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Birth of Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was born on the 29th of July 1883 in Dovia di Predappio -
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Benito Mussolini - Il Duce
The life of Italian Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini -
Socialist Party
Due to his father's political beliefs Benito became a socialist and joined the Socialist party in 1912 -
Socialist Party
Socialists did not approve of Italy's contribution to the war. Mussolini supported the war and was kicked out of the Socialist Party -
War
Mussolini rejoined the army but an injury sent him back to his job as editor of his own newspaper "Il Popolo d'Italia" - The People of Italy -
Fasci Italiani di Combattimento
Mussolini created the political party "Fasci Italiani di Combattimento" of the Fascists/Blackshirts. He used these to intimidate his way into power by getting the Blackshirts to break up communist parties -
March on Rome
Mussolini and thousands of Fascist supporters marched to Rome in support of Fascism. King Victor Emmanuel III made Mussolini Prime Minister of Italy -
Acerbo Law
In 1923 Mussolini passed the Acerbo Law stating that the party with the greatest amount of votes automatically got 2/3s of the seats in Parliment. Mussolini used propoganda to portray him as a family man and the opposition resigned from Parliment in protest. Mussolini made Italy a one party government and removed the King's power -
Lateran Treaty
The Lateran Treaty was Mussolini's most popular decision. It was between him and the Pope and it stated that Mussolini recognised the Vatican as an independant state and the Pope recognised Italy as a kingdom -
Italy's Expansion into Africa
In 1935 Mussolini invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to expand Italy's kingdom. The Abyssinians pleaded with the League of Nations to stop Mussolini but since they had no army the League could do nothing to help -
Rome-Berlin Axis
Mussolini signed the Rome-Berlin Axis with Germany's Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. This was a friendship between Germany and Italy -
Pact of Steel
The Pact of Steel was a military alliance between Germany and Italy, a continuation of the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis between Mussolini and Hitler -
Italy entered WWII
By June 1940 Mussolini thought that the war was almost over and so declared war on France and Britain -
Mussolini's loss of power
After Sicily was invaded the Italian King took away Mussolini's power and arrested him, as he had been growing more and more unpopular since Italy joined the war. The Fascist party broke up and a truce was signed with the Allies -
Germany's Invasion
Germany invaded Italy and Germans freed Mussolini from prison. He wanted to retire but was made Hitler's puppet -
Mussolini's Capture
Mussolini attempted to flee to Switzerland but was caught by the Italians -
Mussolini's Execution
Mussolini was executed by firing squad the day after he was caught fleeing to Swtizerland. His body was hung upside down as a sign of disrespect
