Mussolini and Fascist Italy

Formation of an independent Italy

Mar 17, 1861

This image depicts the violence of the Risorgimento movement that led to the creation of independent Italy.

Papal States taken over by new nation of Italy

Sep 1, 1870

This image depicts a map showing the small amount of land Italy gave to the papacy following Italy's creation.

Failure of First Italo-Ethiopian War with the Battle of Adowa (Adwa)

Mar 1, 1896

This photo depicts the violent Battle of Adowa between the Abyssinians and the Italians.

Italy invades and takes over Libya

Oct 18, 1912

This political cartoon depicts how Italy and Turkey agreed to Italy's gain of the colony Libya from Turkey.

Mussolini begins work as editor of Socialist Party newspaper Avanti

Dec 1, 1912

This image represents the articles that Mussolini published in Avanti - articles calling for revolution against liberal Italy.

Mussolini kicked out of Socialist Party for pro-nationalistic sentiments regarding WWI

Nov 1, 1914

This image shows the extreme nationalist newspaper Mussolini - Il Polpolo d'Italia - created that caused him to be removed from the Socialist party.

Treaty of London

Apr 26, 1915

This image depicts the three countries in the Triple Entente whom Italy formed an alliance with following the Treaty of London.

Beginning of Biennio Rosso

Jan 1, 1919

This image represents the people who performed Biennio Rosso - workers in trade unions and peasant leagues.

Fascio di Combattimento formed in Milan

Mar 23, 1919

This image shows some of the members in the Fascio di Comattimento that Mussolini formed.

D'Annuzio takes Fiume

Sep 12, 1919

This image depicts D'Annuzio taking over Fiume while accompanied by his militants.

Mussolini forms alliance with Giolitti

Apr 1, 1921

This image represents Mussolini as he secretly had an alliance with Giolitti despite speaking ill of liberal Italy in his speeches.

Mussolini forms the PNF and is elected leader

Nov 9, 1921

The party symbol of the PNF is a visualization of the Fasci di Combattimento reorganizing into an official organized and unified political party.

Acerbo Law Passed

Nov 18, 1921

This picture is significant in showing the results of the election due to the Acerbo Law - how the fascists (the black dots) won 2/3 of the seats in parliament.

March on Rome and Mussolini becomes Prime Minister

Oct 28, 1922

The symbolism of the black shirts represent the seizure on Rome, which is the event remembered for Mussolini's gain of power.

Corfu Incident

Aug 29, 1923

This visual helps represent the Corfu Incident by displaying how Mussolini's image enhanced through his consideration as a national hero after resolving the incident.

Matteotti Crisis

Jun 10, 1924

This is a picture of Matteotti's coffin, representing his murder and the crisis that stemmed from the fascists killing their opposition.

Battle for Grain

Jun 20, 1924

This poster with the man and the wheat signifies the battle to grow grain in Italy.

Aventine Secession

Jun 27, 1924

The Aventine Hill is an allusion back to ancient Rome's Aventine Secessions, symbolizing parliament's walk out on the fascist party in protest of Matteotti's murder.

Locarno Treaty Signed

Dec 1, 1925

The front of the treaty visually shows each country involved which helps signal the agreements between Italy and the other great powers in an attempt at peace, which eventually failed.

Battle for Births

May 26, 1927

A picture of many babies signifies Mussolini's aims to force women in their traditional gender role and have many babies.

Battle for Land and Battle for Lira

Aug 18, 1927

The picture of the Lira signifies the overall economic policies of the battles. For the battle of the Lira, it depicts the Lira to heighten its value. For the Battle of land, the goal was to increase the amount of land for grain production, which would overall improve the economy, represented by the Lira.

Lateran Treaty with the Pope

Feb 11, 1928

The visual of the Pope and Mussolini together signifies the Lateran Treaty as it was an agreement between them.

Kellog-Briand Treaty Signed

Aug 27, 1928

This image is significant as it displays the aim of the Kellog-Briand treaty. Showing the countries' agreement to approach disputes with peace and coalition rather than war.

Abyssinia Crisis

Dec 5, 1934

This image is significant as it depicts Italy's ignorance towards the League of Nation's opposition in their stance towards Ethiopia, which led to Italy leaving the L of N and continuing tensions with Ethiopia.

Stresa Front

Apr 14, 1935

This image is significant as it depicts the aim of the agreement between France, Great Britain, and Italy, to stop Hitler from rearming Germany.

Italian involvement with Spanish civil war

Jul 27, 1936

This image is significant as it symbolizes Italy helping the Spanish nationalists to victory during the Spanish civil war; providing soldiers, weapons, and more.

Rome-Berlin Axis Treaty signed

Oct 25, 1936

The image is significant as it displays the agreement between Germany and Italy to pursue a common foreign policy.

Munich Conference

Sep 30, 1938

This image is a visual representation of the Munich conference taking place, having Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy agreeing upon Germany's annexation of Sudetenland.

Italian invasion of Albania

Apr 7, 1939

The image represents the Italians who were deviously celebrating their victory over more Albanian land, despite the treaties that they had during WWI.

Italy enters WWII on side of Germany

Jun 10, 1940

The image is significant as it shows how Italy sided with Germany when entering WWII, thus Mussolini and Hitler leading side by side.

Mussolini brought down by coup during WWII

Jul 24, 1943

The image is significant as represents Mussolini's very own fascist grand council voting him out, allowing him to be sent to prison and taken down from power.

Mussolini killed

Apr 28, 1945

The picture represents Mussolini's death, being killed by an Italian crowd after being recaptured by Italians from his initial escape in prison.