2-WWII+Italy+HF

How may the Home Front’s awareness of the war’s objectives and nature be characterized? How did propaganda affect the mindset at home? === Mussolini’s 1940’s war objectives included the creation of a new Roman Empire; or said more plainly, the domination of the Mediterranean basin, and prospects of most of Africa and the Middle East as well. Italy wished to become a world power. The mindset in Fascist Italy at the beginning of the war was that their successes in their economic and social parties outweigh their failures in in pre-fascist era, such as the plutocratic democracy where the minority of the rich ruled. Fascist Italy took great national pride in their new, corporate state, which was the only effective solution to the problem of the relationship of capital and labor. The combination of Italy’s strong sense of nationalism, paired with their adoption of Fascism led to their strong belief in the necessity and virtue of war. Fascist Italy’s anti-pacifist Italy propaganda allowed those at home to adopt an “I don’t give a damn” attitude. In addition, children were incorporated into the wartime propaganda in order to show the innocence of war, therefore rendering it less threatening and more natural. As the war was underway, Italian children were depicted as the victims of overly propagandized, merciless and evil allied military personnel. Those at home would accept all risks and support the war because this fascist belief was pushed by Mussolini to such a great extent. Mussolini had created a politically charged Italian culture. A similar number of men volunteered for the second world war, just like they did for the first world war. Mussolini had gained quite a bit of domestic support. However, as the war continued, the lack of enthusiasm on the home front grew. They were angry about the continuous military losses, a failure in organization, food shortages, and bombings that they, the c ivilians, have had to suffer through. In 1943 there was an increase of strikes against the war, and a growing separation of Mussolini and the Italian peoples. The Italian people were aware of Mussolini’s goals, but felt as though they were unreasonable and unattainable, and they were fed up with his failures, increasingly so after a few years of war. ===



What were the direct contributions of the Home Front to the war effort? This needs to go beyond a cursory statement of, “They supplied soldiers, grew food, made armaments, etc.” You should consider support not only in patriotic or industrial terms, but also political, social, economic, cultural/intellectual, moral/religious, emotional, etc., terms. === The Home Front oddly incorporated children into the imagery of war. This made war seem more natural, like child’s play, and reassures the public that war is not as awful as it seems. This contribution to the wartime attitude can be seen as a direct contribution of the home front. For example, in 1936, an Italian baby food manufacturer came out with a board game titled, “The Conquest of Abyssinia”, which helped the whole child’s pla y aspect of the war, as well as celebrated the concept of war. This game helped to trivialize the war, and to mask the bloody and fierce nature of actual war. In the mid 1920’s there was a campaign titled “Battle for Grain”, which was put in place in order to increase agricultural production. Harvest increase by 30%, but government expenditure suffered due to their promises to provide subsidies. In addition, the cost of production increased, which made the cost of grain (bread and pasta) increase as well. This was one of Mussolini’s economic mistakes, which the Italians had to deal with, and work around in the war effort. While this was a direct contribution, it was not necessarily a positive one, as it brought along many issues with it. Although the Italian peoples were suppressed by the Fascist government, they still supported them to some extent, and still signed up to fight in the war. Emotionally, feeling as though their children were in danger they became attached to the war. However, as the war went on and the home front was more educated about who the enemy actually was, and were able to see through all of the propaganda, morally, they had an obligation to rise up against their cruel government. ===

What were the costs & benefits of the war to the Home Front, to include but not limited to goods/services/resources? Use a case study to illustrate. === The costs of the war on the Italian home front was the emphasis of the need for a revolution, in order to instill a new, more effective government. For a long time, the Italian people had a mechanical following of Mussolini, but there was no real desire to. The cost of the was was the morale, and the reign of the Fascists. In Italy, Swiss and Vatican newspapers grew in popularity, which Italian papers were merely read for humor and amusement. One of the few benefits of the war is that it gave all classes a common belief: Mussolini and his fascist government and needed to go. The fact that Mussolini was constantly chan ging his cabinet in order to appease the public and prevent opposition groups, there was much disorder in Italy. His “Battle for Grain” led to food shortages, growing expenses on pasta and bread, and much discontent of the Italian citizens. They did as they were told, but it ended up being a bad situation for the. Overall, the biggest cost of the war was the disorder and discontent that it caused with the Italian peoples. ===

How can life for women & youth on the Home Front be characterized? Use case studies to illustrate === Youth on the home front were highly valued by Mussolini, because children were the Fascists of the future. Mussolini took a personal interest in the Italy’s education system and the youth organisations that existed in Italy. In Mussolini’s eyes, young boys were destined to become fearless and loyal soldiers who defend Italy, and girls would become mothers, and raise men who were passionate about their nation. For example, in school, students were taught that the era of great year started with the 1922 March on Rome. Through much propaganda, the students were taught that the one and only Mussolini would be able to lead them to greatness. He became an inspiring figure to children. The youth were encouraged to attend after-school youth movements to support Mussolini. These groups included the Sons of the She Wo lf, the Balilla, and the Avangardista. In these groups, they would do activities such as march with imitation guns, and persuaded to accept war as a natural life process. ===

= = === Women on the home front were valued for their reproduction value. They were encouraged to get married young, and give birth to as many healthy males as possible. This was seen as their contribution to the war. The Battle for Births campaign went underway in 1927. The goal of this campaign was to increase the population from 40 to 60 million by 1950. Mussolini had banned contraception in order to increase birth rates in his country, and he rewarded couples with mo re children tax benefits. The fascist regime was kinder to women who had more children. ===

Works  Cited === Davis, Saville R. "Morale in Fascist Italy in Wartime." JSTOR. American Journal of Psychology, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <[|__http://www.jstor.org/stable/2769292__]>. === === Doordan, Dennis P. "In the Shadow of the Fasces: Political Design in Fascist Italy." JSTOR. JSTOR, 1997. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <[|__http://www.jstor.org/stable/1511586__]>. ===

John Pollard, The Fascist Experience in Italy (London: Routledge, 1998), 89, [|__http://www.questiaschool.com/read/108278080__].
=== "Life in Fascist Italy." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <[|__http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/life_in_fascist_italy.htm__]>. ===