FREE ESSAY ON BENITO MUSSOLINI

BENITO MUSSOLINI

Mussolini and the intervention crisis
Benito Mussolini was born in Predappio, near Forli, in Romagna, on July 29, 1883. Like
his father, Benito became a fervent socialist. He qualified as an elementary schoolmaster
in 1901. In 1902 he emigrated to Switzerland. Unable to find a permanent job there and
arrested for vagrancy, he was expelled and returned to Italy to do his military service.
After further trouble with the police, he joined the staff of a newspaper in the Austrian
town of Trento in 1908. Expelled by the Austrians, he became the editor at Forli of a
socialist newspaper, La Lotta di Classe (The Class Struggle). His early enthusiasm for
Karl Marx was modified by a mixture of ideas from the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche,
the revolutionary doctrines of Auguste Blanqui, and the syndicalism of Georges Sorel. In
1910, Mussolini became secretary of the local Socialist party at Forli.When Italy
declared war on Turkey in 1911, he was imprisoned for his anti-war propaganda . Appointed
editor of the official Socialist newspaper Avanti, he moved to Milan, where he
established himself as the most forceful of all the leaders of Italian socialism. At this
stage in his life, his political views were anti-militarist and anti-war however
throughout the intervention crisis his views altered dramatically and became opposite of
what they were before.
On June 28 the Archduke of Austria Franze Ferdinand, Hapsburg heir to the throne of
Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo. The death of the
heir was greeted with relief and joy because he once stated publicly that he wanted to
declare war on Italy, but also because Italy's relations with Austria had became
increasingly tensed since the war in Tripoli. As the war began to take shape on the
horizon, Italy found itself in an undesirable position. Under the leadership of Antonio
di San Giuliano, the Foreign Minister, the nation had become increasingly tied to the
Triple Alliance, the defensive union of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. 
However, on July 28 hostilities broke out between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and since
the provisions of the Alliance stipulated that Italy would be informed before any
military moves by Austria, San Giuliano announced to the world that Italy would remain
neutral because Austria violated the agreement . Under these circumstances Mussolini
insisted on absolute neutrality. It is clear that in Mussolini's view Italy had
absolutely nothing to gain by aiding Austria's' policy of expansion in the Balkans.
Furthermore, one could understand his position because he had long opposed
Austria-Hungary as the manifestation of militarism and the oppressor of nationalities,
and the idea of helping the enemy could only have been repugnant to him. Therefore, it
was in Italy's best interest not to join the Triple Alliance, not only because it had
nothing to gain but also because its armed forces had been seriously weakened by the war
in Tripoli and could not stand the test. 
Also it was obvious that Mussolini from the beginning of the conflict sympathized with
the Triple Entente between France, England and Russia. Moreover, when Germany violated
Belgian neutrality, Mussolini published his outrage in the pages of Avanti! Therefore, at
the outbreak of the war The Socialist party and the syndicalist Unione Sindicalista
Italiano (USI) were all opting for neutrality . However, after the announcement of
Italian neutrality, the first defections in the revolutionary movements were clearly
visible. Alceste De Ambris and Filippo Corridoni, Italian syndicalists called on
revolutionary forces against feudal, monarchical and military systems found under
Kaiserism. Therefore, people like Cesare Battisti who insisted to be admitted as a
soldier in the armed forces in the event of a war, and Ottavio Dinale one of Mussolini's
oldest friends persisted Italians to take up arms against Austrian oppressor of national
aspirations of subject peoples . 
Under these circumstances the USI split its opinion towards Italian neutrality. During
that time, Mussolini was convicted that the absolute neutrality of the Socialist party
would probably collapse. However, Mussolini could not declare himself because of his
official responsibilities to the Party, which was against the intervention. Mussolini was
aware of the possibility that if he called for intervention, he would lose his leadership
position- and eventually that did in fact come about. However, he also acknowledge the
fact that a war on the side of the Central Powers, would mobilize all socialists against
the government and a war against Austria and Germany might well complete the unification
of Italy, restoring Italia Irredenta . Also, he was opposed to the feudal political
system of the Central Powers. However, he held the same reasons at the time of the war in
Tripoli. The only difference in 1911 was that he thought that he could spark the
revolutionary sentiment in his party . In 1914, after Red week he knew that the party was
incapable of mobilizing and was very disorganized and indecisive. Therefore, on October
18, in the pages of Avanti! Mussolini made up his mind and argued that absolute
neutrality should be abandoned. After a meeting of the Party, Mussolini resigned as the
editor of Avanti!.. 
In an interview with the Resto del Carlino, he insisted that he could reach the
susceptible masses by modernizing collective awareness when he would speak on the pages
of Il popolo d'Italia, the people of Italy. Il popolo d'Italia originated on December
1914 and many believe that French money was given to him to found the newspaper because
the French government required Italy's participation in the war . In his first issue,
Mussolini was calling for intervention even thow he realized that the masses who have
followed him before would not do it this time. Additionally, if Mussolini wanted people
to mobilize, collaboration and support was needed among all social classes which means
that the bourgeoisie would also be involved. As a result, Mussolini had to compromise his
negative views about the bourgeoisie because he needed their money to have any political
leverage. Also, he joined the Fascio autonommo d'azione rivoluzionaria (a reconstructed
one) and soon enough their rational became his own . The rationale argued that people who
are ready to defend the independence of nations against imperialism should fight a war.
For Italy the war meant that it would obtain its lost territories and the people would
become members of a new and united Italy.
During this time these prospect were based on mobilization of masses. It becomes obvious,
that during the intervention crisis, Mussolini had shifted his focus from the working
class to the people. He insisted that a revolutionary war would have to appeal not only
to the proletariat but also to all people. Therefore, the class struggle that he strongly
believed in 1909 would have to be abandoned. He argued that by 1914 a new phenomenon had
occurred which had reduced the class distinction and that men did not identified
themselves in term of class, but in terms of national loyalty . 
By the beginning of 1915, Mussolini had begun building a new ideology based on Italian
socialism infused with national sentiment. This new "socialism" would unite and integrate
Italy and begin a rapid production that would put Italy among the advanced nations of the
world. An aggressive minority also developed this new collection of ideas the fascisti
whose main strategy was mass mobilization. The fascisti, argued that the government of
Italy was trying to negotiate a conservative advantage, first with the Central Powers and
then with the Entente. Italy did try to negotiate assistance for specific territories.
For several months the government of the ruling elite was in fact bargaining with both
sides. Mean while, Mussolini undertook a powerful campaign for intervention.
Revolutionaries like Gabriele D'Annunzio, Giovanni Papini and Giuseppe Prezzolini, found
a place on Mussolini's staff at the Il popolo d'Italia. These spokesmen argued that war
would accelerate improvements in agriculture, industry and commerce. It would revive
Italy, provide opportunity for man of action. Also, they called on Italians to hoist
their national passion, which would dedicate all Italians to collective mobilization. His
interventionist propaganda continued on the streets while the government negotiated
secretly. By April 1915, the Italian government had signed the Treaty of London. The
Entente granted to Italy Tyrol, Trieste and the Julian Alps, all that was required was a
win for the Entente . On May 24 Italy declared war against Austria-Hungary .
In conclusion, Mussolini's involvement in the intervention crisis brought a change of
ideas for Italian people. It also, brought the most active force of mass mobilization,
the Fascists, which Mussolini was part off. Moreover, a new bourgeoisie made their
appearance which increased Italy's industrial productivity by 90% . Italy's economy was
showing impressive growth and the war could only precipitate the process. Therefore, the
Fascists could only welcome the signs of a new modern Italy and anticipated a better
life.