FASCISM (fash'izm), the Italian Fascist movement, dates officially from the foundation in March 1919 by Benito Mus solini (q.v.), then editor of 11 Popolo d'Italia, of the first Fascio di Combattimento at Milan, although many of its ideas had been inspired by the Nationalist movement dating from 191o, and by Syndicalism, of which Mussolini himself had been a leader. This first Fascio was composed of some 15o of Mussolini's friends who had supported his interventionist action at the beginning of the World War, mostly ex-Socialists of the Syndicalist wing, and nearly all ex-combatants. The first Fascist programme was confused, demagogic and had a republican tinge, but the national patriotic note was conspicuous, and proper recognition was demanded for the men who had fought and won the war. The word Fascio means a bundle or bunch, and was taken to define the close union of the adherents of the movement ; as an emblem, the fasces of the Roman lictors on a tricolour shield was adopted.
At first the Milan Fascio only attracted a fraction of the people who opposed Bolshevism and Socialism, and it still savoured too much of Mussolini's revolutionary past to secure general support. Fascism was also inspired by a sense of exasperation at the foreign policy of the Government, which did not, the Fascists believed, defend Italian interests at the Peace Conference with sufficient firmness and dignity. This aspect of Fascism was largely the out come of nationalism, which had first given the Italian people a sense of the importance of foreign affairs and of the necessity for colonial expansion. After D'Annunzio's evacuation of Fiume at the beginning of 1921 many of his legionari joined Fascism, some of whose outward manifestations and the semi-mystical character, as well as the Roman reminiscences and ritual of which, they inspired.
At the elections of 1919 none of the Fascist candidates were returned. During the troubles of 1919 and most of 1920 Fascism as an organization played but a small part. But the Fascist idea was spreading all over Italy, and during the municipal elections held in many cities in the late autumn of 192o the Fascists collaborated with the other anti-Socialist parties, and in several instances formed with them national blocs, which de feated the Reds. In the Bologna riots (Nov. 192o), which broke out on the occasion of the inauguration of the Socialist town council, it was the Fascists who, although only 200 strong, organ ized the reaction and brought about the rapid collapse of the "Red" organizations, first in that city and after throughout the lower Po valley. The first armed Fascist squadre were now formed for the defence of the nation against what they considered revolu tionary tyranny. The squadre consisted of young men, mostly ex combatants, many of them decorated for valour and adorned with wound badges ; of others too young to have served in the war, and of not a few older men, made desperate by the spectacle of their country, victorious in the war, but now browbeaten by a factious minority. There was as yet no real Fascist doctrine beyond this vague sense of outraged patriotism. The squadristi were mostly armed with cudgels, although many possessed re volvers and carbines, for at that time a large number of ex-service men had brought back arms of some sort from the war. Another weapon, a novelty in partisan conflicts, was castor oil, large doses of which were administered to recalcitrant Socialists and Com munists, and sometimes even to other opponents of Fascism. Dur ing 1921 and 1922 encounters between Fascists and the Reds were of almost daily occurrence. In that period many hundreds of Fascists fell victims to their opponents, but their comrades were not slow to avenge these outrages. When early in 1921 the Communists broke away from the Maximalist Socialist Party and indulged in a series of murderous outbreaks, the Fascist reprisals were ruthless.
The bravery and devotion to an ideal of the squadristi was ex traordinary. At a time when armed Communists were ready to attack anyone wearing the Black Shirt or the Fascist badge, these youths marched on regardless of danger, ready to sacrifice their lives for the national cause. Even orthodox Liberals, Catholics and others supported Fascism, in which they saw the only hope for the salvation of the country from chaos. Many adhered to the movement for selfish reasons—landlords and manufacturers who simply regarded it as a form of protection for the rights of property which the Government allowed the seditious elements to violate with impunity, and others became Fascists out of a spirit of adventure, to secure positions for themselves or for other per sonal reasons. But the immense majority were inspired by genuine patriotism.
In its early days the movement was un connected with any particular labour policy, although Syndicalists were among its founders; later, individual workmen, peasant-pro prietors and farm hands joined it individually; but, with the suc cess of the Fascist campaign against the Red organization in the Po valley at the end of 1920 masses of workers became Fascists, and often whole unions came over in a body. This development changed the character of Fascism, and converted it into a mass movement. At the elections of May 1921, held under the auspices of Signor Giolitti, 35 Fascists were returned, including Signor Mus solini himself, and ten Nationalists. In the new chamber the Fascists and Nationalists formed a fighting band of vigorous youths strenuously opposed to the "Reds"—a nucleus which gathered around its standard members of other patriotic parties. At the Fascist congress in Rome in Nov. 1921 a review of the Fascist forces was held, and Fascism was constituted as a regular political party, the Partito Nazionale Fascista, and its statutes were then drafted.
