Timeline for Mussolini and Fascist Italy

Formation of an Independent Italy

Mar 17, 1861

This painting depicts the Italian people celebrating the day of national unity. This photo is significant because it illustrates the pride and nationalism of the Italian people through the cheerful and abundant crowd and multiple Italian flags placed in the background.

Papal States Taken over by New Nation of Italy

1870

This photo was chosen because it depicts the location of the Papal States and Rome, conveying the location in which Italy had annexed to gain power for their nation.

Failure of first Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)

Mar 1, 1896

This painting depicts the devastating losses of the Italian soldiers in the Battle of Adwa. This photo is significant because it insinuates that the Italians lost control and sovereignty over Ethiopia, weakening their territorial power.

Italy Invades and Takes over Libya

Oct 4, 1911

This photo was chosen because it depicts Italian soldiers arriving in Libya with weapons and materials to invade the country. This photo is significant because it illustrates how Italy is beginning to obtain power through colonial conquest.

Mussolini Begins Work as Editor for the Socialist Party Newspaper Avanti

1912

This photo depicts an article from the Socialist Party newspaper organization Avanti! which Mussolini became editor of to spread his ideas of revolutionary violence against the liberal state. The popularity of the newspaper aided Mussolini in spreading his ideas within Italy.

Mussolini Kicked Out of Socialist Party for Pro-Nationalistic Sentiments Regarding WW1

1914

This photo was chosen because it depicts a news article that states Mussolini had been expelled from the Socialist Party because of his contradicting beliefs. This photo is significant because it marks a turning point in Mussolini's rise to power, in which he begins to promote his ideology of fascism.

Treaty of London

Apr 26, 1915

This photo depicts the land Italy was promised (in yellow) by the Allied powers if they joined the war. This photo is significant because it conveys how the Italians not receiving the land promised, increased social unrest in Italy, and provided Mussolini with a way of gaining popularity by exploiting the public's vulnerable state.

Beginning of Biennio Rosso

1919

This photo depicts protests in Italy during the two "Red Years" in which Italy was in social unrest. This photo is significant because it illustrates the instability in Italy that led to violent reactions from the fascist party which aided Mussolini in his rise to power.

Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan

Mar 23, 1919

This photo depicts The manifesto of the Fasci Italiani di Combattimento, which was published about four months after the initial formation of the Fascio di Combattimento. This photo is significant to this event because it shows that this group was formed to satisfy both left-wingers and right-wingers, as this manifesto combined demands from both sides. Although this group included many fascist elements, it was not entirely fascist at the start.

D’Annunzio takes Fiume

Sep 12, 1919

This photo depicts the residents of Fiume cheering on D'Annunzio and his group of men in September 1919. This photo is significant because it shows the extremely positive reaction that the Italian people had to this march. This is why Mussolini is inspired by this event in the future and also why he attempted to model some of his actions after D'Annunzio.

Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti

May 1, 1921

(Please note that the day is listed as the first because the exact day of the formation of this alliance is unknown). This image depicts the logo of the National Bloc, which was what this alliance was called. This is significant because it shows the fasces, which was a bundle of rods with an axe blade that was used as a symbol of fascism throughout Mussolini's reign. It represented the person holding it (Mussolini) having executive authority.

Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader

Nov 9, 1921

This photo depicts a PNF membership card from 1927, several years after the group was formed. This photo is significant because it shows the importance of a strong leader (represented by the fasces on the card) to the members of the PNF and how it caused the party to last as long as it did. It is also very similar to the logo of the National Bloc.

March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister

Oct 27, 1922

This photo depicts Mussolini and his blackshirts during the March on Rome. This photo is significant because it shows how important to this movement that Mussolini appeared as a strong, competent, and involved leader to the public. It reveals how crucial his leadership was in keeping the fascists and the fascist party organized.

Acerbo Law passed

Jul 21, 1923

This image depicts Giacomo Acerbo, the man after which the Acerbo Law was named and the man that made the law pass. This photo is significant because Acerbo worked as a mediator for the blackshirts, conservatives, fascists, and the king. This shows that this law was always meant to guarantee a fascist victory in the upcoming elections.

Corfu Incident

Aug 29, 1923

This photo depicts the residents of Corfu watching as Italian soldiers invade the streets. This image is significant because it shows the importance of force (and even violence) to Mussolini in order to gain support for his movement. The previous government was not willing to use such force during previous incidents, so this amount of force and action on the part of Mussolini was enough to impress many Italian citizens.

