Battle for Land Mussolini

Battle for Land

By Xenia Paulsen

4. Sources

3. Failure?

2. Success?

1. Aims

Index

• Land reclamation --> marshes where drained and system of farms where established
• Propaganda -> show strength of government

• Impress foreigners
• Increase land availability (grow cereal)
• Boost farming
• Provide more jobs
• End malaria / better health

Aims:

Successes?

• Provided jobs
• Improved public health

• Pontine marshes: (50 km from Rome) were showpiece for all foreign journalists
• Latina & Sabaudia: new towns -> created as showpieces

• Only 80,000 hectares reclaimed -> limited
• Didn't really boost farming
• 3/4 of land reclaimed: North
• South was neglected
• Ambitious plans blocked by southern landowners

Failures?

Sources

1. Mussolini and Italy (Edward Townley) p. 81/82
2. Italy: The Rise of Fascism 1896-1946 (Mark Robson) p.92

Thanks!