Early Life and MUSSOLINI in WWI
As a child growing up Mussolini had a comfortable life. However he did exaggerate his poverty when he he asked to talk about it. He was expelled from his school for his unruly and bullying nature. This aggressiveness became more apparent as he grew into adulthood. Son of a socialist blacksmith he too became a revolutionary socialist in Switzerland. Mussolini was avoiding the Swiss police. He became the editor of the Daily Avanti, but later kicked due to for stressing to wage war on Austria. Benito then created his own paper called, "The Italian People". He was paid by the government to spread his idea on partaking in war. Once war was declared in 1915 Mussolini was conscripted in. He was soon to be kicked out due to a grenade accident during training. However he was more motivated to prove himself because of the events and despise democracy.
Italy After WWI
The war left Italy angry about the events that took place afterward. She was promised land, specifically Istria, Triest, and the town of Fiume by the Entente. Woodrow Wilson refused to give up Dalmatia and the Aegean islands. Italy grew a sense of angry nationalism brewing and Mussolini saw that he could use this to put himself into a position of power. He took inspiration from another man D'Annunzio who seized Fiume which was was only taken back by the government over a year later. Italians who felt wronged by the Treaty of Versailles were left with a poor economy and agriculture. The country was in a wreck as socialists tried to conduct a communist-esque takeover and peasants seized land. Revolution was imminent.
MUSSOLINI'S Fascist Party
Italy's government was weak as it could not make decisions due to a proportional government built up with many smaller parties. Coalitions were common, but each sides of the joint party had internal disagreements. Mussolini created his own Fascist Party in 1919. He abandoned his socialist roots and actually promised business owners to destroy socialist factories and organized land. He considered this as law and order. The party was consisted of veteran soldiers bitter about the war. He let his men or "Combat Squads" to raid. These men violently treated any socialist leading to death sometimes. His actions made him gain massive support and received money from banks and wealthy industrialists. Liberal Prime Minister asked Mussolini in 1921 to join the government election group in which he won 35 sets compared to 0 the year before. Mussolini promised to no longer to do anti catholic speeches and anti monarchy views. Even the Pope Piux XI saw him as a saviour to communists and Godlessness.
march on Rome
The Fascist party grew quickly accumulating over 300 thousand member which it include 50 thousand blackshirts. The blackshirts a terror group within the party who are known for violent acts towards opposing party members and people who supported them. IN August of 1922 the socialists and communists formed a general strike. The strike failed, and the the fascists ruled the city controlling public services. Everything was to be carried as usual. Mussolini demanded to be crowned Primie Minister and assembled his 50 thousand blackshirts threatening to invade Rome. Facta, a new PM at the time asked the king for special privledges to deal with this mess but . Victor Emmanuel believed that his army could easily defeat Mussolini's, but a threat a civil war breaking out because of it was a legitimate threat. He heard that the fascist captured multiple other cites and could be overthrown. He responded by not giving in to Facta's requests and instead Mussolini the title of Prime Minister.
Given Power
Mussolini inspired his nation to return back to the "glory days" of ancient Rome. He needed all Italians to to have national pride as one of his big goals was to make the Mediterranean an Italian lake . The symbol of fascism adopted was the bundle of sticks with an axe sticking out as a symbol of power.
His rise to a dictatorship didn't happen overnight. He took careful steps to begin with. First he inserted Acerbo law. This states that the highest seated party that had have 25% of the seats would have two thirds power in parliament. In the April 1924 elections he won 65% of the votes anyways. This is due to the blackshirts physically beating citizens who disagreed with Mussolini's views. Moderates and the middle class voted in favoured for him as Mussolini preached that he would not take part in extreme action, but all while being decisive.
Although controversy ensued. The murder of Matteotti: a rival politician of Mussolini who was a socialist was thought to be Mussolini's actions. Despite chances of Mussolini never carrying out these actions he took responsibility as he wanted to keep support of his violent party members and voters. However overall popularity for the fascist party lessened as people saw this as thuggery and barbaric. On December 31, 1924 blackshirts stormed Mussolini's office demanding he become dictator or he would be forcibly removed from office. Days later Mussolini declared absolute rule as dictator and if fascism stood for brutally then so be it. No apology made out for Matteotti's death.
His rise to a dictatorship didn't happen overnight. He took careful steps to begin with. First he inserted Acerbo law. This states that the highest seated party that had have 25% of the seats would have two thirds power in parliament. In the April 1924 elections he won 65% of the votes anyways. This is due to the blackshirts physically beating citizens who disagreed with Mussolini's views. Moderates and the middle class voted in favoured for him as Mussolini preached that he would not take part in extreme action, but all while being decisive.