Matteotti Crisis

Jun 10, 1924

This image is of an Italian political cartoon that depicts a caricature of Mussolini sitting on the coffin of Matteotti and was published on June 10th, 1924. This image is significant because it shows the outrage against Mussolini that the abduction/murder of Matteotti caused among the Italian people. This event sparked a hatred for fascism that may have led to Mussolini's eventual downfall.

The Aventine Secession

Jun 26, 1924

This photograph from 1924 shows Socialist legislators Enrico Gonzales, Filippo Turati, and Claudio Treveson after discovering Matteotti's body and withdrawing from the Chamber of Deputies.

The Battle for Grain

1925

This photograph from 1925 was a propaganda photo for the Battle for Grain in Italy. The photo shows Benito Mussolini posing on a tractor to influence others to produce more crops.

The Locarno Treaty

Dec 1, 1925

This photograph was taken during the Locarno Treaty signing in 1925, in Locarno Switzerland. The photograph shows representatives from Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy. This photo is significant as it depicts the event in which Italy had agreed to repel armed aggression across the frontier.

The Battle for the Lira

1926

This photograph from 1926 shows Benito Mussolini in the center making a decision on how to fix Italy's economy after World War one.

Battle for Births

1927

This is a photo of a medal known as the, Italian Fascist Mothers Medal. This medal was used to award mothers who had at least 5 children, to encourage reproduction in Italy.

The Battle for Land

1928

This photograph from 1928 shows Benito Mussolini beginning the harvest on Italian farms. This photo is significant as it shows how Mussolini is trying to appeal to the public by glorifying his actions to gain support.

Kellogg- Briand Treaty signed

Aug 27, 1928

This photograph from 1928 shows everyone who signed the treaty including France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Italy, and Japan. In Paris, France. This photo is significant as it depicts the event were the agreement of outlawing war was met, keeping peace within Europe.

Lateran Treaty with Pope

Jun 7, 1929

This photograph from 1929 shows Benito Mussolini and the pope sitting next to each other as they sign the Lateran Treaty. This photo is significant because it depicts the event in which the papacy recognized the state of Italy, which gained Mussolini an immense amount of support.

Abyssinian Crisis

Dec 5, 1934

This political cartoon depicts Mussolini bombing Abyssinia, taking their land, and murdering their people. This photo is significant as it shows the barbaric lengths Italy was willing to go to in order to gain power from the European colonial campaign.

The Stresa Front

1935

This photograph from 1925 shows Benito Mussolini entering Palazzo Borromeo to join the political representatives from France and Great Britain to confront Adolf Hitler.

Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty Signed

Oct 25, 1936

This photo depicts Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini shaking hands with cheerful expressions on their faces. This photo is significant because it represents the positive German-Italian relations due to the signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Italian Involvement with Spanish Civil War

Nov 28, 1936

This photo depicts an Italian boot stomping on the country of Spain. This photo is significant because it illustrates Italy's military support towards Spanish nationalists who were against the Second Spanish Republic

Munich Conference

Sep 29, 1938

This photo depicts the main leaders at the Munich Agreement, most notably, Hitler and Mussolini. This photo is significant as it shows how Britain, France, and Italy supported the German annexation of Sudetenland in return for a pledge of peace from Hitler.

Italy Invades Albania

Apr 7, 1939

This photo depicts Italian soldiers invading the nation of Albania with heavy artillery and modes of transport. This photo is significant as it illustrates the event in which Albania became part of the Italian Empire, growing Italy's strength as a nation.

Italy Enters WWII on Side of Germany

Jun 10, 1940

This photo depicts Mussolini and Hitler together in a carriage with cheerful expressions on their face. This photo was chosen because it symbolizes Italy's support for Germany when entering into WWII.

Mussolini Brought Down by Coup During WWII

Jul 25, 1943

This photo depicts King Vittorio Emanuele. This photo is significant as it was Emanuel and the Council who had Mussolini arrested and voted out of his own Grand Council, stripping Mussolini of his authority in Italy.

Mussolini's Death

Apr 28, 1945

This photo depicts dictator, Benito Mussolini. This photo is significant because it illustrates the leader who had completely changed the Italian way of life through violence and dictatorship.