Grand Council of Fascism explained

Grand Council of Fascism
Native Name:	Gran Consiglio del Fascismo
Native Name Lang:	Italian
Logo Alt:	Coat of arms
Abbreviation:	GCF
Status:	Party Governing Body (1922-1928) Constitutional body (from 1928)
Language:	Italian
Leader Title:	King of Italy
Leader Name:	Victor Emmanuel III
Leader Title2:	President
Leader Name2:	Benito Mussolini
Leader Title3:	Secretary of the Council

The Grand Council of Fascism (also translated "Fascist Grand Council") was the main body of Mussolini's Fascist regime in Italy, which 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.

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

See main article: Fall of the Fascist regime in Italy.

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

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Benito Mussolini	31 October 1922	25 July 1943		Deposed

Quadrumvirs

The Quadrumvirs

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Italo Balbo	27 October 1922	28 June 1940		Died in office
	Michele Bianchi		3 February 1930		Died in office
	Emilio De Bono		25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes
	Cesare Maria De Vecchi		25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Parliament

See main article: Italian Parliament (1928–1939).

President of the Senate

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Tommaso Tittoni	1 December 1919	21 January 1929		—
	Luigi Federzoni	29 April 1929	2 March 1939		—
	Giacomo Suardo	15 March 1939	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#E4E4E4"	Abstention

President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Alfredo Rocco	24 May 1924	5 January 1925		—
	Antonio Casertano	13 January 1925	25 January 1929		—
	Giovanni Giuriati	20 April 1929	19 January 1934		—
	Costanzo Ciano	28 April 1934	26 June 1939		Died in office
	Dino Grandi	30 November 1939	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Positions in the Cabinet

Minister of Agriculture and Forests

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Giacomo Acerbo	12 September 1929	24 January 1935		—
	Edmondo Rossoni	24 January 1935	31 October 1939		—
	Giuseppe Tassinari	31 October 1939	26 December 1941		—
	Carlo Pareschi	26 December 1941	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Corporations

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Duce	2 July 1926	12 September 1929		—
	Undersecretary Giacomo Suardo	2 July 1926	6 November 1926		—
	Undersecretary Giuseppe Bottai	6 November 1926	12 September 1929		—
	Giuseppe Bottai	12 September 1929	20 July 1932		—
	Duce	20 July 1932	11 June 1936		—
	Undersecretary	20 July 1932	24 January 1935		—
	Undersecretary	20 July 1932	24 January 1935		—
	Undersecretary Ferruccio Lantini	24 January 1935	11 June 1936		—
	Ferruccio Lantini	11 June 1936	31 October 1939		—
	Renato Ricci	31 October 1939	6 February 1943		—
	Carlo Tiengo	6 February 1943	19 April 1943		—
	Tullio Cianetti	19 April 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Finance

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Alberto de' Stefani	31 October 1922	10 July 1925		—
	Giuseppe Volpi	10 July 1925	9 July 1928		—
	Antonio Mosconi	9 July 1928	20 July 1932		—
	Guido Jung	20 July 1932	17 January 1935
	Paolo Thaon di Revel	17 January 1935	6 February 1943		—
	Giacomo Acerbo	6 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Foreign Affairs

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Duce	31 October 1922	12 September 1929		—
	Undersecretary	31 October 1922	27 April 1923		—
	Undersecretary Dino Grandi	12 September 1929	20 July 1932		—
	Dino Grandi	12 September 1929	20 July 1932		—
	Duce	20 July 1932	9 June 1936		—
	Undersecretary	20 July 1932	9 June 1936		—
	Galeazzo Ciano	9 June 1936	6 February 1943		—
	Duce	6 February 1943	25 July 1943		—
	Undersecretary Giuseppe Bastianini	6 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of the Interior

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (Born–Died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Duce	31 October 1922	17 June 1924		—
	Undersecretary Aldo Finzi	31 October 1922	17 June 1924		—
	Luigi Federzoni	17 June 1924	6 November 1926
	Duce	6 November 1926	25 July 1943		—
	Undersecretary Giacomo Suardo	6 November 1926	13 March 1928		—
	Undersecretary Michele Bianchi	13 March 1928	12 September 1929		—
	Undersecretary Leandro Arpinati	12 September 1929	8 May 1933		—
	Undersecretary Guido Buffarini Guidi	8 May 1933	6 February 1943		—
	Undersecretary Umberto Albini	6 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Grace and Justice

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Aldo Oviglio	31 October 1922	5 January 1925
	Alfredo Rocco	5 January 1925	20 July 1932		—
	Pietro De Francisci	20 July 1932	24 January 1935		—
	Arrigo Solmi	24 January 1935	12 July 1939		—
	Dino Grandi	12 July 1939	5 February 1943		—
	Alfredo De Marsico	5 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Popular Culture

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (Born–Died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Galeazzo Ciano	23 June 1935	11 June 1936		—
	Dino Alfieri	11 June 1936	31 October 1939		—
	Alessandro Pavolini	31 October 1939	6 February 1943		—
	Gaetano Polverelli	6 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No

