Benito Benito MussoliniMussolini

By Maggie By Maggie Stohler and Danni Stohler and Danni

SchwartzSchwartz

ObjectiveObjective

Our objective is Our objective is to discover to discover

Benito Benito Mussolini’s Mussolini’s journey to journey to

dictatorship dictatorship throughout the throughout the era of World era of World

War II.War II.

Benito’s BackgroundBenito’s Background Benito Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883 in Benito Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883 in

Varnano dei Costa near the village of Varnano dei Costa near the village of Predappio.Predappio.

His parents Rosa Maltoni and Alessandro His parents Rosa Maltoni and Alessandro Mussolini influenced his beliefs, creating the Mussolini influenced his beliefs, creating the foundation of his socialist views.foundation of his socialist views.

As an avid writer, he became an editor for As an avid writer, he became an editor for AvantiAvanti, a Milan socialist paper, and proclaimed , a Milan socialist paper, and proclaimed his views against Germany at the start of World his views against Germany at the start of World War I.War I.

Mussolini’s Socialist Mussolini’s Socialist ViewsViews

While working at the While working at the AvantiAvanti he grew to be “ the most he grew to be “ the most forceful of all labor leaders forceful of all labor leaders of Italian socialism”.of Italian socialism”.

At the start of WWI, At the start of WWI, Mussolini supported Italian Mussolini supported Italian involvement in the war, but involvement in the war, but the socialist didn’t support the socialist didn’t support his ideas.his ideas.

This fallout lead to This fallout lead to Mussolini’s change in beliefs Mussolini’s change in beliefs and he left the Socialist and he left the Socialist Party and the Party and the AvantiAvanti..

The Origin of FascismThe Origin of Fascism

After leaving the After leaving the AvantiAvanti, he developed a new , he developed a new Italian newspaper called Italian newspaper called IIl Popolo d’Italial Popolo d’Italia along along with the pro-war group Fasci d’Azione with the pro-war group Fasci d’Azione Rivoluzionaria in November, 1914.Rivoluzionaria in November, 1914.

Mussolini became a ruthless dictator within the Mussolini became a ruthless dictator within the Fascist group and was supported by liberals.Fascist group and was supported by liberals.

He treated non-supporters of the Fascist He treated non-supporters of the Fascist Movement harshly and with no respect.Movement harshly and with no respect.

On March 15, 1921 he was elected into the On March 15, 1921 he was elected into the Italian Chamber of Deputies with 35 other Italian Chamber of Deputies with 35 other Fascists as a right-wing member.Fascists as a right-wing member.

Fascist DictatorshipFascist Dictatorship

Within the Italian Within the Italian Chamber, Mussolini Chamber, Mussolini became able to achieve became able to achieve the governmental the governmental powers in order to powers in order to stabilize Italy’s economy stabilize Italy’s economy and save it from and save it from economic troubles.economic troubles.

Mussolini took over the Mussolini took over the Ministries of the Interior, Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, Italian Foreign Affairs, Italian Army, and the Fascist Army, and the Fascist Militia Corporations.Militia Corporations.

He hoped to gain power He hoped to gain power and attempted to and attempted to eliminate all other eliminate all other political parties during political parties during the election of 1925 and the election of 1925 and 1926.1926.

The Beginning of The Beginning of Mussolini’s Rise to PowerMussolini’s Rise to Power

Shortly after Mussolini was Shortly after Mussolini was elected into the Italian elected into the Italian Chamber, the Italian liberal Chamber, the Italian liberal governments run by Ivanoe governments run by Ivanoe Bonomi, Giovanni Giolitti, Bonomi, Giovanni Giolitti, and Luigi Facta became and Luigi Facta became unsuccessful in stopping unsuccessful in stopping the spread of anarchy.the spread of anarchy.

In need of a new liberal In need of a new liberal leader, King Victor leader, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini to prevent a Mussolini to prevent a Communist revolution in Communist revolution in Italy in October 1922.Italy in October 1922.

Assuming Dictatorial Assuming Dictatorial PowersPowers

Mussolini became in Mussolini became in charge of nationalists, charge of nationalists, fascists and the fascists and the parliamentary government parliamentary government until the death of Giacomo until the death of Giacomo Matteotti, a socialist leader, Matteotti, a socialist leader, in 1924. in 1924.

Giacomo’s death triggered Giacomo’s death triggered the collapse of the left-wing the collapse of the left-wing parties, making Italy a one-parties, making Italy a one-party, police state.party, police state.

Giacomo’s death Giacomo’s death significantly helped significantly helped Mussolini and his conquest Mussolini and his conquest to dictatorship. to dictatorship.

Liberals helped Mussolini Liberals helped Mussolini enforce strict censorship enforce strict censorship and a public-works program.and a public-works program.

Liberals also helped him Liberals also helped him change the election change the election methods so that he would methods so that he would win the election of 1926.win the election of 1926.

By 1927, Mussolini had By 1927, Mussolini had assumed all dictatorial assumed all dictatorial powers and completely powers and completely eliminated all political eliminated all political parties.parties.

The Use of PropogandaThe Use of Propoganda

Mussolini relied on the radio, press, and education to Mussolini relied on the radio, press, and education to spread the word about fascism by calling it “the spread the word about fascism by calling it “the doctrine of the 20doctrine of the 20thth century that was replacing century that was replacing liberalism and democracy”.liberalism and democracy”.

Then, he started to rid Italy of the parliamentary Then, he started to rid Italy of the parliamentary system. He rewrote law codes and made all schools system. He rewrote law codes and made all schools and universities swear by the Fascist regime. He also and universities swear by the Fascist regime. He also hand selected the newspaper editors of each Italian hand selected the newspaper editors of each Italian newspaper.newspaper.

