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Birth
He was born in Predappio, Italy. His father, an ardent Socialist, was a blacksmith; his mother was a teacher. Mussolini taught briefly and lived in Switzerland to avoid military service. -
Period: to
time line
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Childhood
Benito grew up with very harsh disipline and hardly any affection, 15 miles away from Forli of Romagna. -
Prime Minister
Mussolini, BenitoAfter years of seeking support and raising funds, Mussolini and his followers stormed the Prime Minister in Rome. They took over power from the king and began setting up a new form of government. -
Small changes toward dictatorship
Not everyone loved Mussolini, and a few on the opposing side tried proving he had been dishonest in his political dealings. Mussolini came clean, admitting not all of his dealings had been democratic. -
Movement toward Italy's youth
In order to spread his beliefs, Mussolini took control of the Italian schools. He begna teaching his doctrine in order to raise generations of citizens who believed as he did. -
Gaining more control
By changing laws over time, Mussolini was able to gain control of many of the Italian Businesses. He claimed to control over two-thirds of the businesses in Italy by 1935. -
Joining Hitler
Benito Mussolini (left) and Adolf Hitler marching side by sideMussolini promised to fight alongside Adolf Hitler in any war against the demosracies of the world. Allied forces defeated his armies, however, poorly led and ill prepared for the war. -
World War II
Hitler started World War II, giving only one week's warming to the Italians and forcing an enraged, humiliated Mussolini to declare "nonbelligerence.". When war broke out, Mussolini sided with Germany. -
War ended
Italy lost the war due to being badly supplied and impossible led. Italians grew steadily unhappier with Mussolini's rule until they finally fired him from his rule as supreme leader. -
Captured
Mussolini was captured by Allied powers, but escaped. -
Death
Italian insurgents captured the ex-dictator, murdered him, and mutilated his body-a disgraceful end for a man who considered himself to be the savior of the Italian nation. -
