When we think of or mention the word “fascism”, automatically people may associate it with German Nazis’. Actually, there is more to this term than just the Nazis’. To be specific, the words fascism and fascist derives from the Italian word “fascio”, which means “group.” Fascism is a political ideology, movement, or regime ruled by a single dictator having complete power and leadership. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Italy began to go downhill. In the following years leading up to the disastrous entry of World War II, Benito Mussolini steadily established a powerful fascist state which challenged the existing political, economic, and social order.
Prior to World War I Mussolini briefly embraced socialism. Mussolini followed his father's footsteps and traveled to Switzerland in 1902, where he began to promote his political life as a socialist and a journalist. Two years later he returned back to Italy to serve in Italy’s peacetime army. In 1909, he went to Trent, Austria, to work for a socialist newspaper and later was expelled after violating the laws. In 1912, he edited one of the most important Italian socialist newspapers, Avanti! When World War I broke across Europe, Mussolini’s belief in politics suddenly changed. Mussolini causes an uproar in which he abandons and splits with the socialists over his support for the Italian military.
Mussolini had a completely different outlook on his political outlook. He published a newspaper to gather those few socialists who agreed on his own views. Il Popolo d’Italia, argued why Italy should enter war against Germany. In May of 1915, Mussolini serves. By 1917, he was severely wounded and discharged from the army. In 1919, Mussolini committed to being a fascist and founded the Italian Fascist Movement which later became the Italian Fascist Party. He involved the veterans, unemployed, nationalists, etc. They later became known as the “Blackshirts.” The Black Shirt Squads used violence to intimidate those who did not approve of Mussolini. Many saw them as protection, which led to popularity.
The impact of World War I had left the people and soldiers of Italy in extreme disappointment of its political class. When the Italians entered their First World War, they were promised new territories and colonies. The entry of war was so supported because they thought they would advance into a stronger European power. Unfortunately, all of their promises were broken and pointless. Also, Italy had undergone a major economic crisis. Hunger and unemployment was widely spread. By 1920, everything seemed to be unpopular and the Italians needed a change for themselves.
After World War I had left political chaos in Italy many people were in search of making Italy powerful again. By 1921, candidates for parliament elections were put up and Mussolini was one of them. Mussolini was a hundred percent sure that he wanted to rule Italy. His popularity increased whenever he publicly attacked the old political class. Instead of going through Parliament, he seized his power. In the month of October in 1922, Fascists plunged into Rome in thousands to be accepted as Prime Minister. This became known as the “March on Rome.” As they were all marching, Mussolini stayed in Milan. Automatically, this was a well demonstration that the Fascists and Mussolini could possibly save the Italian nation. King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy offered Mussolini to take control of his own government.
In 1922, Mussolini was given the authority to become the youngest Prime Minister of Italy. Upon his new entitlement, he had to form a coalition government to stay in power. In 1923, the Acerbo Law was passed which allowed the Fascists to have majority control over the parliament. Over the course of 1925, Mussolini took complete responsibility over the government and proclaimed himself as dictator, “Il Duce.” Once Mussolini was in power, he adopted many different economic policies that would increase the transformation of Italy.
Mussolini coincidentally came to power just as when Italy was falling under a “boom.” He for sure had very little interest in economics, however he was well determined to secure his position in power. After World War I, Italy needed an economy that was able to be maintained. Mussolini declared a more self sufficient economy, autarky. In order to make Italy economically independent, they needed to overcome poverty and control their own way of receiving goods, food, and other raw materials. At this attempt, Mussolini called upon three “battles”, the Battle for Grain, the Battle for Land, and the Battle for the Lira.
The World War had briefly interrupted its production of grains. The Battle for Grain was organized to respond from a poor harvest to an increase in grain imports. The decrease of crops caused starvation throughout the country. Italy’s aim was to grow more cereals, especially wheat. In order to supply an immense production of wheat, farmers were rewarded by the government to buy tractors, fertilizers, and other required machinery.