Fascist society: relations between the Fascist regime and the Church; the…

The idea

Mussolini sought the 'Fascistisation' of Italian society by 1940, aiming to create obedient citizens. Relations with the Church were stabilised through the 1929 Lateran Pacts, though tensions remained over Catholic Action. Fascist organisations deeply impacted daily life: the ONB indoctrinated youth, while the OND provided state-sponsored leisure for workers and peasants, subtly enforcing conformity. For women, policies like the Battle for Births pushed traditional maternal roles, discouraging female employment. Despite these pervasive organisations, true Fascistisation was limited; many Italians conformed outwardly for practical benefits rather than genuine ideological commitment, leaving society only partially transformed by 1940.

What earns the marks

• Analyse the significance of the 1929 Lateran Pacts in securing Catholic support for the regime, while noting ongoing friction over youth indoctrination.
• Evaluate the impact of the ONB on youth, distinguishing between high enrolment figures and actual ideological commitment.
• Assess the role of the OND in integrating workers and peasants into the Fascist state through subsidised leisure activities.
• Examine the contradictory impact of policies on women, noting how the Battle for Births failed to significantly increase the birth rate or remove women from the workforce.
• Judge the overall extent of 'Fascistisation' by 1940, arguing that the regime achieved widespread compliance but failed to create a truly totalitarian society.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming the Lateran Pacts ended all conflict between Church and State.

  Put it right by highlighting the 1931 dispute over the Catholic Action youth groups.

• Assuming the Battle for Births was highly successful.

  Put it right by stating that the birth rate actually declined during the Fascist period.

• Equating high membership in the OND with genuine Fascist belief among workers and peasants.

  Put it right by explaining that many joined purely for the cheap leisure benefits.

Exam tips

• Use the OND as a prime example of how the regime secured passive consent from workers and peasants rather than active ideological fervour.
• When discussing the extent of Fascistisation by 1940, differentiate between outward conformity (like wearing uniforms) and internalised Fascist beliefs.
• Contrast the regime's traditional expectations for women with the economic realities that kept many women in the industrial and agricultural workforce.