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Mussolini becomes the editor of 'Avanti!'
Mussolini was very skilled in writing. He was awarded the editorship of the prominent socialist newspaper "L'Avanti!". Under his leadership, the circulation went from 20,000 to 100,000. This is an example of his sincere dedication to socialism and how he'd use these skills in the future. -
Mussolini is expelled from the PSI
Mussolini was an avid socialist from the beginning. He initially opposed war, but when the outbreak of WW1 occurred, he started to support it. He thought that WW1 would bring out the necessary change needed for a political revolution. Many people in the PSI held the same thoughts. Mussolini went a step further and started to criticize socialism itself for having failed to recognize the problems that led to the outbreak of WW1. He was consequently expelled from the PSI and fired from "Avanti!". -
Mussolini's Military Service
On the battlefields, Mussolini witnessed firsthand the power of nationalism and how it can motivate men to action. He concludes that if it can lead men to a machine gun nest, it can power a revolution. He understands that the power of nationalism is a massive building block for a party. -
Mussolini forms the National Fascist Party
Back in Milan, Mussolini creates a new political ideology (fascism), which combines the futurists' love of war and the nationalism he experienced in the trenches, built around the promise to return Italy to the glory of Ancient Rome. At the age of 35, Mussolini found his cause. He starts to spread his new ideology through his speeches and newspaper. It is popular with his fellow soldiers; he then rallies his supporters and forms the Blackshirts. On 23rd March, they inaugurate the PNF. -
Blackshirts attack Avanti!
Less than a month later, the PNF sends the Socialists a message. A fascist squad demolishes the office of "Avanti!", the newspaper Mussolini once led. 4 people are killed. Violence is the one word that defines fascism in its early years. -
Italian Workers go on Strike
3 years earlier, Vladimir Lenin succeeded in his Russian Revolution. Many throughout Europe saw it as an end of capitalism and an end of God. Following the end of the war, inflation and unemployment soared throughout Italy, making communism even more popular. In 1920, 2 million Italian workers participated in 2000 strikes. Italy's democratic government was powerless. Mussolini says that only the fascists are the only one to stop this. Mussolini had created a common enemy. -
Violence by the Fascists
After creating a common enemy, Mussolini used another popular dictatorship tactic: using force. Most dictators used force to protect the interests of the regime, but Mussolini was different. The Fascists glorified the use of violence. They were clear in the sense that they would use violence to attain the goals of the state, no matter what the cost. They go to cities and towns, destroy their union halls and murder socialist leaders. At the strikes' end, Mussolini claims to have restored order. -
Mussolini and several fascists are elected to Parliament
After his extensive use of force to put an end to Biennio Rosso (2 Red Years), Mussolini shifts his strategy drastically. He creates a fascist political party and prepares to run in the upcoming elections. We can now see how Mussolini was a person of revolutionary temperament but was willing to compromise and work within the system when necessary. On May 15, 1921, Mussolini and a handful of fascists are elected to Parliament. Now, fascism is not only an ideology but also a political force. -
March on Rome
Fascists hated democracy even if were involved with it. Just 18 months after being elected, Mussolini and his group of fascists plan to tear down Italy's democracy from within. Mussolini again turns to violence to get what he wants. On October 28th, 1922, 3000 Blackshirts march on Rome. Mussolini demands the office of PM, but it's a risky game. The police force and the army can easily crush him. The next two days were just the use of psychological warfare, but the King eventually buckled. -
Mussolini's speech to the Chamber of Deputies
Many people thought that if Mussolini would assume power, he would tone down some of his extreme beliefs and were proved to be wrong. Just days after taking office, Mussolini addresses the Chamber of Deputies. According to some historians, he gives one of the most extreme speeches in the history of Italy. This was the first time Mussolini was speaking to the elected representatives, so he makes his objective clear: Obey me or be dissolved. Fascists start to bring revolvers to the Chamber. -
