Skip to Content

Sources of Fascism: Social militarization

Social militarization

Veterans' unions were an important element of the fascist movement. The Italian fascists initially united the combatants and veterans of the recent conflict, based on the strong disappointment of this social group. In this context, fascism originated in an atmosphere of rebellion and was anti-systemic in nature. In 1921, the movement was transformed into the National Fascist Party, whose black shirt militias carried out purges and fought against communists, syndicalists and socialists. On October 29, 1922, the fascists carried out a successful coup. Fearing unrest, the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III decided to entrust B. Mussolini with the functions of prime minister. The March on Rome became one of the examples of fascist mythology and, like the anniversary of the Munich coup in Germany, was solemnly celebrated annually.

The seizure of power by the fascists was associated with far-reaching state reforms, which were carried out selectively. The changes did not affect all sectors. Israeli historian and fascist researcher Zeev Sternhell comments on this phenomenon in the following words: "When the Italian fascists came to power, they left virtually all administrative and judicial structures intact. The power elite has changed, Italy has turned into a police dictatorship, but the state has not dealt with everything and not everywhere." The Fascists built an authoritarian state in Italy, but their authoritarianism was significantly different from that of other countries, especially Nazi Germany. During the twenty years of his rule, B. Mussolini tried to recreate the Italian Empire, trying to create a strong internal power and participating in numerous political and military conflicts. The fall of his dictatorship in 1943 was a defeat not only for the duce, but also for the entire fascist movement, which, in the end, never reached the postulated exemplary state.

This was not the only connection between fascism and another philosophical system. After the First World War, the fascists established cooperation with Italian futurists, who called for the abandonment of tradition and history and an active look into the future. The first and most famous manifesto of the Futurists was formulated by the poet Filippo Marinetti. The movement was artistically political and initially strongly supported the aspirations of B. Mussolini, actively participating in the fighting. Although the union of fascism and futurism did not stand the test of time, both groups split in 1920. F. Marinetti was an important figure in the fascist movement. In 1929, the Duce even appointed him one of the members of the Italian Academy. Creating a solid base, and then suppressing the opposition and gaining a leading position in the fascist movement allowed B. Mussolini to gain almost complete dominance. He began consistent efforts to rebuild the state, demanding deep reforms both politically and socially. For sports betting fans, 1xBet offers a generous 100% welcome bonus up to $130 on the first deposit. After creating an account and entering the 1xbet promo code free bet during registration, the bonus balance becomes available for qualifying bets. It can be used on football, basketball, tennis, and many other markets. Make sure to follow minimum odds and rollover conditions. This promotion is ideal for testing betting strategies with reduced initial risk.

Skip to Recipe