Early Life and Rise to Power
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Forlì, Italy to Alessandro Mussolini and Rosa Maltoni. Alessandro was a blacksmith, and spent all of his time and money on his mistress. Rosa put in her best efforts to support her family. As a youth, Benito was expelled from several schools for bullying and defying school authorities. Following in his father’s footsteps, Benito was a socialist as a youth, but was expelled for his support of World War I. Mussolini Started his career as a school teacher, and then moved on to write for socialist newspapers. He joined the Italian army in 1915 and fought on the front lines, reaching the rank of corporal before being wounded and discharged. In 1919 Mussolini created the paramilitary Fascist movement, or Fascist Party, and by 1922, as Italy slipped into political chaos, Mussolini declared that only he could restore order and was given the authority. Mussolini used armed squads known as Black Shirts, who terrorized their political opponents. King Victor Emmanuel invited Mussolini to form a government. He then marched on Rome, became the prime minister, and made himself dictator, taking the title "Il Duce".
Military Projects Prior to WWII
In 1922-1932, Mussolini waged a war campaign to stop Libyan resistance to Italian rule. The Italians used brutal tactics to finally subdue the Libyan resistance. Finally the resistance surrendered to Italy in 1932. In 1929, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were unified to make the colony of Libya. One of the goals of Italy colonizing Libya, was its concern with overpopulation. Italy called Libya "The Fourth Shore" and promoted several projects with Italian colonists.
In 1935–36, Mussolini initiated an armed conflict that resulted in Ethiopia’s subjection to Italian rule. Italy had unsuccessfully tried to conquer Ethiopia in the 1890s, which left a bad taste in the mouths of the Italians. A border incident between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland in December gave Benito Mussolini an excuse take over. The Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. Generals Rodolfo Graziani and Pietro Badoglio lead the invading forces, and steadily pushed back the ill-armed and poorly trained Ethiopian army. The job was easy for the Italian military as their weapons and training was so far ahead of that of the Ethiopians. They had a major victory near Lake Ascianghi on April 9, 1936, and they took the capital, Addis Ababa, on May 5.
Mussolini in World War II
After his military expenditures in Ethiopia, Somalia, Albania, and Libya, Italy was the predominant power in the Mediterranean. Mussolini's biggest admirer was Adolf Hitler, and although Mussolini did not necessarily like Hitler that much, he allied Italy with Adolf Hitler's Germany on May 22, 1939. This was called the "Pact of Steel". Italy and Germany became politically and militarily allied, which gave birth to the Axis Powers. They relied on each other for support of their dictatorships. Mussolini was preparing for a war to start in 1943-45, but Hitler started the war in 1939, giving Italy only a weeks notice. Italy at this time had not totally recovered from their recent military projects, and were not ready to fight. Hitler’s successes in May of 1940 persuaded Mussolini to intervene in the war. Brief opportunities arose in North Africa and the Mediterranean between June and October of 1940, but Italy failed to capitalize. Mussolini forced offensives in the following months, but his forces failed in both Greece and North Africa. He was only saved in early 1941 by the German army from a military coup.
Death of Mussolini
By this time Mussolini was largely unpopular with his own people. Images of the dictator were destroyed or mutilated all around Italy. Large angry crowds of people dragged statues of him through the streets, kicking and spitting at them. In July of 1943, Allied troops landed in Sicily. Mussolini was beaten and captured by his former colleagues in the Fascist government. Italy signed an armistice with the Allies in September of that year. The German army began to occupy Italy and Mussolini was saved by the German commandos. He then became the leader of a new government, but he didn’t have the power that he had before. The Allies continued to push north through Italy, forcing Mussolini to flee to Switzerland. He was captured and shot on April 28, 1945 in Mezzegra, Italy by Italian partisans. All agreed that he should be shot without trial. A Partisan commander and later a Communist Parliamentary deputy, Walter Audisio was eventually named as Mussolini's killer, but many skeptical journalists continued to investigate the story, because no one is really sure who took the shot.
Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Forlì, Italy to Alessandro Mussolini and Rosa Maltoni. Alessandro was a blacksmith, and spent all of his time and money on his mistress. Rosa put in her best efforts to support her family. As a youth, Benito was expelled from several schools for bullying and defying school authorities. Following in his father’s footsteps, Benito was a socialist as a youth, but was expelled for his support of World War I. Mussolini Started his career as a school teacher, and then moved on to write for socialist newspapers. He joined the Italian army in 1915 and fought on the front lines, reaching the rank of corporal before being wounded and discharged. In 1919 Mussolini created the paramilitary Fascist movement, or Fascist Party, and by 1922, as Italy slipped into political chaos, Mussolini declared that only he could restore order and was given the authority. Mussolini used armed squads known as Black Shirts, who terrorized their political opponents. King Victor Emmanuel invited Mussolini to form a government. He then marched on Rome, became the prime minister, and made himself dictator, taking the title "Il Duce".
