The Grand Council of Fascism (Italian: Gran Consiglio del Fascismo, also translated "Fascist Grand Council") was the main body of Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy, that held and applied great power to control the institutions of government. It was created as a body of the National Fascist Party in 1922, and became a state body on 9 December 1928. The council usually met at the Palazzo Venezia, Rome, which was also the seat of the head of the Italian government.[1] The Council became extinct following a series of events in 1943, in which Benito Mussolini was voted out as the Prime Minister of Italy.
Gran Consiglio del Fascismo | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
| Abbreviation | GCF |
|---|---|
| Formation | First Meeting 15 December 1922 State Body 9 December 1928 |
| Dissolved | 25 July 1943 |
| Legal status | Constitutional body |
| Headquarters | Palazzo Venezia, Rome |
| Location | |
Official language | Italian |
| Victor Emmanuel III | |
| Benito Mussolini | |
Secretary of the Council | Party Secretary |
Main organ | National Fascist Party |
Powers of the Council
Essentially, the council held these powers:
- The power to elect the Fascist Party deputies, the nomination for the Party Secretary and other party leaders, the approval of the party statutes and the power regarding the party's policy.
- The power to elect the Crown's line of succession including the choice of the heir to the throne, the right of the Crown, the power to choose possible successors to the Prime Minister, the power to choose the function and membership of the Grand Council, the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies (later the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations), the power to decide the rights and powers of the Prime Minister, international Treaties, and foreign affairs.
The Grand Council meetings were convened by the Prime Minister himself, and all decrees and laws could only be legalized after receiving his approval. In contrast to the Führerprinzip government model in Nazi Germany, the Grand Council retained the power to recommend that the King of Italy remove the Prime Minister from office. As all the former governing institutions had been subordinated to the Fascist Party, the Council was the only check on Mussolini's power.
Overthrow of Mussolini
The Allies invaded Sicily in July 1943. Grand Council member Dino Grandi proposed a vote of no confidence in Mussolini as leader of the Council and the party. A vote was held on the night of 24–25 July 1943 and passed with 19 votes for, 8 against and one abstention. Among the 19 votes of no confidence were those of Mussolini's son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano, who had been former minister of foreign affairs, and the influential marshal Emilio De Bono.
The following day King Victor Emmanuel met Mussolini and informed him that General Pietro Badoglio would lead Italy, as Prime Minister. Mussolini was arrested immediately after the meeting.[2]
In September 1943 Mussolini was freed from imprisonment by German commandos and helped to regain power in northern Italy. He had those who voted against him tried for treason at the Verona trial. All of them were found guilty, with all but one of them being sentenced to death. However, only five men, including Ciano, De Bono, and Tullio Cianetti, the defendant whose life was spared, were present for the trial. With the exception of Cianetti, those present were all executed by firing squad on the morning of 11 January 1944.[3][4]
Members of the Council
The composition of the Council was revised and defined by a law of 14 December 1929 and became a state body from 9 December 1928. Its members, selected among the party's gerarchi, are below. Their vote on the 25 July 1943 motion to depose Mussolini is also given next to their name.
