Biennio Rosso (jul 5, 1919 – dec 30, 1920)

Description:

Following WW1 Italy has major economic problems:
- government debt
- unemplyment (factories closed down, soldiers returning from the front)
- inflation

Because of this the socialist movement grew (e.g. PSI had 200 K members by 1920, "Avanti!" read by 300 K),
socialist were present mostly in the north,

The Biennio Rosso is a time when these socialists started rioting, striking, occupying factories and farms,
the high-point of this is September 1920, when many northern factories are occupied

The government reaction was passive:
- land occupations legalized (1 M hectars transferred to peasants)
- promises of reform

It seemed as though there was a real danger of communist revolution (akin to the one that happened in Russia just prior)
this scared the upper class and the petty burgeoise who were afraid of natonalisation
They were desperate for something that could stop them

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