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DispatchFactbookHistory

by The Sarasti-Varis Deputy of Ferdinand Schafer. . 85 reads.

Timeline of Fascist History (WIP)

-Precise dates in the form YYYY.MM.DD-

Pre-Power

1883.7.29: Benito Mussolini -The eventual founder of Fascism- is born in Italy to Alessandro & Rosa Mussolini in the comune of Predappio. Later, two younger brothers would be added; Arnaldo and Edvige.

> The early political beliefs of Mussolini would be influenced by his socialist father.


(Young Adult Mussolini)

1901: Mussolini's educational career in a boarding school run by Silesian monks comes to a close and is qualified as an elementary schoolmaster with good grades and is actively employed in this profession for some time.

1902: Mussolini emigrates to Switzerland at the age of 18 partly to avoid compulsory military service. a part of Mussolini's early adulthood is spent here, traveling around, and gradually becoming involved with the local socialists; speaking to workers and advocating strikes.

1904.12: At the age of 21 Returns to Italy to be pardoned for desertion in the military, having been convicted in absentia.

1905-1906.9: Mussolini serves in the Italian corps, in exchange for his pardon. After finishing, returns to his original schoolmaster's profession and teaching work for the next couple of years.

1909-1914: Mussolini's life period as a more focused/committed revolutionary socialist and a journalist; becomes the secretary of a labor-party in Trento, actively edits the newspapers The Future of the Worker and The Class Struggle. Directs the socialist newspaper Avanti!

>During this time he would also begin his journey into philosophy by reading (and enjoying) the works of Sorel, Marinetti, Herve, Malatesta, Engels and Marx.

1914.11-1915: After a falling out with the Italian Socialist Party due to disagreements on Italian war-policy (Mussolini supported intervention and the Triple Alliance whereas the Socialist Party was anti-interventionist and in support of the Allies) he founds a new political movement; The Fasci Rivoluzionari d'Azione Internazionalista, members of which called themselves Fascisti (Fascists). At the same time, Mussolini would go on to reject the socialist concept of class-conflict and re-aligning himself (in his own words) as a "nationalist socialist" beyond the borders of class.

> Demonstrating this transformation, he said:

"The nation has not disappeared. We used to believe that the concept was totally without substance. Instead we see the nation arise as a palpitating reality before us! ... Class cannot destroy the nation. Class reveals itself as a collection of interests—but the nation is a history of sentiments, traditions, language, culture, and race. Class can become an integral part of the nation, but one cannot eclipse the other. The class struggle is a vain formula, without effect and consequence wherever one finds a people that has not integrated itself into its proper linguistic and racial confines—where the national problem has not been definitely resolved. In such circumstances the class movement finds itself impaired by an inauspicious historic climate."

>>The Fascist movement at this time was very small, in its first baby steps, and lacking any coherent/integrated policies. It was actively harassed by the government and orthodox socialists.

1915-1917: Mussolini serves in WW1 in the Italian Army as a bersagliere and reaching the rank of Corporal. At the end of his service, Mussolini the Socialist was practically dead and of history.

1919: Dino Grandi, a close confidant of Mussolini, forms the Blackshirts (or squadristi); a paramilitary wing with a purpose to calm the streets of Italy by re-instating order as well as defending Fascists from their socialist enemies. The Blackshirts would go on to become one of the most fanatically loyal to Mussolini and the Fascist cause.

1919.3.23: Mussolini reforms the earlier Fascio movement as Fasci Italiani di Combattimento; The Italian Combat Squad, which at this time is comprised of 200 members. Mussolini appoints himself as "Duce of Fascism" (Leader of Fascism) for the first time.

> Ideology & doctrinal basis is developed. Inspiration for this is found in the works of Plato, Sorel, Nietzsche, and Vilfredo Pareto. Especially Plato's "Republic" was influential in the promotion of key Fascist ideas such as: Oligarchy (rule by elite), the state as an ultimate goal, anti-democracy, class-harmony/class-collaboration, anti-egalitarianism, militarism (creating a warrior-caste), emphasis on civic-duty, the hand of the state growing and guiding future rulers and warriors of the state through education.

