Central Committee. He then persuaded members of the Fasci di Combattimento to join the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF). He was elected leader and made an agreement to end the truce with the socialists and organize action squads. The pin represents the loyalty that Mussolini was able to gain with his promises even as he went against his own party. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
The ras was determined to move the Fascist party from local to national power by organizing a March on Rome. Blackshirts marched toward Rome, taking control of newspapers, telegram offices, government buildings and army barracks. Over 30,000 arrived in Rome and Prime Minister Luigi Facta tried to stop the coup but, out of fear, the king instead appointed Mussolini Prime Minister. The picture represents the King giving Mussolini the power instead of him having to take it by force. -
Acerbo Law passed
In hopes of reforming the electoral system to strengthen his status he passed a new law giving the party or alliance that won the most votes two-thirds of the seats in parliament. The law was made to ensure the fascists had total control over Italian politics in a legal way. This picture shows votes being stolen which represents the fact that although the fascist party designed the law to seem like they won in a legal way, they still stole the election. -
Corfu Incident
Mussolini took advantage of the death of an Italian general murdered on Greek soil by demanding that Greece apologize and pay 50 million lire.This went against the League of Nations and invaded the Greek island of Corfu causing the Greek government to pay the fine and making Mussolini out to be a hero. This picture shows a political cartoon of Mussolini standing over Corfu being compared to Caesar which represents the League of Nation’s weakness against larger powers like Italy. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty Signed
Treaty that declared war was illegal when made to fix disputes among nations. Treaty was unsuccessful because it did not specify what was considered war, therefore many countries overlooked the treaty and went to war. This photo shows the Kellogg-Briand treaty being signed. -
Aventine Secession
Withdrawal of around 150 left to show their opposition to the rule of the Fascist leader Mussolini. The protest consisted of violent actions, although in the long run it failed to gather the attention of the public. This made it easier for Mussolini to gain full control of the government. The photo shows the Aventine group marching. -
Matteotti Crisis
After condemning Fascist violence, Giacomo Matteotti was abducted in Rome on June 10, 1924. Many people believed he was murdered by order of Dumini which caused them to question Mussolini’s involvement. To avoid blame, Mussolini ordered the arrest of Dumini on June 15. This picture shows Giacomo Matteotti’s body being brought out of the woods after his body was found on August 18, which best represents the crisis because it represents danger of speaking out against the Fascist party. -
Locarno Treaty Signed
An agreement to maintain the borders of Western Europe between France, Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The treaty implied that the borders of Eastern Europe could be changed. The photo shows the signing of the treaty. -
Battle for Grain
An economic campaign to to promote the production of grain. Mussolini did this to make Italy less dependent on their imports. Although increase of grain limited other crops because most land was used for grain. This made Italy imports other goods. The photo shows the production of grain -
Battle for Births
Battle to promote a larger workforce economically and militarily. Caused individuals to pay extra taxes, increase of maternity benefits, medals rewarded to exceptionally fertile. Battle failed, the birthrate decreased. The photo shows a hospital with newborns during the time of the Battle of Births. -
Battle for Land and Battle for Lira
Campaigns to make the Italy less dependent on foreign nations. Battle for land pushed for drainage of swamps and marshes to create more room for other agriculture. Battle of Lira wanted to improve Italy's currency. Both battles were successes. This photo shows Mussolini conveying the importance of the battles. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
A deal between Mussolini and Pope to exchange political support, the church would receive control of Vietnam, Catholicism would be official state enforced religion. This photo shows the signing of the treaty. -
Stresa Front
France, Britain, and Italy opposed Germanys ambitions to rearm the nation. Italy's invasion of Ethiopia was ignored by France and Britain because they wished to be united with Italy against German threat. The photo shows the Stresa front. -
Abyssinian Crisis
Italy had invaded Abyssinia without any declarations of war in 1935 due to being unsatisfied with their reward after WWI. Italy had tried to secure the borders of Ethiopia yet had resulted in an incident which had Ethiopia fighting with Italy. The picture here represents the League of Nations sanctions that had been put onto Italy. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
Italy had intervened in the Spanish Civil War in order to support the nationalist cause against the Second Spanish Republic. The picture here depicts the facist regime intervening in the Spaniard battle. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
This treaty was signed to form a coalition between Italy and Germany. This treaty had served to informally link the two facist countries. The picture here depicts the relatioship between the countries of Italy and Germany to be allies now. Additionally, it represents the facist ideologies now linking toward the Nazi regime. -
Munich Conference
Considered the policy of appeasement, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France sign the Munich agreement where Czechoslovakia must surrender its border regions and defenses to Nazi Germany. The picture here depicts the leaders of the conference to be convening to sign the Munich agreement. -
Italy invades Albania
As a result of the imperialist policies of Benito Mussolini, Albania was rapidly overrun by Italy. The country was made part of the Italian empire as a protectorate with Italian forces inside Albania. The Italian invasion is shown here through the picuter as it shows the Italian troops invading Albania. -
Italy enters WW II on side of Germany
Italy declared war along its ally Germany on the countries France and Great Britain. Italy had joined the war due to unsatisfaction with the inability to get territories in Turkey and Africa. Additionally, Italy was unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles believing it had done injustice among their country. The picture here depicts a headline of Italy entering the war declaring war on the Allied forces. -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WW II
Benito Mussolini is voted out of power by his own Grand Council. After a visit with the king, he is arrested and sent to the island of La Maddalena. The picture here depicts the slow fall of mussolini in his empire. -
Mussolini killed
In the final days of WWII, Mussolini was executed by an Italian partisan in the small village of Giulino di Mezzegra in northern Italy. The picture here depicts the public execution of Mussolini in front of the crowd.
