The Extent of Political, Social and Economic Change in Italy (1918-1945)

The Extent of Political, Social and Economic Change in Italy (1918-1945)

Social and Political Changes in Italy (1918-1945)

  • The end of the First World War in 1918 led to widespread dissatisfaction with Italy’s minimal territorial gains in the Treaty of Saint-Germain (1919). This encouraged the growth of political radicalism and the eventual rise of Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Party in Italy.

  • Mussolini secured power in 1922 following the March on Rome. This marked the beginning of his Fascist regime that sought to re-establish Italy as a major European power by centralising political authority and suppressing opposition.

  • Fascist Black Shirt squads were instrumental in instilling fear, maintaining control, and suppressing communist and socialist opposition in the country.

  • The Lateran Pacts of 1929 formalised the relationship between Italy and the Catholic Church, made Catholicism the state religion, and recognised the sovereign independence of Vatican City.

Economic Changes in Italy (1918-1945)

  • After WWI, Italy suffered from high inflation and significant public debt, leading to social unrest and the emergence of the Biennio Rosso, a two-year period of intense social conflict (1919-1920).

  • Mussolini implemented economic policies aiming to modernise Italy. The Battle for Grain was an agricultural policy aimed at self-sufficiency, reducing imports and increasing domestic grain production, which yielded mixed results.

  • The Great Depression severely impacted the Italian economy, leading to high unemployment rates and worsened living standards for the population.

  • During the 1930s, the Fascist government pursued an intensive programme of public works, which included the draining of the Pontine Marshes and the building of a national highway system. These projects were aimed at reducing unemployment and modernising Italy’s infrastructure.

Italy’s Role in WWII (1939-1945)

  • Mussolini aimed to establish Italy as an assertive power, which was manifested in the Italian invasions of Albania in 1939 and Greece in 1940. However, these military operations exposed Italy’s military weaknesses.

  • Italy’s alliance with Nazi Germany in WWII led to disastrous consequences, including increasing dependence on Germany, a drain on resources, and the eventual downfall of Mussolini’s regime.

  • Following the Allied invasion (1943) and the Fall of Mussolini, Italy was politically divided between the Nazi-backed Italian Social Republic (north) and the Allied-backed Kingdom of Italy (south), causing widespread civil conflict.

  • The end of WWII in 1945 led to the dissolution of the Italian monarchy in favour of a republic. This marked the end of the Fascist period and introduced significant changes in the country’s political, social, and economic landscape.