>Managing to be both traditionalist and revolutionary simultaneously, in the political climate at the time, Fascists are started to be seen as the third way.

1921: After a period of swift growth fueled by the people's discontent and distrust of the reigning system; its shortcomings manifested in the societal issues it has caused/failed to rectify, the Fascist movement re-forms itself yet again. The National Fascist Party is created. Mussolini is elected to the chamber of deputies and it becomes common conduct to refer to Mussolini as "II Duce".

1922.11.27-28: LinkThe March on Rome

In a successful show of power 30 000 Fascist Blackshirts (from an estimated total of 200 000) gather in Rome and demand the dismissal of the liberal Prime Minister Luigi Facta and for a new Fascist government to be formed. King Victor Emmanuel III -realizing the wide support Mussolini enjoys in the military and the industrial-agrarian elite- relents.

>On the 31st of October 1922, At the age of 39, Mussolini is appointed Prime Minister of Italy by The King. Thus, a new period begins.

Fascists in Power; Italia Fascista and Beyond

1922-1924: In these early years the Fascists maintain power through a political alliance comprising of the Fascists themselves along with nationalists, liberals, and a pair of Catholic clerics of the popular party. The height of Fascist power is yet to be reached, albeit a historically significant and consequential epoch has already been achieved and the party continues to grow as more are drawn to its gospel.

>1922-1925: The Battle for the Lira (national currency) is underway. Aimed to fix inflation and to improve the value of the currency by stabilizing the lira at a rate of 90 to the pound sterling (£) the policy effects a dent in Italian exports, however, is greatly beneficial to Italian heavy-industry which in turn, helped support expanded rearmament and a better national defense which it brings. With the rearmament, Italians could also pursue a more active foreign policy and not simply watch from the sides as other military-powers get involved with events.

-1923: The Pacification of Libya begins under the command of Rodolfo Graziani and Pietro Padoglio.

-1923.1: The Blackshirts are promoted into an official national entity as an integrated volunteer force within the Italian Army. The organization is structured according to ancient Roman style into squads, maniples, centurias, cohorts and legions. Members take an oath of allegiance to Mussolini personally. In times of war, The Blackshirts could be compared to the Waffen-SS of National Socialist Germany, an elite force of the deadliest of those most faithful to Fascism and Mussolini, better equipped in weaponry and tools and strongly convicted to fight. This was especially true on the part of the "M Battalions" (Battaglioni Mussolini) sourced from Blackshirt's membership and given special training.

-1923.6- The Acerbo Law is passed by the Government.

Named after its creator Giacomo Acerbo -a Fascist politician, economist, and later Minister of Agriculture & Forestry, as well as a member of the Fascist Grand Council- this clever law turned the whole of Italy into a single constituency and made it so that the party which gained the most votes (so long it was above 25%) would earn 2/3rd of seats in the parliament. The remaining seats would be shared by the rest in proportion. A tool designed to speed up the progress of the Fascist revolution, the Acerbo law would prove key in cementing the Fascist party into Italian society.

1924.6: With the Acerbo law in effect The National Fascist Party as a new contender wins 374 seats in the general elections, which translates to 64% of seats available. This substantially increases their powerbase and makes a coalition-government totally unnecessary. Mussolini and the rest of the party are now free to pursue towards the totalitarian state they have been advertising and advocating in the Fascist newspaper Il Popolo

>These elections would be last multiparty-elections until post-WW2.

1924.4.11: Mussolini introduces the prestigious rank "Marshal of Italy". The previously mentioned Pietro Padoglio (1926) and Rodolfo Graziani (1936) would be one of the more well-known holders of this rank alongside such names as Italo Balbo(1933) -who was also a very senior/central Fascist leader as Quadrumvir of the Grand Council of Fascism- and Emilio De Bono (1935), another Quadrumvir. In total, this rank would be held only by 15 different individuals throughout the Fascist regime.

-1925-1929: Cesare Mori as "The Iron Prefect" of Palermo wipes out the criminal Sicilian Mafia on behalf of and supported by The State. In destroying the criminals in co-operation with and through Mori, Mussolini's regime has done great service and benefit to all of its people subjects. Mori's actions cause him to be celebrated as a national hero by the media and newspapers, afterward, he is admitted to the Italian Senate in honor of his achievements where he remains in the symbolically prestigious role of a Senator until 1942. Now lacking the level of direct influence he used to have as Prefect and voicing concern and disagreement over Mussolini's interactions with Hitler from 1937 onwards, Mori fades away from the political and public life and becomes isolated inside the National Fascist Party.

