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Formation of an independent Italy
The formation in 1861 was based on the Risurgimento movement going on. It fulfilled the goal of Italian nationalists and irredentists. However, Italy remained politically unstable due to the vast differences between communities. This picture illustrates the vast amounts of land were brought together which shows the difficulty in socially unifying Italy. -
Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy
Italy takes over Rome completing its irredentist goals for the Papal states, taking control from the Pope unto Italy through annexation. This image shows the land gained by Italy. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)
Italy invaded Ethiopia to colonize. They were met with opposition resulting in the Battle of Adwa which lasted from 1894 to 1896. Italian defeat came about after the Battle of Adwa, where the Ethiopian army dealt the heavily outnumbered Italian soldiers and Eritrean askaris a decisive blow and forced their retreat back into Eritrea. This picture illustrates a battle being fought during the war. -
Italy invades and takes over Libya
The Italian invasion during September of 1911 of Libya was an attempt to boost respect and be taken seriously as a Great Power. They were successful and annexed Libya just 2 months after the war began. This picture shows Libyan freedom fighters being captured and taken to a concentration camp. -
Mussolini begins work as editor for the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti
In 1912 Mussolini became editor of Avanti! (Forward!), the official daily newspaper of Italy’s Socialist Party. He was kicked out later due to his support of WWI. This picture shows an article for Avanti! -
Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti
On May 5, 1912, Giolitti, the representative of the Liberal party, initiated the National Bloc, as Mussolini claimed that the Fascist revolution would not happen. This shows a picture of the man himself. -
Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WW I
In 1912 Mussolini became a member of the Socialist Party. Only 2 years later he was remove due to his support for WWI and the party’s neutrality. This picture shows the logo of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) -
Treaty of London
A treaty signed in 1915 between Entente nations and Italy such that Italy was promised much of land and wealth if Italy sided against germany in ww1. This promise wasn’t fully delivered and lead to much discontent in Italy. This photo is important as it highlights the promised land and how much of the conflict resides in land on the Adriatic. -
Italy invades Albania
Italy begins to invade Albania, as a strategic point for the Italian empire. Albania served as a point of control for the Adriatic sea and the Balkans. Italy and Austria-Hungary supported the Nationalist movement in Albania. This picture demonstrates Italy’s plans for attack. -
Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan
Italian fascist organization created in 1919 by Mussolini. Made to appeal to war veterans. After an unfavorable election result in 1919, the organization began to employ far right ideals. This picture shows the organizations logo. -
Beginning of Biennio Rosso
After WW1, economic downturn and social unrest began. In 1919-1920, Italians began turning to socialist/communist ideologies and it almost developed into a communist revolution. This photo underlines the communist ideals that began spreading in Italy. This is seen in the mass support people had for the hammer and sickle. -
D’Annunzio takes Fiume
Gabriele D'Annunzio overtook the City of Fiume on September 12, 1919. He was praised for this by Italian nationalists, considered to be similar to Mussolini in some of his tactics. This picture shows D’Annunzio’s forces in the city of Fiume -
Mussolini forms the PNF (Fascist Party) and is elected its leader
Nov 9, 1921, Mussolini forms the PNF after his promise to dissolve his Fascio di Combattimento. He was elected the leader of this party due to the truce made with the Socialists. This picture shows Mussolini’s position as the leader over the rest of the party. -
March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister
In October 28th 1922, squadritstri protestors began marching in Rome. Instead of calling for the removal of protesting, King Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister, thus giving him more political power. This image highlights the black shirt protestors gathering in Rome during the protests. -
Acerbo Law passed
The Acerbo Law was passed in July 1923, promising the winning electoral party ⅔ seats in the electoral parliament. This was significant as with Mussolini’s victory in the 1924 elections. This image emphasizes the sheer amount of parliament representation the Acerbo Law rewarded to the winning parties. -
Corfu Incident
In 1923, there was a diplomatic and military crisis between Greece and Italy. Greece was invaded by Italy and it caused much conflict in the League of Nations. This image highlights the damage Italy brought to Corfu, occupying it without jurisdiction. -
Battle for Grain
This was an initiative by the Facist Regime of Benito Mussolino to make Italy self-sufficient in producing grain. Grain price domestically rose and this was bad for the poor who relied on grain-products for their everyday diet. Farmers were better off as they received higher revenues for producing grain. This image is significant as it displays Mussolini’s determination to the successfulness of the “Battle for Grain” -
Matteotti Crisis
