Matteotti's murder and the end of Italian democracy
Dr. Andrea Pisauro
University of Plymouth
andrea.pisauro@plymouth.ac.uk
Matteotti in London 22-26 April 1924
Ramsay MacDonald was first ever Labour Prime Minister
Secret mission to London as part of a European tour
Denounce fascism as threat to democracy
calls for moral and material assistance
Finds English publisher for book detailing crimes of Mussolini government
Meets committees of Labour and Independent Labour, Socialist International and Trades Union Congress
24/4/1924 Labour Archive
Does he get proofs of fascist corruption over oil deal?
Matteotti’s speech 30th May 1924
Matteotti’s speech denounces the April 1924 election results
Elections marred by violence: long list of facts, people, places
Constantly interrupted, shouted at, insulted by fascist MPs
“ and now prepare my commemoration”
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Deposition Giovanni Cosattini 19/6/24
Extract “il Popolo” 21/6/24
Cesare Rossi
Director of Mussolini’s
Press and Propaganda Office
Amerigo Dumini
Head of Mussolini’s
political police
Matteotti’s murder 10th June 1924
Matteotti is kidnapped on his way to Parliament, in broad daylight at 16.30
Five (?) men led by Dumini
wait in a car rented from
director of fascist newspaper
Several witnesses will report a “movie like” abduction
The car sped away. Matteotti would never be seen alive again
Report “Questura Roma” 15/6/24
Matteotti’s murder 10th June 1924
The murderers come back to Corriere Italiano headquarters
Palazzo Chigi, 9th June
Viminale, 10th June
The day after - 11th June 1924
Rossi and Mussolini learn about the murder
Velia Matteotti reports disappearance to Modigliani
Modigliani reports it to the police
But the police already knew from Fascist MPs
Deposition “Questura Roma” 15/6/24
Italy discovers the abduction 12-13 June 1924
Mussolini reassures MPs at 19.30 on the 12th
The car registration number is reported to the police at 13.30 on 12th
Mussolini asks to see Velia Matteotti at 18.30 on the 13th
Deposition Villarini 14/6/24
Mussolini faces the crisis 12-13 June 1924
Dumini is arrested on the 12th at 23
in very unusual circumstances
Mussolini describes the crime as diabolical on the 13th
Rossi is asked to resign on the 14th
Dumini’s arrest report 15/6/1924
An antifascist judge leads the investigation 19 June 1924
Del Giudice orders the arrest of Rossi and Marinelli, two of the closest aides of Mussolini
Investigates all crimes of Mussolini’s political police but keeps
Mussolini out of the investigation
The opposition makes crucial mistake 27 June 1924
MPs discuss the ‘Aventino’ proposal to withdraw opposition in protest at Matteotti’s disappearance
Failed attempt to pressure the king Vittorio Emanuele III
A divided opposition chose the
“Aventino secession”
Matteotti speaks from the dead July 1924
English Life
July 1924
A response
to Mussolini
Accusation
Of corruption
fascism will “make Italy infamous throughout the world”
Matteotti’s skeleton is “found” 16 August 1924
Matteotti’s skeleton is found by a carabiniere just after Ferragosto
Retrieval orchestrated by government to show goodwill and delay investigation
Coffin carried overnight, funeral rushed through
yet thousands mourn
Deposition Geremia Conti 16/8/1924
The evidence against Mussolini grows December 1924
Deposition Emanuele Modigliani 6/12/1924
Filippelli’s and Rossi’s memoirs are published
Consistent picture with other key accounts: Mussolini gave the order!
Deposition Giorgini Schiff 16/7/1924
Mussolini ends Italian democracy 3rd January 1925
“If Fascism has been a criminal association, if all the violence has been the result of a determined historical, political, moral delinquency, the responsibility for this is on me”
The trial becomes a farce 1925-1926
Antifascist judge is removed
“Dumini Amnesty” for political crimes
Trial moved to “fascistissima” Chieti
Rossi acquitted, Dumini minor sentence
Velia Matteotti: “I did not have justice from men, I will have it from history and God”
Conclusions
One of the most consequential political assassinations in modern European history
Countless authoritarian regimes, from Hitler to Putin, were “inspired”
Mussolini’s responsibility never fully accepted, Matteotti remains a ghost
Motive remains debated: political, corruption or internationalism (London visit)?
Conclusions
Pay tribute to a European martyr of democracy
Thank you!