President of the Council
| Head of Government and Duce of Fascism | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
.jpg) | Benito Mussolini (1883–1945) | 31 October 1922 | 25 July 1943 | 20 years, 267 days | Deposed |
Quadrumvirs
| The Quadrumvirs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
.jpg) | Italo Balbo (1896–1940) | 27 October 1922 | 28 June 1940 | 17 years, 245 days | Died in Office |
 | Michele Bianchi (1883–1930) | 3 February 1930 | 7 years, 99 days | Died in Office | |
 | Emilio De Bono (1866–1944) | 25 July 1943 | 20 years, 271 days | Yes | |
 | Cesare Maria De Vecchi (1884–1959) | 25 July 1943 | 20 years, 271 days | Yes | |
Parliament
| President of the Senate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Tommaso Tittoni (1855–1931) | 1 December 1919 | 21 January 1929 | 9 years, 51 days | — |
 | Luigi Federzoni (1878–1967) | 29 April 1929 | 2 March 1939 | 9 years, 307 days | — |
 | Giacomo Suardo (1883–1947) | 15 March 1939 | 25 July 1943 | 4 years, 132 days | Abstention |
| President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations[a] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Alfredo Rocco (1875–1935) | 24 May 1924 | 5 January 1925 | 226 days | — |
 | Antonio Casertano (1863–1938) | 13 January 1925 | 25 January 1929 | 4 years, 12 days | — |
 | Giovanni Giuriati (1876–1970) | 20 April 1929 | 19 January 1934 | 4 years, 274 days | — |
 | Costanzo Ciano (1876–1939) | 28 April 1934 | 26 June 1939 | 5 years, 59 days | Died in office |
 | Dino Grandi (1895–1988) | 30 November 1939 | 25 July 1943 | 3 years, 237 days | Yes |
Positions in the Cabinet
| Minister of Agriculture and Forests | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Giacomo Acerbo (1888–1969) | 12 September 1929 | 24 January 1935 | 5 years, 134 days | — |
 | Edmondo Rossoni (1884–1965) | 24 January 1935 | 31 October 1939 | 4 years, 280 days | — |
 | Giuseppe Tassinari (1891–1944) | 31 October 1939 | 26 December 1941 | 2 years, 56 days | — |
.gif) | Carlo Pareschi (1898–1944) | 26 December 1941 | 25 July 1943 | 1 year, 211 days | Yes |
| Minister of Corporations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Duce | 2 July 1926 | 12 September 1929 | 3 years, 72 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Giacomo Suardo (1883–1947) | 2 July 1926 | 6 November 1926 | 127 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Giuseppe Bottai (1895–1959) | 6 November 1926 | 12 September 1929 | 2 years, 310 days | — |
| | Giuseppe Bottai (1895–1959) | 12 September 1929 | 20 July 1932 | 2 years, 312 days | — |
| | Duce | 20 July 1932 | 11 June 1936 | 3 years, 327 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Alberto Asquini (1889–1972) | 20 July 1932 | 24 January 1935 | 2 years, 188 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Bruno Biagi (1889–1947) | 20 July 1932 | 24 January 1935 | 2 years, 188 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Ferruccio Lantini (1886–1959) | 24 January 1935 | 11 June 1936 | 1 year, 139 days | — |
| | Ferruccio Lantini (1886–1959) | 11 June 1936 | 31 October 1939 | 3 years, 142 days | — |
.jpg) | Renato Ricci (1896–1956) | 31 October 1939 | 6 February 1943 | 3 years, 98 days | — |
.jpg) | Carlo Tiengo (1882–1945) | 6 February 1943 | 19 April 1943 | 72 days | — |
.jpg) | Tullio Cianetti (1899–1976) | 19 April 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 97 days | Yes |
| Minister of Finance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Alberto de' Stefani (1879–1969) | 31 October 1922 | 10 July 1925 | 2 years, 252 days | — |
 | Giuseppe Volpi (1877–1947) | 10 July 1925 | 9 July 1928 | 2 years, 365 days | — |
 | Antonio Mosconi (1866–1955) | 9 July 1928 | 20 July 1932 | 4 years, 11 days | — |
.jpg) | Guido Jung (1876–1949) | 20 July 1932 | 17 January 1935 | 2 years, 181 days | |
 | Paolo Thaon di Revel (1888–1973) | 17 January 1935 | 6 February 1943 | 8 years, 20 days | — |
| | Giacomo Acerbo (1888–1969) | 6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 169 days | Yes |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Duce | 31 October 1922 | 12 September 1929 | 6 years, 316 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Ernesto Vassallo (1875–1940) | 31 October 1922 | 27 April 1923 | 178 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Dino Grandi (1895–1988) | 12 September 1929 | 20 July 1932 | 4 years, 121 days | — |
| | Dino Grandi (1895–1988) | 12 September 1929 | 20 July 1932 | 2 years, 312 days | — |
| | Duce | 20 July 1932 | 9 June 1936 | 3 years, 325 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Fulvio Suvich (1887–1980) | 20 July 1932 | 9 June 1936 | 3 years, 325 days | — |
.jpg) | Galeazzo Ciano (1903–1944) | 9 June 1936 | 6 February 1943 | 6 years, 242 days | — |