After the 1924 elections, Giacomo Matteotti, a esteemed Italian socialist, criticized the Acerbo Law and the improper election of Mussolini. In June 1924, Matteotti was kidnapped and murdered by squadristri. This image highlights the control Mussolini had over the murder of Matteoti. -
Aventine Secession
After the Matteotti Crisis, many socialists, communists, and opponents of facism boycotted the the parliamentary assembly and left in 1924. This image is significant as it highlights the sheer number of opposition that had participated in the boycotting of the parliament, and this highlights how much power it gave Mussolini. -
Locarno Treaty signed
This treaty was discussed in Switzerland in Locarno in October of 1925 and later signed in London on December 1. The nations that signed the treaty were Germany, Britain, France, Belgium and Italy. It was created with the intent to keep good relations between Germany and France. This is a picture that showed the number of people that got together to create and sign a treaty that they all accepted. -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The battle for lira was an economic policy created by the Facist government in Italy as a way to increase Italy’s world power. It attempted to restore the purchasing power of the Italian Lira, which was widely unsuccessful due to inflation and the increased cost of exports. The battle for land included clearing marshlands to increase areas for farming, increasing infrastructure by building roads. This image is significant as it displays Mussolini in a power pose. -
Battle for Births
A plan to increase the birth rate in italy with the plan to increase the population from 40 million in 1927 to 60 million by 1960. There were incentives to italian citizens to have children such as people with 6 or more children were not required to pay federal taxes. Women were also reward with national recognition with a Mothers Medal. This image is significant as it is a Mother’s Medal presented to women who successfully delivered 5 or more children. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty signed
The Kellogg-Briand Treaty was an international policy agreement that would outlaw war as means of foreign and national policy among nations. This was one of several agreements out of World War I that attempted to maintain peace. It was signed by Germany, France, and the United States. This photo is significant as it shows US Secretary of State alongside other world leaders signing the Kellog-Briand pact. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope: Feb 11, 1929 – Jun 3, 1985
The Lateran Treaty was part of a series of agreements met between the Italian Government and the Vatican (Papacy). This treaty specifically recognized the Capital of Italy as Rome and an independent state as well as recognizing Vatican City’s sovereignty. This photo is significant as it displays the relations between the Pope and Mussolini, a major component in Mussolini’s solidification of power. -
Abyssinian Crisis
The Abyssinian Crisis was a conflict that arised between Italy and Ethiopia after Italy invaded without warning. Italy’s reasons for invading were based on a dispute within the Wal-Wal Crisis. The League of Nations was at deadlock because there was nothing they could do to prevent Italy from invading. This photo is significant as it displays Italian Troops marching through Ethiopia at the command of Mussolini who has successfully gained power within Italy. -
Stresa Front
The Stresa Front was a coalition, including France, Britain, and Italy that outwardly opposed and exposed Germany’s breakage of the Treaty of Versailles with Hitler intending to rearm Germany. The coalition did not last long as it was soon disbanded after being created. This photo is significant as it shows the key leaders of the Stresa Front. -
Italian involvement with Spanish Civil War
In December Benito Mussolini began sending large numbers of Black Shirts to Spain. In total he sent around 80,000 men. This picture shows the march of fascist militia from Italy on the occasion of the large victory parade after Franco's seizure of power in Madrid. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed
On October 25, 1936 Germany and Italy agreed to join forces in an effort against communism, linking the two fascist nations and creating a strong force in Europe. This picture shows the leaders of the two nations together. -
Munich Conference
The munich conference was held to create the Munich Agreement where a settlement was reached by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that permitted German annexation of the Sudetenland. This picture shows Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Ciano pictured before signing the Munich Agreement. -
Italy enters WWII on side of Germany
The collapse of France convinced Mussolini that the time to implement his Pact of Steel with Hitler had come, and on June 10, 1940, Italy declared war against France and Great Britain. -
Italy enters WWII on side of Germany
The collapse of France convinced Mussolini that the time to implement his Pact of Steel with Hitler had come, and on June 10, 1940, Italy declared war against France and Great Britain. This image shows a newspaper covering Italy's alliance with Germany -
Mussolini brought down by coup during WWII
July 25, 1943 Mussolini was voted out of power by his Grand council and later arrested. He later attempted to move his government into northern Italy. This picture shows a headline discussing the event. -
Mussolini killed
On April 28, 1945, Mussolini and his mistress were captured by Italian partisans. Mussolini attempted to flee to Switzerland but was seen by groups in the public. They were hung upside down and displayed publicly to the masses in Italy. This image is significant as it highlights how Mussolini was murdered in the masses.