Fascists gain majority
Even though Mussolini is PM, the power rests with the party that has to most seats. The fascists only had a handful, but Mussolini was set on changing that. On election day, fascist thugs are posted outside of each booth in the country with instructions to grab the first man to exit the polling booth and beat him for not voting for the fascists. It doesn't matter who he voted for because he will serve as a warning for other people waiting to vote. The fascists win 65% of the seats in Parliament. -
Murder of Giacomo Matteoti
Even after winning a clear majority and overwhelming power, fierce opposition in parliament still remains. A leading left-wing politician, Giacomo Matteotti, calls for the election to be nullified. He condemns Mussolini and accuses him of corruption and intimidation. Matteotti was a brave politician who refused to give up. He refused to give in or be bought off, and this made him a threat to Mussolini. Matteotti was kidnapped by a group of armed fascists and was never seen alive again. -
The Beginning of the Dictatorship
Two months after Matteotti's disappearance, his body is found in a culvert outside of Rome. Even though Mussolini became more brazen with power, this time, he may have gone too far. Matteotti's assassination and the public outcry was the biggest problem Mussolini had faced. Even veterans handed back their party cards. Instead of denying his involvement, Mussolini took full political and moral responsibility. To remove any doubt of who's in charge, he adopts the name, Il Duce (Latin for leader). -
Mass Indoctrination
After the undermining of several democratic institutions and the inauguration of many public works, In 1929, 10 years after the birth of his fascist movement, Mussolini is in full control. Mussolini begins to indoctrinate the new generation. Indoctrination is a type of brainwashing that was used to make people believe in the justification of the harshness of the regime. It was carried out in the impressionable years of one's life (childhood). Old textbooks were replaced with pro-fascist ones. -
War with Ethiopia
Mussolini is now facing problems that propaganda and indoctrination can't solve. The economy is struggling and discontent is spreading. To help regain control, Mussolini used war. War was a way of uniting everyone under a nationalist banner. Mussolini says it's time to build an empire. He turned to Ethiopia. On October 3rd, 1935, half a million Italian soldiers invade Ethiopia. Once met with resistance, Mussolini starts to use chemical weapons. On May 5th, 1936, Mussolini declares victory. -
Italy joins WW2
Many members of the fascist hierarchy had opposed joining the war. They did so because the Ethiopia campaign had gutted the treasury and many soldiers didn't even have uniforms let alone modern weapons. Nonetheless, in June 1940, Mussolini had declared war on the UK and France. Keen to be the dominant Mediterranean power, he launches a 2-front war. One in Egypt and one in Greece. The Greeks push back and put the Italians on the defensive. Just as his generals predicted, Italy was unprepared. -
Allies invade Italy
After being pushed out of North Africa, the Allies launch an invasion of Italy. 150,000 allied troops storm the island of Sicily. Tired of war, many civilians who had supported Mussolini now welcome the invaders as liberators. Mussolini now vanishes from the public eye. Top-ranking fascists now meet with the king to plan Mussolini's downfall. On July 24th, Mussolini's voted out as the leader. The King then put him under house arrest and then in a military hospital in Gran Sasso. -
Hitler's Puppet
On September 9th, 1943, Hitler sends several German divisions to Italy to protect its southern flank. He then sends an elite squad of commandos to rescue Mussolini and they do so without having to fire a bullet. Mussolini then visits Hitler's HQ and allegedly said: "I am here to receive my orders". Hitler appoints him as the new leader of the large swathe of Italian lands under Germany's control. He can only make a pretense of authority as he is now a puppet. His time as a puppet is short-lived. -
Mussolini's execution
On April 28th, 1945, Mussolini and his girlfriend, Clara Petacci, plan to leave Italy and go to Austria. However, their truck is stopped near Lake Como and Mussolini is quickly recognized by the Partisans. They set up an impromptu court and sentence Mussolini to death by firing squad. Mussolini's corpse is brought to Milan and placed in front of a jeering mob. Their bodies are hung upside down to signify that they were traitors. The fascist revolution concludes 25 years after it began.
