This documentation shows the rise of the fascist movement in Italy.
The country suffered from the difficult economic and political situation after the First World War, though Italy belonged to the winners, but it did not get the desired areas in Africa and there was the threat of the Bolshevism.
Benito Mussulini was actually educated teacher at a primary school, but later became more interested in journalism. Because of his experiences from the war he turned away from socialism and became a convinced nationalist. Together with Roberto Farinacci he founded a nationalistic and violent movement in Milano in 1919, which even rejected democracy. Their military force wore black shirts, which became their identification.
The socialists won the elections and declared themselves prepared to make concessions in the negotiations with the employers, although half a million workers were on strike in Northern Italy. According to the socialist leaders the time for a revolution had not yet come.
At the same time the landowners were on the side of the fascists and members of the middle-class organized patrols of the fascist military forces, spreading terror. The parliament stayed passive and soon the north and the middle of Italy were under the power of Mussolini's party, founding its own trade unions. In 1921 the party already had 200.000 members.
Then Mussolini and his military force marched to Rome. King Vittorio Emanuele refused to employ troops and appointed Mussolini prime minister in a coalition gevernment. Thus he also legalized the fascist party.
In the elections in 1924 Mussolini got 66 per cent. Soon after this political parties were forbidden, trade uniouns dissolved and Italy became a police state.
Neither the royal family nor the Vatican reacted to these developments.