He wanted the government to control the Italian He wanted the government to control the Italian industry, but Italy did not have the resources or the industry, but Italy did not have the resources or the concentration to fulfill Mussolini’s goal.concentration to fulfill Mussolini’s goal.

Mussolini’s Foreign PolicyMussolini’s Foreign Policy

When Mussolini had When Mussolini had gained enough power, he gained enough power, he wanted to show off his wanted to show off his regime and take over the regime and take over the country. He had a dream to country. He had a dream to the make the the make the Mediterranean “mare Mediterranean “mare nostrum” (our sea). nostrum” (our sea).

In October 1935 Mussolini In October 1935 Mussolini sent 400,000 troops to sent 400,000 troops to Ethiopia and in May 1936, Ethiopia and in May 1936, they capture Addis Ababa, they capture Addis Ababa, the capital.the capital.

Unfortunately, the League of Unfortunately, the League of Nations opposed the Nations opposed the capture of Ethiopia and capture of Ethiopia and Mussolini sought an alliance Mussolini sought an alliance with Nazi Germany, non-with Nazi Germany, non-members of the league members of the league since 1933.since 1933.

Adolph Hitler admired Adolph Hitler admired Mussolini’s achievements Mussolini’s achievements and Germany and Italy and Germany and Italy became very close.became very close.

In October 1936, Hitler and In October 1936, Hitler and Mussolini created a non-Mussolini created a non-military alliance.military alliance.

Following in Germany’s Following in Germany’s FootstepsFootsteps

Along with the non-military Along with the non-military alliance with Nazi alliance with Nazi Germany, Italy also signed Germany, Italy also signed on to the German on to the German annexation of Austria in annexation of Austria in 1938, the dismemberment 1938, the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1939, of Czechoslovakia in 1939, and the Pact of Steel with and the Pact of Steel with Hitler in May 1939.Hitler in May 1939.

Like Hitler, Mussolini Like Hitler, Mussolini adopted a racial policy, adopted a racial policy, creating an apartheid in creating an apartheid in Italy.Italy.

The Downfall of the The Downfall of the Italian MilitaryItalian Military

Mussolini’s own military Mussolini’s own military slowly began to weaken. slowly began to weaken. When Hitler invaded Poland, When Hitler invaded Poland, Mussolini’s armed forces Mussolini’s armed forces were completely were completely unprepared. unprepared.

Mussolini ended up Mussolini ended up declaring war in June 1940 declaring war in June 1940 after the fall of France, but after the fall of France, but after an unsuccessful attack after an unsuccessful attack on Greece, had no choice on Greece, had no choice but to follow Germany’s but to follow Germany’s declarations of war on declarations of war on Russia and the U.S. in 1941.Russia and the U.S. in 1941.

Mussolini’s Arrest and Mussolini’s Arrest and RescueRescue

When the Allies captured When the Allies captured Sicily, Mussolini was troubled, Sicily, Mussolini was troubled, for he knew that they would for he knew that they would use it as a base to invade use it as a base to invade Italy.Italy.

On July 24, 1943, the Fascist On July 24, 1943, the Fascist Grand Council met and Grand Council met and decided to sign a peace treaty decided to sign a peace treaty with the Allies. On July 25, with the Allies. On July 25, King Victor Emmanuel III King Victor Emmanuel III dismissed Mussolini from dismissed Mussolini from office and Pietro Badoglio office and Pietro Badoglio proclaimed martial law and proclaimed martial law and placed Mussolini under arrest.placed Mussolini under arrest.

On July 29, 1943 upon On July 29, 1943 upon hearing about Mussolini’s hearing about Mussolini’s arrest, Hitler sent Otto arrest, Hitler sent Otto Skorzeny to rescue Mussolini Skorzeny to rescue Mussolini in the Abruzzi Apennines.in the Abruzzi Apennines.

On September 13, 1943, On September 13, 1943, Skorzeny sent an air force to Skorzeny sent an air force to the Abruzzi Apennines and the Abruzzi Apennines and Mussolini was flown to safety.Mussolini was flown to safety.

Establishing the Republic Establishing the Republic of Saloof Salo

After being rescued, Mussolini decided to After being rescued, Mussolini decided to establish a Republican Fascist state in the establish a Republican Fascist state in the northern part of Italy called the “Republic of northern part of Italy called the “Republic of Salo”.Salo”.

In his Fascist state, Mussolini returned to his In his Fascist state, Mussolini returned to his original views of collectivization and socialism.original views of collectivization and socialism.

Mussolini also had the Fascist leaders that had Mussolini also had the Fascist leaders that had turned against him executed, including his own turned against him executed, including his own son-in-law, Galeazzo Ciano.son-in-law, Galeazzo Ciano.

The Downfall and Death The Downfall and Death of Mussoliniof Mussolini

As Italy and Germany As Italy and Germany weakened, Mussolini weakened, Mussolini began to blame the began to blame the Italian people for not Italian people for not “fulfilling the Italian “fulfilling the Italian dream”.dream”.

Placing the blame on Placing the blame on others was no use. others was no use. Verona and Parma Verona and Parma had already been had already been taken and uprisings taken and uprisings had begun in Genoa had begun in Genoa and Milan.and Milan.

Before the Allies Before the Allies reached Milan, Mussolini reached Milan, Mussolini and his mistress, Clara and his mistress, Clara Petacci, fled to Lake Petacci, fled to Lake Como, Switzerland but Como, Switzerland but were captured by Italian were captured by Italian Partisans on April 27, Partisans on April 27, 1945. 1945.

The next day, the two The next day, the two were shot to death and were shot to death and their bodies were hung their bodies were hung on display in public in on display in public in Milan.Milan.