| | Duce | 6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 169 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Giuseppe Bastianini (1889–1961) | 6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 169 days | Yes |
| Minister of the Interior | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Duce | 31 October 1922 | 17 June 1924 | 1 year, 230 days | — |
| Undersecretary Aldo Finzi (1891–1944) | 31 October 1922 | 17 June 1924 | 1 year, 230 days | — | |
| | Luigi Federzoni (1878–1967) | 17 June 1924 | 6 November 1926 | 2 years, 142 days | |
| | Duce | 6 November 1926 | 25 July 1943 | 16 years, 261 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Giacomo Suardo (1883–1947) | 6 November 1926 | 13 March 1928 | 1 year, 128 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Michele Bianchi (1882–1930) | 13 March 1928 | 12 September 1929 | 1 year, 183 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Leandro Arpinati (1892–1945) | 12 September 1929 | 8 May 1933 | 3 years, 238 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Guido Buffarini Guidi (1895–1945) | 8 May 1933 | 6 February 1943 | 9 years, 274 days | — |
 | Undersecretary Umberto Albini (1895–1973) | 6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 169 days | Yes |
| Minister of Grace and Justice[b] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
.gif) | Aldo Oviglio (1873–1942) | 31 October 1922 | 5 January 1925 | 2 years, 66 days | |
| | Alfredo Rocco (1875–1935) | 5 January 1925 | 20 July 1932 | 7 years, 197 days | — |
 | Pietro De Francisci (1883–1971) | 20 July 1932 | 24 January 1935 | 2 years, 188 days | — |
 | Arrigo Solmi (1873–1944) | 24 January 1935 | 12 July 1939 | 4 years, 169 days | — |
| | Dino Grandi (1895–1988) | 12 July 1939 | 5 February 1943 | 3 years, 208 days | — |
 | Alfredo De Marsico (1888–1985) | 5 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 170 days | Yes |
| Minister of Popular Culture[c] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Galeazzo Ciano (1903–1944) | 23 June 1935 | 11 June 1936 | 354 days | — |
 | Dino Alfieri (1886–1966) | 11 June 1936 | 31 October 1939 | 3 years, 142 days | — |
.jpg) | Alessandro Pavolini (1903–1945) | 31 October 1939 | 6 February 1943 | 3 years, 98 days | — |
 | Gaetano Polverelli (1886–1960) | 6 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 169 days | No |
| Minister of National Education | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Balbino Giuliano (1879–1958) | 12 September 1929 | 20 July 1932 | 2 years, 312 days | — |
 | Francesco Ercole (1884–1945) | 20 July 1932 | 24 January 1935 | 2 years, 188 days | — |
| | Cesare Maria De Vecchi (1884–1959) | 24 January 1935 | 15 November 1936 | 1 year, 296 days | — |
| | Giuseppe Bottai (1895–1959) | 15 November 1936 | 5 February 1943 | 6 years, 82 days | — |
 | Carlo Alberto Biggini (1902–1945) | 5 February 1943 | 25 July 1943 | 170 days | No |
Royal Academy of Italy
| President of the Royal Academy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Tommaso Tittoni (1855–1931) | 14 December 1929 | 16 September 1930 | 276 days | — |
 | Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937) | 19 September 1930 | 20 July 1937 | 6 years, 304 days | Died in Office |
.png) | Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863–1938) | 12 November 1937 | 1 March 1938 | 109 days | Died in Office |
| | Luigi Federzoni (1878–1967) | 21 April 1938 | 25 July 1943 | 5 years, 95 days | Yes |
Special Court for the Defence of the State
| President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Guido Cristini (1895–1979) | 27 July 1928 | 28 November 1932 | 4 years, 124 days | — |
| | Antonino Tringali Casanuova (1888–1943) | 28 November 1932 | 25 July 1943 | 10 years, 239 days | No |
Secretary of the Party
| Secretary of the Party | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Michele Bianchi (1883–1930) | 10 November 1921 | 13 October 1923 | 1 year, 337 days | — |
 | Francesco Giunta (1887–1971) | 13 October 1923 | 23 April 1924 | 193 days | — |
 | Quadrumvirate[d] | 23 April 1924 | 15 February 1925 | 298 days | — |
 | Roberto Farinacci (1892–1945) | 15 February 1925 | 30 March 1926 | 1 year, 43 days | No |
 | Augusto Turati (1888–1955) | 30 March 1926 | 7 October 1930 | 4 years, 191 days | — |
| | Giovanni Giuriati (1876–1970) | 7 October 1930 | 12 December 1931 | 1 year, 66 days | — |
 | Achille Starace (1889–1945) | 12 December 1931 | 31 October 1939 | 7 years, 323 days | — |
 | Ettore Muti (1902–1943) | 31 October 1939 | 30 October 1940 | 365 days | — |
 | Adelchi Serena (1895–1970) | 30 October 1940 | 26 December 1941 | 1 year, 57 days | — |
.jpg) | Aldo Vidussoni (1914–1982) | 26 December 1941 | 19 April 1943 | 1 year, 114 days | — |
 | Carlo Scorza (1897–1988) | 19 April 1943 | 27 July 1943 | 99 days | No |
Other posts
- The Presidents of the Corporations: Industrialists, Farmers, Industrial Workers, Agriculture Workers.
