| Benito Mussolini was the
Fascist dictator of Italy that reigned over the
country during the first four years of World War II. Mussolini founded
the Fascist party in 1919, and was able to gain considerable support. By
1922, the Fascist party had become some powerful in Italy that King Emmanuel
invited Mussolini to form a coalition government with the monarchy. Mussolini
accepted the king’s offer, however, he ended up become to only real leader.
He transformed Italy into a totalitarian state with business and government
intertwined. He conquered Ethiopia in 1936, gaining much support. However,
he was criticized for supporting Francisco
Franco in the Spanish civil war. He was also
criticized for allying with Germany. When World
War II broke out, Mussolini did not initially enter the war, but finally
did in June of 1940. However, unsuccessful campaigns in Africa, Albania,
and the Balkans made Italy a weak ally for Germany, and Italy became more
of a German puppet state than an independent allied nation. In addition
to losing his reputation abroad, he lost much domestic support, including
that of the monarchy. He was dismissed in 1943, but ran a Nazi
supported faction in northern Italy. In 1945 he attempted to escape to
Switzerland, but was killed by peasantry in his attempt. |
