Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the Trenches to Fascism
When war broke out in Europe in July 1914, Italy chose to remain neutral despite being a
member of the Triple Alliance with Austria and Germany. Italy had territorial claims on
Austrian-controlled Trento (Trentino), southern Tyrol, Trieste and even in Dalmatia (some
of which it had tried and failed to take during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866). Under the
terms of the Triple Alliance, Austria was due to hand over much of this territory in the
event of occupying other land in the Balkans, but Austria refused to contemplate fulfilling
this part of the bargain.
The Italian government was divided between a non-interventionist and war party. The
latter, in view of Austria's intransigence, decided to deal with the Allies. In the London
pact of April 1915, Italy was promised the territories it sought after victory. In May, Italy
declared war on Austria and thus plunged into a 3½-year nightmare.
Italy and Austria engaged in a weary war of attrition. The Austro-Hungarian forces col-
lapsed in November 1918, whereupon the Austrian Empire ceded the South Tyrol, Trieste,
Trentino, and Istria to Italy in the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. However, it was felt
that the postwar Treaty of Versailles failed to award Italy the remaining territories it
wanted, a perception that was exploited by the Italian fascists led by Mussolini.
These were slim pickings after such a bloody and exhausting conflict. Italy lost 600,000
men and the war economy had produced a small concentration of powerful industrial bar-
ons while leaving the bulk of the civilian populace in penury. This cocktail was made all
the more explosive as hundreds of thousands of demobbed servicemen returned home or
shifted around the country in search of work. The atmosphere was perfect for a demagogue,
who was not long in coming forth.
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was a young war enthusiast who had once been a social-
ist newspaper editor and one-time draft dodger. This time he volunteered for the front and
only returned, wounded, in 1917.
The experience of war and the frustration shared by many at the disappointing outcome
in Versailles led him to form a right-wing militant political group that by 1921 had become
the Fascist Party, with its black-shirted street brawlers and Roman salute. These were to be-
come symbols of violent oppression and aggressive nationalism for the next 23 years. After
his march on Rome in 1922 and victory in the 1924 elections, Mussolini, who called him-
self Il Duce (the Leader), took full control of the country by 1926, banning other political
parties, trade unions not affiliated to the party, and the free press.
