The Rise and Fall of fascism in Italy 1911-46

1. Political Impact of the War
2. Social Impact of the War
3. The Mutilated Victory
   1. Gabriele D'Annunzio - Fiume

Annotations:

• - August 1914: War broke out between Germany and Austria against the Entente, Russia, Britain and France. -The Triple Alliance hadn't spoken to Italy before going to war with Serbia so they had the right to choose whether they went or not.  - Therefore, Italy announced that it would be remaining neutral. 

1. Attitudes Towards The Declaration of Neutrality

   Annotations:

   • - it caused a considerable split within Italian politics.
   1. Neutralists

      Annotations:

      • -Many within parliament and Giolitti were against the war because they believed Italy were not economically ready to engage in a major war, particularly so soon after Libya.  - PSI (Socialists) were against the war. - Most Catholics were against the war, including the pope, Benedict XV.                                      
   2. Interventionalists

      Annotations:

      •  - Nationalists were angry and pushed for intervention.     - Salandra was an interventionist: see 'PM Salandra' for more info
   3. PM Salandra

      Annotations:

      • - PM Salandra wanted them to join the war fearing that if the Alliance won they wouldn't be merciful to an ally who failed to support them in their time of need.  - Equally, if Britain and France were victorious and Italy had not assisted them they wouldn't be open to discussing Italy's ambitions in the Mediterranean (expansion and land).- Salandra also thought that if they went to war then he could introduce more repressive legislation and offer more authoritarian solution to Italy's political problems.
      1. The Treaty of London (April 1915)

         Annotations:

         • - Signed 26th April 1915. - Deals and negotiations began at the start of 1915 in secret. - Salandra and his foreign minister Sidney Sonnino began secret negotiations with the British and French government AS WELL AS Germany and Austria.  - However, the Entente offered a better deal: a victory would give Italy much of the irridente islands such as: South Tyrol, Trentino, Istria, Trieste and much of Dalmatia.  - 
         1. Neutralist Opposition (May 1915)

            Annotations:

            • - Giolitti denounced the Treaty of London. - 300 deputies announced their opposition to Salandra's decision. 
         2. Divided Opinion

            Annotations:

            • - Those backing neutrality called for Giolitti to be PM again. - Parliament was hopelessly divided. - Massive crowds of interventionists/supporters of the war held rallies in the streets where those who were backing neutrality were called traitors.
            1. Salandra's Resignation

               Annotations:

               • - Salandra resigned  - The King asked Giolitti to form a new government. - However, Giolitti was worried that going back on the Treaty of London was now impossible; if he did so, Italy would've now betrayed both sides in the war. - The King felt committed to the Treaty and said if it wasn't followed through he might abdicate. - Giolitti didn't want to follow through the Treaty OR overthrow the King so he declined. - Therefore, The King turned to Salandra and reinstated him as PM on the 16th May 1915.  - 4 days later on 20th May 1915, Salandra was granted emergency powers by the parliament.  - 5 days later on 25th May 1915, italy formally declared war on Austria with Salandra proclaiming that only through national unity could Italy claim victory against its enemies.
         3. Mussolini's Opinion

            Annotations:

            • - Mussolini believed that entry into WW1 was the best chance of creating revolution in Italy.  - As a result he was expelled from the Socialist Party for promoting intervention.
   4. Public Opinion

      Annotations:

      •  -The majority of Italians had no wish to partake in European conflict and backed Giolitti and other neutralist politicians. - In April 1915, the politicians who had won Italy's local elections (PREFECTS) were asked to report on public opinion and overwhelmingly replied that most Italians in the provinces feared war and had little concern for irredentism (+ expansion) or war against Austria.