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Mussolini Rises to Power in Italy
Mussolini planned a fascist uprising in 1922 to take control of the government by force. Someday in October 1922 the king asked Mussolini to form a government. Nationalist feelings grew as Mussolini orchestrated the capture of several Greek islands and encouraged irredentism among those living on the islands of Malta and Corsica. -
Mussolini was summoned to meet the king in Rome
Mussolini arrived on October 30th and was sworn in as Prime Minister. Only then were the Fascists who had gathered outside of Rome allowed to march in triumph through Rome. Just five years earlier, Mussolini had been a corporal in the Italian Army fighting in World War One. -
Fascist laws
Mussolini secured a new law from the parliament. Any party, having 25% of the votes in a general election, should receive two-thirds of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies. April 1924, Mussolini immediately arranged for elections to the Chamber of Deputies. -
Mussolini signs the Lateran Treaty with the Vatican
It was signed by Benito Mussolini for the Italian government and by cardinal secretary of state Pietro Gasparri for the papacy and confirmed by the Italian constitution of 1948. -
Mussolini develops contacts with right-wings in Spain
Mussolini met a group of Spanish politicians and generals in Rome who were opposed to the Second Republic. At the meeting Mussolini promised the group 10,000 rifles, 10,000 hand grenades, 200 machine-guns and a million pesetas in cash in event of a military uprising. Mussolini failed to keep his promise although, after a week of negotiations he agreed to sell the Nationalists twelve Savoia S81 bombers. -
WW2: Italy invades Ethiopia
Benito Mussolini, the Fascist leader of Italy, had adopted Adolf Hitler's plans to expand German territories by acquiring all territories it considered German. Mussolini followed this policy when he invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) the African country situated on the horn of Africa. -
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Italian Conquest of Albania
After Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, Italy invades and and conquers Albania. Italy had become a little distrustful of Germany. When Italy saw that Nazi Germany aggressively took control of many territories they felt that they should do the same. Relations are patched up between Germany and Italy with the Pact of Steel, reaffirming their alliance. -
Mussolini falls from power
Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy, is voted out of power by his own Grand Council and arrested upon leaving a meeting with King Vittorio Emanuele, who tells Il Duce that the war is lost. Italy switched sides and joined the Allies.