Although controversy ensued. The murder of Matteotti: a rival politician of Mussolini who was a socialist was thought to be Mussolini's actions. Despite chances of Mussolini never carrying out these actions he took responsibility as he wanted to keep support of his violent party members and voters. However overall popularity for the fascist party lessened as people saw this as thuggery and barbaric. On December 31, 1924 blackshirts stormed Mussolini's office demanding he become dictator or he would be forcibly removed from office. Days later Mussolini declared absolute rule as dictator and if fascism stood for brutally then so be it. No apology made out for Matteotti's death.
Mussolini as dictator
Benito controlled all aspects of Italy. He abolished all free press and parties. Any newspaper was either shutdown or force to print what Mussolini approved of. OVRA was a secret police force create to deal with opposing party supporters. Beatings were common and other punishments included incarcerations and deportation. Very little deaths were ordered but many were committed through informal beatings.
Domestic Policies
Self sufficiency is something vital to create a powerful nation according to Mussolini. He conducted a "Battle of Wheat" in which he wanted to limit imports and only grow locally. This was successful as it lowered imports by 75% but it also lowered sales from other crops. A "battle of Births" was carried out to increase the low birth rates in the country. Trade unions abolished and replaced with corporations. Fascist led negotiators settle dispute between worker and employer without the use of the now illegal strikes. This process favoured the owners and work conditions fell. Unemployment sky rocketed.
Industrialist didn't like the Minister of Fianance's cuts on industry and got him kicked. This led to Mussolini's to take charge and since he had great pride in his currency he changed its calue. This cause exports to become very expensive causing industry to fail more and more people were laid off.
There was a good focus however on tourism and boasting Italy's history emphasizing on Ancient Rome. in 1930 iron, steel and hydro-electricity double in production. With these change he felt that he was in a much better position than he really was and stretched his economic limit and power in WWII.
Industrialist didn't like the Minister of Fianance's cuts on industry and got him kicked. This led to Mussolini's to take charge and since he had great pride in his currency he changed its calue. This cause exports to become very expensive causing industry to fail more and more people were laid off.
There was a good focus however on tourism and boasting Italy's history emphasizing on Ancient Rome. in 1930 iron, steel and hydro-electricity double in production. With these change he felt that he was in a much better position than he really was and stretched his economic limit and power in WWII.
Lateran Treaty
Since 1870 the relationship between the Pope and Italy was sour because Italian troops seized the city of Rome and called it their capital. Future popes condemned Catholics to part of Italian politics. Mussolini saw a chance to repair this relationship and gain more support. So he signed the Lateran treaty with Pope Piux XI. This stated that the Pope with recognize the Kingdom of Italy and give up claims of land around Rome. Mussolini agreed to give the Catholics the Vatican City as an independent state and made Catholicism the official religion in Italy.
Foreign Policy
Italy's policy was to gain respect and power in the world. Italian soldiers were killed in on the Albanian-Greek border. Although Greece had nothing to do with the event Mussolini acted in an aggressive manner. He bombarded and occupied the island of Corfu. He wouldn't leave until a formal apology is given and is full compensated for the deaths. He had a "might is right" mentality.
Fearing German influence Mussolini signed the Lorcarno Pact with Britain and France ensuring that they would come aid France at their borders with Germany. Hitler ordered a murder for the Chancellor of Austria in 1934. Mussolini saw this as a threat to him as well and ordered tanks to defend Austria. Hitler was out bluffed and backed out. Still fearing Germany he signed the Stresa Front with France in hopes to stop the rearmament program in Germany. Mussolini had good ties with Winston Churchill as they shared or at least Mussolini said that he shared the same views on anti-communism and opinions about the middle east. He said that fascism is peaceful all while having terror groups in Yugoslavia and Greece. October 1935 Italy invade Abyssinia. They lost war against them in 1996 and wanted to redeem themselves. They won decisively with the aid of poison gas and flamethrowers. In victory however the League of Nations imposed sanctions forcing Italy to trade with Germany. This created an alliance between the two nations despite previous disliking of each other. Italy also invades Albania in 1939.
Fearing German influence Mussolini signed the Lorcarno Pact with Britain and France ensuring that they would come aid France at their borders with Germany. Hitler ordered a murder for the Chancellor of Austria in 1934. Mussolini saw this as a threat to him as well and ordered tanks to defend Austria. Hitler was out bluffed and backed out. Still fearing Germany he signed the Stresa Front with France in hopes to stop the rearmament program in Germany. Mussolini had good ties with Winston Churchill as they shared or at least Mussolini said that he shared the same views on anti-communism and opinions about the middle east. He said that fascism is peaceful all while having terror groups in Yugoslavia and Greece. October 1935 Italy invade Abyssinia. They lost war against them in 1996 and wanted to redeem themselves. They won decisively with the aid of poison gas and flamethrowers. In victory however the League of Nations imposed sanctions forcing Italy to trade with Germany. This created an alliance between the two nations despite previous disliking of each other. Italy also invades Albania in 1939.