Minister of National Education

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Balbino Giuliano	12 September 1929	20 July 1932		—
	Francesco Ercole	20 July 1932	24 January 1935		—
	Cesare Maria De Vecchi	24 January 1935	15 November 1936		—
	Giuseppe Bottai	15 November 1936	5 February 1943		—
	Carlo Alberto Biggini	5 February 1943	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No

Royal Academy of Italy

President of the Royal Academy

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Tommaso Tittoni	14 December 1929	16 September 1930		—
	Guglielmo Marconi	19 September 1930	20 July 1937		Died in office
	Gabriele D'Annunzio	12 November 1937	1 March 1938		Died in office
	Luigi Federzoni	21 April 1938	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Special Court for the Defence of the State

President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
		27 July 1928	28 November 1932		—
	Antonino Tringali Casanuova	28 November 1932	25 July 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No

Secretary of the Party

See main article: List of secretaries of Italian fascist parties.

Secretary of the Party

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Michele Bianchi	10 November 1921	13 October 1923		—
	Francesco Giunta	13 October 1923	23 April 1924		—
	Quadrumvirate	23 April 1924	15 February 1925		—
	Roberto Farinacci	15 February 1925	30 March 1926		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No
	Augusto Turati	30 March 1926	7 October 1930		—
	Giovanni Giuriati	7 October 1930	12 December 1931		—
	Achille Starace	12 December 1931	31 October 1939		—
	Ettore Muti	31 October 1939	30 October 1940		—
	Adelchi Serena	30 October 1940	26 December 1941		—
	Aldo Vidussoni	26 December 1941	19 April 1943		—
	Carlo Scorza	19 April 1943	27 July 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	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

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
		1 February 1923	1 December 1924		—
		1 December 1924	23 December 1928		—
	Attilio Teruzzi	2 January 1929	3 October 1935		—
	Luigi Russo	3 October 1935	3 November 1939		—
	Achille Starace	3 November 1939	16 May 1941		—
	Enzo Galbiati	25 May 1941	26 July 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No

Officeholders who held appointments of a three-year duration

President of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Giovanni Giuriati	20 April 1929	19 January 1934		—

Minister of Agriculture and Forests

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Edmondo Rossoni	24 January 1935	31 October 1939		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of Corporations

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Ferruccio Lantini	11 June 1936	31 October 1939		—
	Renato Ricci	31 October 1939	6 February 1943		—

Minister of Finance

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Paolo Thaon di Revel	17 January 1935	6 February 1943		—

Minister of Foreign Affairs

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Undersecretary	20 July 1932	9 June 1936		—
	Galeazzo Ciano	9 June 1936	6 February 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

Minister of the Interior

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Undersecretary Leandro Arpinati	12 September 1929	8 May 1933		—
	Undersecretary Guido Buffarini Guidi	8 May 1933	6 February 1943		align=center style="background:#FFD0D7"	No

Minister of Grace and Justice

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Arrigo Solmi	24 January 1935	12 July 1939		—

Minister of Popular Culture

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Dino Alfieri	11 June 1936	31 October 1939		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes
	Alessandro Pavolini	31 October 1939	6 February 1943		—

Minister of National Education

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Giuseppe Bottai	15 November 1936	5 February 1943		align=center style="background:#CEF6D8"	Yes

President of the Special Court for the Defence of the State

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Guido Cristini	27 July 1928	28 November 1932		—

Secretary of the Party

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
	Augusto Turati	30 March 1926	7 October 1930		—
	Achille Starace	12 December 1931	31 October 1939		—

Chief of Staff of the MVSN

width=1% rowspan=2	Portrait	width=15% rowspan=2	Name (born–died)	width=30% colspan=3	Term of office	width=10% rowspan=2	25 July 1943 Motion
width=11%	Took office	width=11%	Left office	width=11%	Time in office
		1 December 1924	23 December 1928		—
	Attilio Teruzzi	2 January 1929	3 October 1935		—
	Luigi Russo	3 October 1935	3 November 1939		—

See also

• Italian Fascism
• Italian Parliament (1928–1939)
• Movimiento Nacional, governing body of Francoist Spain

Further reading

• 2194 Days of War, Cesare Salmaggi & Alfredo Pallavisini (editors), Gallery Press, New York — (1977)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gran consiglio del fascismo. Enciclopedia on line. Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana fondata da Giovanni Treccani S.p.A.. 23 August 2017. IT.
2. Book: Shirer. William L.. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. 1959. Simon & Schuster. New York. 9781451642599. 997. 2011. 23 August 2017.
3. Book: Bosworth. Richard J. B.. Mussolini. 2010. Bloomsbury Publishing. London. 9780340981733. 16. New. 23 August 2017. Bosworth.
4. Book: De Grand. Alexander J.. Italian Fascism: Its Origins & Development. 2000. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln, NV. 0803266227. 136. Third. 23 August 2017.