The Impact of the March on Rome in the Nordic Countries

Fascism in the Nordic countries can be traced back to the 1920s, when small fascist groups emerged in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. For example, Karl Mayer’s “national legion” (in Norwegian: den Nasjonale Legion) emerged in Norway, while several Swedish extreme right-wing activists (such as Ivar Hjérten and Per Engdahl) exalted the figure of the Duce. In Finland, organisations like the Lapua Movement were inspired by Italian Fascism and the success of the March on Rome encouraged their hope that they could take power. In Denmark, several newspapers and popular magazines emphasised Mussolini’s ability to restore law and order in Italy, and the Duce was often seen as a right-wing conservative. Therefore, the triumph of black shirts galvanised local fascist groups into action and generated a series of multifaceted problems. On the one hand, the various Nordic governments (liberal or socialdemocratic) tried to maintain good commercial and diplomatic relations with Mussolini’s regime. On the other hand, they had to handle the increasing anti-fascist front, in particular the communist one. In this regard, this study aims to shed light on the origins of both pro-fascist and anti-fascist feelings in the Nordic countries in the aftermath of the March on Rome.