Chief of Staff of the MVSN
| Chief of Staff of the MVSN | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
 | Francesco Sacco (1877–1958) | 1 February 1923 | 1 December 1924 | 1 year, 304 days | — |
| | Enrico Bazan (1864–1947) | 1 December 1924 | 23 December 1928 | 4 years, 22 days | — |
 | Attilio Teruzzi (1882–1950) | 2 January 1929 | 3 October 1935 | 6 years, 274 days | — |
 | Luigi Russo (1882–1964) | 3 October 1935 | 3 November 1939 | 4 years, 31 days | — |
| | Achille Starace (1889–1945) | 3 November 1939 | 16 May 1941 | 1 year, 194 days | — |
 | Enzo Galbiati (1897–1982) | 25 May 1941 | 26 July 1943 | 2 years, 62 days | No |
Officeholders who held appointments of a three-year duration
| President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Giovanni Giuriati (1876–1970) | 20 April 1929 | 19 January 1934 | 4 years, 274 days | — |
| Minister of Agriculture and Forests | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Edmondo Rossoni (1884–1965) | 24 January 1935 | 31 October 1939 | 4 years, 280 days | Yes |
| Minister of Corporations | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Ferruccio Lantini (1886–1959) | 11 June 1936 | 31 October 1939 | 3 years, 142 days | — |
| | Renato Ricci (1896–1956) | 31 October 1939 | 6 February 1943 | 3 years, 98 days | — |
| Minister of Finance | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Paolo Thaon di Revel (1888–1973) | 17 January 1935 | 6 February 1943 | 8 years, 20 days | — |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Undersecretary Fulvio Suvich (1887–1980) | 20 July 1932 | 9 June 1936 | 3 years, 325 days | — |
| | Galeazzo Ciano (1903–1944) | 9 June 1936 | 6 February 1943 | 6 years, 242 days | Yes |
| Minister of the Interior | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Undersecretary Leandro Arpinati (1892–1945) | 12 September 1929 | 8 May 1933 | 3 years, 238 days | — |
| | Undersecretary Guido Buffarini Guidi (1895–1945) | 8 May 1933 | 6 February 1943 | 9 years, 274 days | No |
| Minister of Grace and Justice | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Arrigo Solmi (1873–1944) | 24 January 1935 | 12 July 1939 | 4 years, 169 days | — |
| Minister of Popular Culture | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Dino Alfieri (1886–1966) | 11 June 1936 | 31 October 1939 | 3 years, 142 days | Yes |
| | Alessandro Pavolini (1903–1945) | 31 October 1939 | 6 February 1943 | 3 years, 98 days | — |
| Minister of National Education | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Giuseppe Bottai (1895–1959) | 15 November 1936 | 5 February 1943 | 6 years, 82 days | Yes |
| President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Guido Cristini (1895–1979) | 27 July 1928 | 28 November 1932 | 4 years, 124 days | — |
| Secretary of the Party | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Augusto Turati (1888–1955) | 30 March 1926 | 7 October 1930 | 4 years, 191 days | — |
| | Achille Starace (1889–1945) | 12 December 1931 | 31 October 1939 | 7 years, 323 days | — |
| Chief of Staff of the MVSN | |||||
| Portrait | Name (Born–Died) | Term of office | 25 July 1943 Motion | ||
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||
| | Enrico Bazan (1864–1947) | 1 December 1924 | 23 December 1928 | 4 years, 22 days | — |
| | Attilio Teruzzi (1882–1950) | 2 January 1929 | 3 October 1935 | 6 years, 274 days | — |
| | Luigi Russo (1882–1964) | 3 October 1935 | 3 November 1939 | 4 years, 31 days | — |
See also
- Italian Fascism
- Italian Parliament (1928–1939)
- Movimiento Nacional, governing body of Francoist Spain
Notes
References
Further reading
- 2194 Days of War, Cesare Salmaggi & Alfredo Pallavisini (editors), Gallery Press, New York — ISBN 0831788852 (1977)
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