Benito Mussolini& Italian Fascism

1883 - 1945

Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 – 1943Ruled constitutionally until 1925Established dictatorship

Nickname Il Duce “The Leader”

Desired to delay WWII but sided with Germany June 10, 1940.

Early LifeFather was blacksmith and

socialistMother was Catholic

schoolteacher

Eldest of 3 childrenNamed after famous Mexican

and Italian socialists

Learned anarchist, military authoritarian nationalism from father

Fascism• New, militant political movement that

emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to its leader

• Shared ideas but no clearly defined theory or program

• Extreme nationalism: -extreme loyalty to one’s country

• Authoritarian leader to guide and bring order to the state

• Nations must struggle – peaceful states will be conquered

Communism vs. Fascism

Similarities• Rule by dictators allowing only one political party – no democracy• Denial of individual rights• State is supreme

DifferencesClassless society Every class has place and purposeInternational scope NationalistsWorking classes Aristocrats & Industrialists

Paris Peace Conference of 1919

At the end of WWI, Italy gets little

Rising inflation and unemployment

Italians disappointed in seemingly weak democratic government

Desire a leader who would be strong and take action

Mussolini Promises Change

• Newspaper editor and aspiring politician• Established Fascist Party in 1919 (WWI?)

Directly after the end of WW1 (1918)

• Promises to revive Italian economy and rebuild its armed forces

• As economic and social conditions worsened, his Fascist Party gained popularity

• Preyed upon upper class fear of working classes

March on Rome

October 1922(Two years before death of Lenin)

30,000 Fascists march to Italian capital

Demand that King Emmanuel III put Mussolini in charge of gov’t.

After violence and threatened uprising, Mussolini takes power “legally”

Italy under Mussolini

• Abolished democracy• Outlawed all political parties except Fascist Party• Secret police jailed anyone opposed• Radio stations and publications could only issue Fascist doctrines• Outlawed labor strikes

Never had the complete control that Stalin had in Russia or Hitler in Germany

Mussolini’s hands on approach

Mussolini’s not afraid of a little work…

Mussolini,Man of Sports

& Leisure

Putin,a Mussolini

rip-off?

Mussolini’s HEADquarters

Rome, Italy

BFFs Mussolini meets Hitler

Mussolini, Master of Propaganda