Wheat battle
The wheat battle ( Italian battaglia del grano ) was a propaganda campaign by the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of wheat supply .
background
For the first time in 1925, Mussolini called for the "wheat battle". This propaganda campaign to promote domestic products was a direct result of Italy's economic situation after the end of the First World War . The Italian economy was largely destroyed, and agriculture was barely able to sell due to the low world market prices. For this reason the aim was to strengthen the rural population through protectionist measures, see also Corn Laws in England. Measures to increase production included soil improvement , fertilizer subsidies, mechanization, etc.
“In five to ten years Italy will be economically independent from abroad. Until then, the wheat battle must be fought, and for the rest of the time, be silent "
consequences
As a result of the “wheat battle”, the average wheat yield could be increased by up to 20% in the short term. The farmers in particular were helped by the protectionist measures, and the rather poor south of Italy in particular benefited. However, due to the focus on wheat cultivation, other agricultural products were disregarded and there was huge monoculture management . The “wheat battle” provided the model for the production battle in Germany, see also Agriculture and Food in the Third Reich .
literature
- Luciano Segre: La battaglia del grano: Depressione economica e politica cerealicola fascista . Milan 1984 ISBN 88-7064-095-7
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/economy_in_fascist_italy.htm
- ↑ Iván T. Berend , Markt und Wirtschaft, Göttingen 2007, pp. 86f.