Military Projects Prior to WWII
In 1922-1932, Mussolini waged a war campaign to stop Libyan resistance to Italian rule. The Italians used brutal tactics to finally subdue the Libyan resistance. Finally the resistance surrendered to Italy in 1932. In 1929, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were unified to make the colony of Libya. One of the goals of Italy colonizing Libya, was its concern with overpopulation. Italy called Libya "The Fourth Shore" and promoted several projects with Italian colonists.
In 1935–36, Mussolini initiated an armed conflict that resulted in Ethiopia’s subjection to Italian rule. Italy had unsuccessfully tried to conquer Ethiopia in the 1890s, which left a bad taste in the mouths of the Italians. A border incident between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland in December gave Benito Mussolini an excuse take over. The Italians invaded Ethiopia on October 3, 1935. Generals Rodolfo Graziani and Pietro Badoglio lead the invading forces, and steadily pushed back the ill-armed and poorly trained Ethiopian army. The job was easy for the Italian military as their weapons and training was so far ahead of that of the Ethiopians. They had a major victory near Lake Ascianghi on April 9, 1936, and they took the capital, Addis Ababa, on May 5.
Mussolini in World War II
After his military expenditures in Ethiopia, Somalia, Albania, and Libya, Italy was the predominant power in the Mediterranean. Mussolini's biggest admirer was Adolf Hitler, and although Mussolini did not necessarily like Hitler that much, he allied Italy with Adolf Hitler's Germany on May 22, 1939. This was called the "Pact of Steel". Italy and Germany became politically and militarily allied, which gave birth to the Axis Powers. They relied on each other for support of their dictatorships. Mussolini was preparing for a war to start in 1943-45, but Hitler started the war in 1939, giving Italy only a weeks notice. Italy at this time had not totally recovered from their recent military projects, and were not ready to fight. Hitler’s successes in May of 1940 persuaded Mussolini to intervene in the war. Brief opportunities arose in North Africa and the Mediterranean between June and October of 1940, but Italy failed to capitalize. Mussolini forced offensives in the following months, but his forces failed in both Greece and North Africa. He was only saved in early 1941 by the German army from a military coup.
Death of Mussolini
By this time Mussolini was largely unpopular with his own people. Images of the dictator were destroyed or mutilated all around Italy. Large angry crowds of people dragged statues of him through the streets, kicking and spitting at them. In July of 1943, Allied troops landed in Sicily. Mussolini was beaten and captured by his former colleagues in the Fascist government. Italy signed an armistice with the Allies in September of that year. The German army began to occupy Italy and Mussolini was saved by the German commandos. He then became the leader of a new government, but he didn’t have the power that he had before. The Allies continued to push north through Italy, forcing Mussolini to flee to Switzerland. He was captured and shot on April 28, 1945 in Mezzegra, Italy by Italian partisans. All agreed that he should be shot without trial. A Partisan commander and later a Communist Parliamentary deputy, Walter Audisio was eventually named as Mussolini's killer, but many skeptical journalists continued to investigate the story, because no one is really sure who took the shot.
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Mussolini was known to be a very skilled and powerful orator. This video shows part of a speech he gave in Berlin, Germany in 1937. It is a good example of how he projected his words with passion and really engaged the crowd. By the end of this clip the crowd was going nuts at every pause in his speech. |
Interesting Facts
- As a child, Mussolini was twice expelled from school for stabbing another student, once with a pen knife.
- Even though he was really bad at the whole school thing, he started his career as a school teacher.
- Mussolini did a lot of writing for Socialist newspapers.
- In 1909, Mussolini moved to Austria, but was thrown out of the country for promoting nationalism and militarism.
- On October 31, 1922, Mussolini became the youngest Prime Minister in the history of Italy.
- Mussolini had his first wife and first son persecuted to hide information about his first marriage and save his political career.
- Mussolini used a secret police service to destroy opposing parties in Italy.
- In 1946, Mussolini's body was dug up and stolen by fascists. The authorities found it four months later and hid it for eleven years.
- More than twelve suspects have claimed to be Mussolini's shooter.
- Mussolini loved eating large amounts of raw garlic and believed that it was the elixir of life, even though he had stomach ulcers.
Resources
BENITO MUSSOLINIThis website offers more knowledge on Mussolini's biography.
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Benito Mussolini- BiographyThis website gives more detail on political views and early life of Mussolini.
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