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Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was born in Italy.
Benito Mussolini was an Italian political leader who became the fascist dictator of Italy from 1925 to 1945. Called “Il Duce” (the Leader) by his countrymen or simply “Mussolini,”. -
Hitler
Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn in the empire of Austria-Hungary.
Adolf Hitler was chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, serving as dictator and leader of the Nazi Party, or National Socialist German Workers Party, for the bulk of his time in power. Hitler’s fascist policies precipitated World War II and led to the genocide known as the Holocaust, which resulted in the deaths of some six million Jews and another five million noncombatants. -
Mussolini's early career
Mussolini became an elementary school master. -
Mussolini's emigration and arrest
Mussolini left Italy to avoid military service, and he relocated to Switzerland. While there, he studied and became active in the Italian socialist movement, and he was eventually arrested for spreading propaganda. -
Mussolini's military service
Upon returning home after his arrest, Mussolini found himself forced to enlist in the military in Italy. He served dutifully for two years. -
Hitler, Vienna
Hitler moves to Vienna with the aim of attending the Vienna Academy of Art, but his application is rejected. His disappointment is compounded by his failure to also get into the Vienna School of Architecture due to his inability to provide a school leaving certificate. -
Hitler, Poverty
Hitler struggles to survive in Vienna, living in a men’s hostel. He sells postcards which he’s drawn, of famous sights, and undertakes a series of menial jobs, to earn money. During this period of poverty, Hitler engages in much political activity, attending meetings, absorbing political newspapers and literature. -
Hitler's Military service
Faced with military service for the Habsburg Empire, Hitler takes action to evade this by moving to Munich in Southern Germany. This move is possible in part due to his inheritance of a small legacy from his father’s estate. -
Hitler, First World War
At the outbreak of the First World War, Hitler volunteers for service in the German army and joined the 16th Barvarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. He distinguishes himself in service, being promoted to corporal and decorated with the Iron Cross for services as a runner on the western front. -
Mussolini, First World War
When the war broke out, much of Italy supported the war. Socialist in Italy did not support war, but Mussolini took a stand for it, though it was for his own selfish purposes. -
Hitler, army
ntent on remaining in the army, having found real purpose to his life, Hitler is appointed to the Intelligence/Propaganda section where he undertakes political training. His activities involve making speeches to the troops advocating German nationalism and anti-Socialism, where he developed further his oratory skills. He also acts as an army informer, spying on small political parties. He joins the German Workers’ Party, an extreme anti-communist, anti-Semitic right wing organisation. -
Hitler, Nazi
Hitler is discharged from the army. In the German Worker’s Party he undertakes responsibility for publicity and propaganda. He changes the party’s name to the National Socialist German Workers Party, (or Nazi for short) The party represents a combination of intense hatred for the politicians who they considered had dishonoured Germany by signing the Versailles Treaty and exploiting local grievances against a weak federal government. -
Hitler leader
Hitler becomes the new leader of the Nazi party. -
Mussolini, The march of rome
After 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. -
Hitler, arrest and Mein Kampf
He attempts to overthrow the Bavarian government with an armed uprising known as The Beer Hall Putsch. Hitler and Nazis march through Munich to take over a meeting between three of the most important individuals in Bavarian politics. The Nazis march in the streets, the police intervenes. Hitler escapes but is captured, tried for treason and serves 9 months in prison. It was during his imprisonment that he began dictating his thoughts to Rudolf Hess, which emerged in the book Mein Kampf. -
Hitler, Nazi party
Hitler re-founds the Nazi party. -
Mussolini, Italian schools
In order to spread his beliefs, Mussolini took control of the Italian schools. He began teaching his doctrine in order to raise generations of citizens who believed as he did. -
Mussolini, police state
Over a period of 2-3 years, Mussolini slowly changed laws, giving himself more and more power. By 1927 he had power to do whatever he pleased, making the nation into a police state. -
Hitler, second largest party
In the General Election, the Nazi Party increases its representatives in parliament from 14 to 107. Hitler is now the leader of the second largest party in Germany. -
Hitler vs Hindenburg
Hitler challenges Paul von Hindenburg for the presidency, but fails to win. -
Hitler, German citizen
Hitler becomes a German citizen, enabling him to stand in the Presidential election against Hindenburg. -
Hitler, dictator
Hitler becomes chancellor of a coalition government, where the Nazis have a third of the seats in the Reichstag. The German Reichstag is destroyed by fire. The plot and execution is almost certainly due to the Nazis but they point the finger at the communists and trigger a General Election. The Enabling Act passed—powers of legislation pass to Hitler’s cabinet for four years, making him virtual dictator. He proclaims the Nazi Party is the only political party permitted in Germany. -
Hitler, League of nations
Hitler withdraws from the League of Nations. In the following months, he trebles the size of the German Army and ignores the arms restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. -
Hitler, Fuehrer and Reich chancellor
After the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler becomes “Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor” and abolishes the title of President. -
Mussolini, Italian businesses
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. -
Mussolini, Etiopia
Italy invades Etiopia. -
Hitler, Austrian Nazi Party
The Austrian Chancellor, leader of the Austrian Nazi Party, invites the German army to occupy Austria and proclaim a union with Germany. -
Hitler, Chamberlain
British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain meets Hitler in Germany. Britain, France and Italy sign the Munich Agreement which gives the Sudetenland to Germany. -
Hitler, Crystal Night
7,500 Jewish shops are destroyed and 400 synagogues are burnt.
Crystal Night is considered to be the beginning of the Holocaust. -
Hitler, Russia and Poland
Peace treaty with Russia secured with the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Hitler invades Poland on September 1st and after 3 weeks of lightning war or ‘Blitzkrieg’ the country is divided between Russia and Germany. On September 3rd France, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand declared war on Germany. -
Hitler, invasion
The Nazis occupy Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France. Romania and Yugoslavia are invaded. -
Mussolini, Germany
Mussolini had been strongly influenced by Hitler over the years, and when World War II broke out, Mussolini sided with Germany. The Allied powers of Britain and later America would soon come after Mussolini. -
Hitler, invasion of Russia
Germany attacks Russia, ignoring the peace pact. Operation Barbarossa, The German invasion of Russia, begins. -
Hitler, retreat from war
Although commanded by Hitler to stand and fight, the Germans surrender in the battle of Stalingrad. From this point in the war, Germany is continually retreating. -
Hitler, survival
Hitler survives an assassination attempt by Colonel Stauffenberg, who places a bomb in a briefcase under a table close to Hitler. As a result, Hitler purges the army of all possible suspects. -
Hitler, soviet troops
Soviet troops enter Nazi Germany. -
Mussolini, firing and death
Italians grew steadily unhappier with Mussolini's rule until they finally fired him from his rule as supreme leader in 1942. He was captured by Allied powers in 1943, but escaped, and in 1945 he was captured once again where he was shot and killed. -
Hitler, Berlin
Hitler decides to stay in Berlin to the last. -
Hitler, besieged
Berlin completely besieged by the Soviet Army Fronts of Marshals Koniev and Zhukov. -
Hitler, death
Hitler commits suicide with his wife of two days, Eva Braun; their bodies are believed to have been cremated.