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Formation of an Independent Italy
The flag stands for Italy's birth as a unified, independent nation -
Papal States Taken Over by Italy
Represents the Church losing political power to the Italian monarchy. -
Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War – Battle of Adowa
A broken sword shows Italy’s military humiliation by Ethiopia. -
Italy Invades and Takes Over Libya
The boot (Italy) stepping on Africa shows colonial expansion -
Mussolini Becomes Editor of Avanti
Symbolizes Mussolini’s role shaping political thought with socialist journalism. -
Mussolini Kicked Out of Socialist Party
A fork in the road shows Mussolini leaving socialism and veering toward fascism. -
Treaty of London Signed
Represents Italy's sneaky wartime alliance switch for promised land -
Beginning of the Biennio Rosso
Red fist stands for worker strikes and communist uprisings -
Fascio di Combattimento Formed in Milan
Fasces = bundle of power, origin of “fascism -
D’Annunzio Takes Fiume
Honors D’Annunzio’s violent nationalism and death cult -
Mussolini Forms Alliance with Giolitti
Represents political strategy and manipulation -
Mussolini Forms the PNF
Represents fascist power and authoritarian strength -
March on Rome – Mussolini Becomes Prime Minister
The boot stomping shows the fascist takeover by force -
Corfu Incident
Shows Italy using military aggression for diplomatic gain -
Acerbo Law Passed
Tipped scale symbolizes unfair election laws favoring fascists -
Aventine Secession
Empty chairs show opposition leaders walking out of Parliament -
Matteotti Crisis
Dead face represents Mussolini silencing opposition by force. -
Battle for Grain
Shows the push for self-sufficiency in food as a nationalistic campaign -
Locarno Treaty Signed
Peace dove with handcuffs symbolizes forced diplomacy -
Battle for Land and Battle for the Lira
The plow = land reclamation, the coin = currency revaluation for prestige. -
Battle for Births
Represents Mussolini's goal of turning babies into future soldiers. -
Kellogg-Briand Treaty Signed
Represents the idealistic promise to renounce war — even if ignored later. -
Lateran Treaty with Pope
Symbolizes Church and State finally making peace. -
Stresa Front
The shields show Italy, Britain, and France forming a fragile anti-Hitler alliance. -
Abyssinian Crisis
Shows Italy crushing Ethiopia (symbolized by the elephant) during invasion. -
Italian Involvement in Spanish Civil War
Represents death during Spain's civil war. -
Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty Signed
Gears show Italy and Germany connecting as fascist powers. -
Munich Conference
Shows the weak peace deal between powers that allowed fascist expansion. -
Italy Invades Albania
The lion = Italy; the lamb = Albania. Symbolizes brutal takeover -
Italy Enters WWII on Side of Germany
Represents Italy allying with Nazi Germany and joining WWII. -
Mussolini Brought Down by Coup
The shattered crown represents Mussolini’s fall from power -
Mussolini Killed
The gun shows Mussolini’s violent execution by Italian partisans