Before the Mafia and before Sicily, Mori had served in the police forces of Rome, as a Prefect in Bologna (1921-22) and -after being called out of retirement by Minister of the Interior Luigi Federzoni - in Trapani (1924-25). He had joined the BUF (The Party) sometime before arriving to his assignment in Trapani the same year in 1924.

1925: The Battle for Grain begins with tariffs on imported bread. Famers producing grain are given grants to facilitate access to machinery and fertilizer. More land is being allocated to agricultural purposes.

The main goals of this endeavor were to:

-Increase the cereal production of Italy to help make it self-sufficient in grain.
-Decrease the trade-deficit balance
-Make Italy less-dependent on foreign imported bread
-Portray Italy as a major world-power

1925.1: In a speech to the parliament, Il Duce Mussolini announces his dictatorship and takes full historical, social, and political responsibility for the alleged assassination of Socialist opposition leader Giacomo Matteotti.

1925.11.12: Italy agrees to pay off war debts to the United States at a fixed interest of 0.4

1925:12:24: Mussolini's official title is changed from "President of the Council of Ministers" to "The Head of the Government". With this change in effect, Mussolini is longer held responsible to the parliament and becomes the sole individual competent/valid to determine the agenda of said institution.

1926.2: Democratically elected mayors and councils of comunes (municipalities) are replaced by podestąs; strong leaders chosen by the Fascist-controlled Italian Senate on the account of their merit, character, virtue, and competence. Each podestą had personal control/jurisdiction over their own designated territory and within the hierarchical ladder fell under the immediate supervision of the higher-level provincial authorities including the local Prefect (Prefetto); a judicial and political leadership official as well as an agent of the State with considerable/increased powers during the Fascist regime.

> Podestąs served for renewable 5-year terms, which could be (in reflection of the meritocratic principles of the State) revoked at any moment. In larger comunes the podestą had one or two vice-podestą(s) and an advisory board with members nominated through the prefecture or in some cases such as large cities, directly by the Interior Ministry.

1927: The Battle for Births. Aimed to increase the Italian population to a figure of 60-million from 40+ by the start of the 1950's. While the population did rise by several million over time, this was nowhere near the rates desired to achieve the target goal and as such was largely unsuccessful. As part of the measures to drive forward this initiative married couples were given State-funded loans from which a certain percentage was canceled/reducted with every new child the couple had. Families with at least 6 children were exempted from taxation.

1927: Link5-year anniversary celebration of the March on Rome. As we can see from this timeline, a lot has already happened during this half-decade.

1928: The Battle for Land (-39) is initiated by Benito Mussolini. Yet another of the Fascist's welfare & economic-related projects this expansive and long-term effort carried out over the next decade sought to achieve more land for both the needs of agriculture (supporting the Battle for Grain) and the growing population in need of more and better housing. Equally important was to increase the number of jobs available and decrease unemployment, stimulate demand, raise the quality of health by exterminating malaria etc. To improve living standards in general.

By 1939 more than 80 000 hectares of marshland and malaria-swamps had been drained and converted to housing and farming. Entirely new and modern cities with plumbing and hygienic amenities had been built (Arborea/Mussolinia -28, Latina/Littoria -32, Sabaudia -33 etc.) improving public health and well-being. Thousands of jobs had been offered during times of depression, short term labour had been abolished and collective contracts securing long-term employment in agriculture instead negotiated. The dynamic government showed itself in action, impressing both foreigners and nationals alike giving a morale boost for the nation.

1931.12.12: Achille Starace, an early member of the PNF since 1920 is promoted by the order of IL DUCE to the highly prestigious and influential position of Secretary of the National Fascist Party.

