Rise of Mussolini + Fascist Italy

Formation of an Independent Italy

Mar 17, 1861

The map depicts the 7 territories unified under the Risorgimento nationalist movement as the Kingdom of Italy. Gray regions signify territory retained for the Catholic Church (Papal States).

Papal States Taken Over by New Nation of Italy

Sep 20, 1870

Yellow region (previously retained for Pope's sovereignty) depicts the Papal States annexed into the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.

Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War + Battle of Adowa

Mar 1, 1896

Ethiopian depiction of the Battle of Adwa showing white-clad Italian forces being outnumbered by African troops. Visual dominance of Ethiopian troops signifies Italy's significant loss of 7000+ men.

Italy Invades + Takes Over Libya

Oct 18, 1912

Italian military propaganda postcard issued Italo-Turkish War; depicts Italian aggressive/militaristic imperialism as a value of Italian nationalism.

Mussolini Begins Work as Editor for the Socialist Party Newspaper

Nov 1, 1912

Cover page of the newspaper (Avanti!, main source of Socialist propaganda) Mussolini worked for as editor.

Mussolini Kicked Out of Socialist Party for Pro-Nationalistic Sentiments

Oct 1, 1914

Cover page of newspaper (Il Popolo d'Italia) advocating nationalistic pro-war expansionism created by Mussolini after his expulsion from the Socialist Party.

Treaty of London

Apr 26, 1915

Map depicts territory on the Adriatic Coast, in Trentino, and Trieste promised to Italy in return for their allegiance to the Allies in WWI.

Fascio di Combattimiento formed in Milan

Mar 23, 1919

This is a picture of a manifesto of the Fascio di Combattimiento that was published in an italian newspaper founded by Mussolini as a pro-war newspaper

Beginning of Biennio Rosso ('The Two Red Years')

Jul 20, 1919

Depicts one of many militant demonstration organized by trade unions, peasant organizations and 2 million+ industrial workers outraged by continuity of high unemployment under the liberal government.

D’Annunzio takes Fiume

Sep 12, 1919

This picture represents D’Annunzio and other Italian nationalists seizing Fiume. In this picture there is a clear leader and in the context of this that represents D’Annunzio as he establishes a regime.

Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti

1921

This depicts the alliance between Mussolini and Giolitti as Mussolini won a seat in parliament.

March on Rome and Mussolini becomes prime minister

Oct 31, 1921

This picture depicts the March on Rome as there are people crowded together marching on the streets.

Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist party) and is elected their leader

Nov 9, 1921

The logo of the fascist party, PNF abbreviated for Partito Nazionale Fascista which was formed by Mussolini and was used to rule Italy.

Corfu incident

1923

The corfu incident was a diplomatic and military crisis thus this picture depicts weaponary which shows the military crisis between Greece and Italy

Acerbo law passed

Nov 14, 1923

The 2/3 represents the amount of seats the party would get in parliament if they had a majority of the votes and the other third would be shared within the other parties.

Matteotti crisis

May 30, 1924

This is a political cartoon of Mussolini as a big man sitting on top of a casket that belongs to Giacomo Matteotti since he was kidnapped and killed by fascists.

Aventine Succession

Jun 10, 1924

The picture of the hill represents the Aventine Hill where Ancient Rome was buillt. The Aventine Sucession was named after the Aventine Sucession that occured in Ancient Rome many years before.

Battle for Grain

1925

The picture of a homemade bread recipe represents Mussolinis hopes to have a self-sufficient Italy in which they did not have to rely on foreign grain.

Locarno Treaty Signed

Dec 1, 1925

The picture of picture frames, or borders, represents the border agreements that took place during the Locarno Treaty, in which Europe's borders were agreed upon.

Battle for Land and Battle for Lira

Aug 18, 1926

This picture of a "job hiring" sign refers to the aims of the Battle for Land where Mussolini wanted to increase jobs for the working class.

Battle for Births

1927

This photo of a mothers day card with money in it represents Mussolinis goal to provide for parents in the Battle for Births. The aim was to make it so people wanted to continue to have kids, which would increase the population for Italy.

Kellogg-briand treaty signed

Aug 27, 1928

This anti-war campaign repesents ideas of those who signed the Kellog-briand treaty. This treaty outlawed war as an instrument of national policy because they wanted to avoid another WWI.

Lateran Treaty with Pope

1929

This picture of the cross represents the agreements with Mussolini and the Pope that ended with Vadican City being its own independent state and Roman Catholicism being the religion of Italy.

Abyssinian Crisis

Oct 3, 1932

Depicts Italian offensives made in attempts to secure territorial claims in Abyssinia, motivated by Italian culturalism villainizing African civilizations.

Stresa front

1935

This picture of Austria represents how Austria gained its independence from the Stresa Front Treaty.

Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty Signed

Oct 25, 1935

1936 postcard embellishing the Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty which reflects Italy's motivation of reasserting national prestige. Depicts alliance formed between fascist states of Italy and Germany which endured until WWII.

Italian Involvement with Spanish Civil War

Jul 27, 1936

Propaganda poster reflecting Spanish reaction to Italy's interference in the Spanish Civil War. Italian foreign policy justified by nationalism, eliciting fascist support for General Francisco Franco's cause.

Italy Invades Albania

Apr 7, 1939

Map depicts Italy's military initiatives used to expand their influence in the Balkans + establish strategic trade ports on the Adriatic by invading Albania.

Italy Enters WWII on Side of Germany

Jun 10, 1940

Depicts newspaper headline published after Italy joins WWII on the side of the Axis Powers which later engage in devastating military campaigns within Europe and North Africa.

Munich Conference

Sep 29, 1940

Depicts the 4 major delegates from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy who attended the Munich Conference which granted Sudetenland to Germany on basis that Hitler would not further expand German territorial boundaries.

Mussolini Brought Down by Coup During WWII

Jul 25, 1943

Headline published after the coup ordered by King Victor Emmanuel III led to Mussolini's removal from powerful position as Head of Government in Italy and his detention as an Italian prisoner.

Mussolini Killed

Apr 28, 1945

Depicts Mussolini's tomb in his family crypt with extravagant adornments fitting of the significant personal powerbase Mussolini built over his lifetime. Mussolini killed by a communist Italian partisan after the fall of his fascist government.