THE BEDFORD SERIES IN HISTORY AND CULTURE

The Fascist Revolution in Italy A Brief History with Documents

Marla Stone Occidental College

BEDFORD/ST MARTIN’S Boston ♦ New York Contents

Foreword 111 Preface V

UST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS xii

PART ONE Introduction: The Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy 1

Long-Term Causes for the Rise of Fascism 3 The First World War and the Postwar Crisis 6 The Birth and Triumph of Fascism 9 The Destruction of the Liberal Order and the Consolidation of the Dictatorship 14 Fascist Politics and Ideology 16 Italian Society, Economy, and Culture under Fascism 20 War, Empire, and Defeat 26

PART TWO The Documents 33

1. The Birth and Triumph of Fascism 35 1. Benito Mussolini, Trenchocracy, December 15,1917 35 2. Benito Mussoi^ni, Afiernoon Speech, March 23,1919 37 3. The Program o f the Fascist Armed Squads, June 6,1919 40

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4. The Platform o f the National Fascist Party, November 7-10,1921 42 5. Italo Balbo, Squadrismo, 1922 52

The Destruction of the Liberal Order and the Consolidation of the Dictatorship 53 6. Law Establishing the Fascist Militia, January 14,1923 53 7. Benito Mussolini, Proclamation o f Open Dictatorship: Speech to Parliament, January 3,1925 55 8. Laws of the Fascist “Legal Revolution,” 1926 58 Decree on Public Safety, November 6,1926 58 Law for the Defense o f the State, November 25,1926 61 9. WiWmm David Moiiat, After Mussolini, What? November 1927 63

Fascist Politics and Ideology 65 10. Margherita Sarfatti, Dux, 1925 65 11. Fascist Anthem:‘Youth,” 1^2A: 68 12. The Lateran Pacts, February 11,1929 69 13. Lauro De Bosis, The Story o f My Death, 1933 73 14. Benito Mussolini, The Social and Political Doctrine of Fascism, 1932 77 15. Achille Starace, Going toward the People, 1933 87 16. Three Girls Do the Roman Salute at a Summer Camp in Marina di Pietrasanta, 1930-1931 89 17. Fascist Decalogues, 1928,1936,1942 91 18. The Clarifying Word of the Duce to the World, 1939 93 19. The Manifesto on Race, July 14,1938 95 20. The Racial Laws, September and November 1938 98 21. The Defense of the Race, August 1938 104 22. Rosetta Loy, First Words: A Childhood in Fascist Italy, 1939-1943 106 CONTENTS

4. Italian Society, Economy, and Culture under Fascism 109 23. Nino Sammartano, Course on Fascist Culture for Use in Middle Schools, 1937 109 24. Programs and Courses Offered by the Fascist Women’s Organization, 1937 112 25. The Italian Woman at War, 1941 117 26. The Charter of Labor, April 21,1927 122 27. Benito Mussolini, On the Corporate State, November 14,1933 125 28. Benito Mussolini, The Twentieth Century: Inauguration Speech Given at the Opening o f the First Novecento Exhibition, February 15,1926 128 29. Mario De Renzi and Adalberto Libera, Facade of the Exhibition o f the Fascist Revolution, 1932 131 30. Ardengo Soffici, Flzsc/st Art, 1928 133 31. The Futurist Manifesto on Airpainting (Aeropittura), 1929 136 32. Tullio Crali, Dancing Flight over the Enemy, 1939 139

5. War, Empire, and Collapse 141 33. Benito Mussolini, The Discourse on Empire, May 9,1936 141 34. Benito Mussolini, Orders for the Use o f Poison Gas against the Ethiopians, 1935-1936 144 35. Song from the Spanish Civil War: “Long Live Spain!” 1936 147 36. A Legionary’s Christmas on the Russian Front, February 1,1942 148 37. Eugenio Corti, Few Returned: Twenty-Eight Days on the Russian Front, Winter 1942-1943 157

APPENDIXES A Chronology of Fascism in Italy (1914-1945) 163 Questions for Consideration 166 Selected Bibliography 168 Index 171