Social Aspect: March on Rome

The March on Rome was a very important event in the 20^th century, and its objective was to establish Benito Mussolini and the Fascist Party he led as the most important political party in Italy. The march, which took place from October 22 to October 29, 1922, marked the beginning of the fascist rule and meant the end of the previous parliamentary regimes of socialists and liberals.

Social discontent, aggravated by the middle-class fear of a socialist revolution and by disappointment over Italy’s deficient and weak profits from the peace settlement after World War I, were some of the factors that created a great atmosphere for Mussolini’s fascist establishment and rise to power.  

On October 24^th, 1922 the fascist party leaders planned an insurrection consisting of a March on Rome by the “Blackshirts”, who were the fascist armed troops, and the capture of strategic cities in Italy. Mussolini let the organization of the March on his subordinates, mainly the other fascist party leaders such as General Emilio De Bono, Italo Balbo, Michele Bianchi and Cesare Maria de Vecchi.

In November 1921, the fascist parties of Italy joined forces to create the Fascist Party, making it an official political party. In an October 1922 party conference, Mussolini said:

"Either the government will be given to us or we shall seize it by marching on Rome."

 Emilio De Bono, Benito Mussolini, Italo Balbo and Cesare Maria De Vecchi.

Mussolini made up a plan on how to do this. First, the fascists would be gathered in Rome from all over Italy. Next, all the important public buildings would be taken over including those outside of Rome in the important cities in the north. Then, Mussolini himself would demand the surrender of the government and the take over of a new Fascist government. Finally, armed fascists would be near Rome. If the government didn’t accept these demands, they would march into Rome and take over by the use of force.

The plan was great but naive. The military in Rome were by far more in number than the fascists who were poorly armed. They were not prepared to seize the power; many of the fascists had only brought tools with them from farms and were wrong dressed for what the occasion demanded. When executed, the march itself was composed of fewer than 30,000 men.

However, Mussolini was sure of one thing. He believed that the Italian government lead by the Prime Minister Luigi Facta and the king, Victor Emmanuel, did not want any type of conflict especially as Italy had suffered so much in World War One. Mussolini got wrong his believe about Facta, as he wanted to make a firm stand against Mussolini. But Mussolini was correct in what refers to the king. Victor Emmanuel was convinced that any conflict would lead to a civil war and he would not let that happen. In addition, he also knew that his cousin, the Duke of Aosta, was a Fascist supporter. He was fearful that his cousin would replace him if he stood up to Mussolini and failed.

To meet the bands of fascist troops now gathering outside Rome, Luigi Facta, who had already renounced but continued to hold power, ordered his troops to siege Rome. However, King Victor Emmanuel III refused to sign the military order, which meant that the army, which had may stopped Mussolini was not called on to fight the fascists.

Mussolini, who was now in a confident position of control, demanded nothing less than the control of the government and on October 29^th, the king himself asked him to form a cabinet. Traveling from Milan by train, Mussolini arrived to Rome on October 30^th, before the actual entrance of the fascist forces. As Prime Minister, he organized a triumphant parade for his followers to show the fascist party’s support for his rule, this was the March on Rome.

However, the March on Rome was not the conquest of power as Mussolini and his followers later called, but instead it was a transfer of power that was only possible by the surrender of public authorities caused by fascist intimidation. 

Fascists travelling towards Rome.