Life in Fascist Italy
policies toward women
Battle of the Births
Tax benefits with more children (encourage growth in population)
Bachelors got taxed heavily (promoted marriage, thus children)
Focused on traditional roles
After getting a certain amount of children (14), mother was awarded and hailed (promoted population growth)
Goal: 40-60 million population in 23 years --> FAILED
The task of young girls was to get married and have children – lots of them. In 1927, Mussolini launched his Battle for Births.
Families were given a target of 5 children. Mothers who produced more were warmly received by the Fascist government.
Though the population grew as people were living longer due to better medical care, the birth rate actually went down between 1927 and 1934.
policies toward children and education
Boys were expected to be soldiers. Girls were raised to be good mothers. War is in the male while childbearing is in the female
Children were taught at school, that the great days of modern Italy started in 1922 with the March on Rome. Children were taught that Mussolini was the only man who could lead Italy back to greatness. Children were taught to call him “Il Duce” and boys were encouraged to attend after school youth movements.
3 Youth Movements:
Sons of the She Wolf- ages 4-8, wore blackshirts
Balilla- ages 8-14, wore Black shirt, black cap, shorts, and grey socks
Avanguardista- ages 15-18, wore same as Balilla but knickerbockers instead of shorts
Groups for all age groups for children to get them used to the fascist ideology
Children were taught to obey those in charge.
Quote children were made to memorize: “I believe in Rome, the Eternal, the mother of my country……I believe in the genius of Mussolini…and in the resurrection of the Empire.”
The glory of the old Roman Empire always lurked in the background of much of what children did.
economic policies (which includes things like trade unions)
1925- Battle for Grain- farmers were to be more productive and produce more. Farmers that did so were awarded
1926- Battle for Land- Increase living space and farm land by draining swamps.
1926- Battle for Lira- aimed to reduce inflation and fix the Lira at 90 to £, proving the power of the Lira and Italy
The Charter of Labour of 1927 (Italian: Carta del Lavoro) was one of the main pieces of legislation Benito Mussolini, the Italian Fascist dictator from 1922–43, introduced in his attempts to modernise the Italian economy. The Charter was promulgated by the Grand Council of Fascism and publicized in the Lavoro d'Italia newspaper on April 23, 1927. It was mainly designed by Giuseppe Bottai, Under-Secretary of State of Corporations.
The Charter declared private enterprise to be the most efficient, thus helping Mussolini to confirm the support of the rich industrialists who were the initial backers of Fascism. It insisted that state intervention was legitimate only where private enterprise was deficient.
Corporatism- Economy managed collectively by employers, workers, and state.
Attempt at autarchy, or self sufficiency
cultural policies (including religion, police, cultural events, propaganda, the arts, cultural events)
All Italians were expected to obey Mussolini and his Fascist Party. Authority was enforced by the use of the Blackshirts – the nickname for the Fasci di Combattimenti.
It was the Blackshirts who murdered the socialist Matteotti – an outspoken critic of Mussolini.
Blackshirts were usually ex-soldiers
“Italy wants peace and quiet, work and calm. I will give these things with love if possible and with force if necessary.”
Italy did have a secret police under Mussolini. It was called the OVRA. It was formed in 1927 and was lead by Arturo Bocchini.
The death penalty was restored under Mussolini for serious offences.
Yet up to 1940 only ten people had been sentenced to death. Only 4000 people were arrested by the OVRA and sent to prison.
Prisons were set up on remote Mediterranean islands such as Ponza and Lipari. Condition for those sentenced to the prisons here were crude and many anti-Fascists simply left Italy for their own safety.
Religion- Catholic church and the Pope
Legal System
Acerbo Laws: if more than 25% is won in election, then they get 66% of the seats in parliment
1926- all political parties banned
New Constitution- establishged diarchy (Mussolini and King would be in charge)