The Myth of Squadrismo in the Fascist Regime

Abstract

This article presents a statistical analysis of a sample of 440 squadristi from Bologna and Florence, from which emerge useful data regarding who the squadristi were and what was attractive about squadrismo. The myth of squadrismo grew up during the period of squadra activity and consisted of a palingenetic vision of politics which is also to be found at the heart of fascist totalitarianism. The ‘new man’ represented by the squadrista is revealed by studying some of the ways in which the myth was diffused: in novels and the worship of fascist martyrs. Finally, the reburial of the martyrs of Florence in Santa Croce in 1934 and the Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution in 1942 exemplify in different ways and with different purposes the regime's use of this myth.