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Mussolini is born
Benito Mussolini was born on July 29th in Dovia di Predappio (Emilia Romanga) to father Alessandro, a blacksmith, and mother Rosa Mussolini. -
Mussolini enrolls in a boarding school
Mussolini enrolls to a boarding school in FAenza (Emilia Romanga) -
Mussolini expelled
After stabbing a fellow student in the hand with a knife, Mussolini was expelled from the boarding school and transferred to a high school in Forlimpopoli near his home town. -
Mussolini graduates
Mussolini graduates from school to become an elementary school teacher. He joined the socialist party of Italy, "Partito Socialista Italiano" (PSI). -
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Mussolini becomes a teacher
Mussolini worked as an elementary school teacher in Gualteieri near Reggio Emilia. -
Mussolini leaves Italy
In order to avoid mandatory military service in the Italian military, Mussolini moved to Switzerland in which he worked jobs as a regular construction worker, office clerk, and translator. -
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Mussolini is forgiven
Mussolini recieved a pardon for his desertion and returned to Italy to serve in the military -
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Mussolini works as a teacher again
Mussolini worked again as a school teacher and became an activist in the socialist movement. -
Mussolini becomes a journalist
Mussolini moved to Trieste where he publishes a newspaper for workers. Only a few months after arriving there, he was deported by the Austrian-Hungarian authorities. He moved to Forli (Emilia Romanga), where he published his own socialist newspaper. -
Mussolini finds love
Mussolini started a relationship with the 17 year old Rachele Guidi, who bore his first child. -
Mussolini calls a strike
In protest to Italy's expansionist war in Libya, Mussolini called for a general strike. He was arrested and given a 5 month jail term. (Between 1911 and 1915, he was arrested and jailed 11 times). -
Mussolini begins to rise in power
Mussolini was elected to the executive committee of the socialist party. In November he was hired as Chief Editor of the socialist daily newspaper "Avanti" in Milan. He was able to increase the paper's distribution from 20,000 to over 100,000. -
Mussolini changes his views
On July 29th, 1914, Mussolini signed a non aggression/anti war manifest on behalf of the socialist party. However, in October he joined the proponents of the war and called for Italy's participation in WWI. He was consequently expelled from the socialist party. He resigned from the newspaper "Avanti" and published his own national newspaper "Popolo d'Italia". Together with the poet and writer Gabriele D'Annunzio he lead the movement for Italy's participation in the war. -
Mussolini joins the army
On August 31st, 1915, Mussolini joined the army. He also married Rachele Guidi. -
Mussolini is promoted
Mussolini is promoted to master sergeant and is severely wounded shortly after. He returned to Milan in August where he resumed editing the newspaper. -
Mussolini creates fascism
Mussolini co-founded the "fasci di combattimento", a right wing association of veterans with who called for aan authoritarian order and the revision of the peace accords, more favorable in Italy. -
Fascists gain power
The fascists gained 34 seats in the Italian parliament. Mussolini, now the recognized leader of the Italian right-wing, transformed the "fasci" into the "National Fascist Party" known as the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF). -
Mussolini rises to power
At the heights of the political crises between October 27th and October 30th, Mussolini took advantage of the widespread fear of revolution and openly threatened to overthrow the government. King Victor Emanuel III bypassed the parliament and appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister. -
Mussolini solidifies his power
Mussolini banned all other political parties and begins forming special courts to prevent any opposition. -
Mussolini meets Hitler
Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler officially meet for the first time. -
War with Ethiopia
Italy started the war against Ethiopia. -
Mussolini meets Hitler
Following victory in the war against Ethiopia, Mussolini proclaimed the "Italian Empire" and claimed control over the Mediterranean region. On November 1st, following the alliance with Hitler, Mussolini announced the creation of the Axis powers. -
Italy declares war
Italy declared war on Britain and France. In October, Italy also attacked Greece. -
Mussolini is arrested
Following the July 9th invasion of Sicily which weakened Mussolini's position and strengthened the anti-fascist movement, the Fascist Council deposed Mussolini and King Victor Emanuel III ordered his arrest. -
Mussolini is rescued
German paratroopers freed Mussolini from his jail and took him back to Hitler's headquarters, the "Wolfschanze" -
Mussolini attempts to regain power
With the help of Hitler, Mussolini formed a shadow government and proclaimed the "Social Republic of Italy". Mussolini attempted to regain power over Northern and Central Italy. He remained a puppet of the German forces. -
Allies occupy Rome
The Allies began to occupy Rome, and Germany's power in the region rapidly decreased. -
Mussolini is killed
Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were shot and beaten, their bodies hung in public.