Having previously served as a National Party Inspector and Vice-Secretary of the PNF, Achille Starace reaches the peak of his career. In this position Starace effectively becomes the 2nd most powerful man in the entirety of Fascist Italy; answering and reporting only to the highest authority of the DUCE himself. While the DUCE is an "omnipresent force" and the ultimate highest authority, it is, in fact, the Secretary of the PNF responsible for the day-to-day leadership and governance and control of both the party and the regime itself and he has a permanent seat on the Grand Council of Fascism. From 1931 to the end of 1939, Starace was by far the longest-serving out of all the other secretaries of the PNF both before and after. The 30's is the decade of Starace. Among one of the most significant accomplishments and successes by Starace during his term, we can mention the intensified expansion and increased growth of party membership, bringing it close to that of NSDAP in Hitler's Germany. Starace was instrumental in cementing Mussolini into the Italian society as the leader of all Italians, the "DUCE"; a unifying force. Starace was the man and force responsible for the birth and creation of the "Style of Fascism" in its forms and manifestations.

> It is said that Starace was so fiercely loyal to Mussolini that he "breathed only at the Duce's order". Many parades and public mass spectacles to honor Mussolini were organized by Starace. Towards the end, Starace's favor and strong personal relationship with Mussolini had brought him enemies within the competition of the PNF, and these enemies (namely Mussolini's son-in-law and Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano) after many months of plotting, succeeded in persuading Mussolini to replace him with Ettore Mutti towards the end of 1939, a popular war hero, after the start of WW2. Starace would continue to remain an important figure, however, since he was transferred to the post of Chief of Staff of the Voluntary Militia for National Security, commonly known as "Blackshirts".


(In Blackshirts uniform)

1932: LinkThe Forum Mussolini -Great Fascist sports ground- one of world's finest and largest, seating 20,000 - opened by Il Duce.

1933: a law to establish and introduce family allowances.

1933.01.30. Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.

> At this point, Mussolini (who is Hitler's idol) has already been in power for 10+ years.

1933.03. Link Starace gives a public speech: Milan solemnized the 14th annual foundation of the Fasci Di Combattimento.

1933.10.28: LinkStarace attends the imposing rally of the after-workers.

1935-1936: Achille Starace participates in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, fighting on the northern front. In March 1936, following the Battle of Shire, he takes command of a truck-transportable motorized group of Blackshirts and Bersaglieri in Asmara, Eritrea. Starace uses these forces under his command as a "mechanized column" to triumphantly seize control of Gondar, the capital of Begemder Province, from hostile forces. Part of the combat prowess of Starace was the roadbuilding skills his men employed; which Starace used extensively. Only two days after the victory at Gondar, Starace and his forces reach Lake Tana, effectively securing the border region with British Sudan. Under the command of Starace, The East African Fast Column (Colonna Celere dell'Africa Orientale) had covered approximately 120 km in three days.

Before setting out to achieve his goals, "the Panther Man" (L'uomo pantera) as he was famously known by the soldiers in Africa, gave the following speech to his men:

"Soldiers, this is the most risky, most difficult and most important venture of the campaign. Don't waste a shot. We are carrying all the ammunition we are going to have on this trip. This column must be like an electric live wire. Death to the touch! Truck drivers must learn to keep to the right of the road under pain of severe penalties…

Britain is a rich country, Italy is a poor country, but the people of poor countries have hard muscles. The only way to explain the action of the English is that they thought they had only to mass a war fleet in the Mediterranean and Premier Mussolini would take off his hat and bow in submission.

Instead he reared up like a thoroughbred horse and sent his soldiers into Africa. Viva Il Duce!"

1936: Achille Starace issues a decree ordering all PNF flags to be created purely from an Italian-invented textile-fabric called "Lanital". Lanital was invented in Italy in the previous years and was based on casein, a phosphoprotein commonly found in mammalian milk. Starace called Lanital a "product of Italian ingenuity".

1937.01.03: LinkStarace and other authorities visit a permanent Fascist colony on the 3rd of January.

1937.11.18: Link Starace reviews provincial Fascist organizations and the Youth.

1939.01.25 LinkThe Duce delivers the speech in defense of the earth both as a culture and for the territory; the Duce gives the prizes to the rural people who have distinguished themselves; the winners come from all regions of Italy, priests are included. All together the participants sing Giovinezza; Achille Starace among the intervening authorities.

-to be added-

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