The effect of Benito Mussolini and the Fascist movement in post World War I Italy on the university is examined with focus on the Fascist-Catholic struggle for Italian youth during the time span 1922-1943. Discussed is the attempt of the Gioventie Universitaria Fascista (GUF), the official organization of the university students and the cornerstone of Fascist influence among the educational elite, to dominate educational thought and practice. The efforts of the GUF were hampered by he Federazione Universitaria Cattolica Italiana (FUCI) who kept active the influence of the Catholic Church within higher education. The presence of the FUCI and the GUF are discussed in detail, highlighting their activities and priorities such as FUCI's commitment to Catholic Action (social action) and GUF's introduction and involvement in athletic events, a Fascist innovation at the universities. The analysis provided is that although GUF membership outweighed that of FUCI, GUF was never able to absorb the Catholic students or to cripple their organization by infiltration. It is concluded that the effect of Fascism on the universities dissipated as the GUF weakened and the young members of FUCI took lead in the reconstruction of a Christian democratic Italy at the end of the war. References and a chart listing membership data for FUCI from 1928-1943 are provided. (LC)