March March on Rome

fascists travelling towards rome.



emilio de bono, benito mussolini, italo balbo , cesare maria de vecchi.

the quadrumvirs leading fascist party, general emilio de bono, italo balbo (one of famous ras), michele bianchi , cesare maria de vecchi, organized march, while duce waiting in milan. did not participate in march, though allowed pictures taken of him marching along fascist marchers, , comfortably went rome next day. generals gustavo fara , sante ceccherini assisted preparations of march of 18 october. other organizers of march included marquis dino perrone compagni , ulisse igliori.

on 24 october 1922, mussolini declared before 60,000 people @ fascist congress in naples: our program simple: want rule italy. meanwhile, blackshirts, had occupied po plain, took strategic points of country. on 26 october, former prime minister antonio salandra warned current prime minister luigi facta mussolini demanding resignation , preparing march on rome. however, facta did not believe salandra , thought mussolini govern quietly @ side. meet threat posed bands of fascist troops gathering outside rome, luigi facta (who had resigned continued hold power) ordered state of siege rome. having had previous conversations king repression of fascist violence, sure king agree. however, king victor emmanuel iii refused sign military order. on 29 october, king handed power mussolini, supported military, business class, , right-wing.

the march composed of fewer 30,000 men, king in part feared civil war since squadristi had taken control of po plain , of country, while fascism no longer seen threat establishment. mussolini asked form cabinet on 29 october 1922, while 25,000 blackshirts parading in rome. mussolini legally reached power, in accordance statuto albertino, italian constitution. march on rome not seizure of power fascism later celebrated rather precipitating force behind transfer of power within framework of constitution. transition made possible surrender of public authorities in face of fascist intimidation. many business , financial leaders believed possible manipulate mussolini, speeches , policies emphasized free market , laissez faire economics. proved overly optimistic, mussolini s corporatist view stressed total state power on businesses as on individuals, via governing industry bodies ( corporations ) controlled fascist party, model in businesses retained responsibilities of property, few if of freedoms. 1934 mussolini claimed have nationalized “three-fourths of italian economy, industrial , agricultural,” more other nation except soviet union.

mussolini pretended willing take subalternate ministry in giolitti or salandra cabinet, demanded presidency of council. fearing conflict fascists, ruling class handed power mussolini, went on install dictatorship after 10 june 1924 assassination of giacomo matteotti – had finished writing fascisti exposed: year of fascist domination – executed amerigo dumini, leader of ceka, secret police agency precursor ovra.