Discuss the successes and failures
of Benito Mussolini’s reign.
A PAPER II TYPE PRESENTATION
BY
FAN HUANG
KYLIE REYNOLDS
The Narrative
THE FATHER OF FASCISM
BENITO MUSSOLINI
Mussolini: The Father of Fascism
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July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945
Head of Italian government 1922 – 1943
Grew up in an environment that was
heavily socialist, republican, and
nationalist.
Leader of multiple political movements
 1914 – Autonomous Fascists
 1917 – Revolutionary Fascists
 1918 – Constituent Fascists
 1919 – Fighting Fascists
 1921 – National Fascist Party
Mussolini: The Father of Fascism
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Was upset over the Treaty of Versailles
(Benito Mussolini).
• Italy received very little from it.
Member of Socialist Party 1900 – 1914
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When Italy joined the Allies, Mussolini
joined the army. (H., Jim)
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Became member of the middle class in 1914
Worked his way up to corporal rank.
Displayed his views through the National
Fascist Party in March, 1919.
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Brought answers to Italy’s turmoil.
What exactly is Fascism?
 Fascism is the concept of how a man is bind together
by other individuals into thinking the same
ideologies of the state (Cook).
 The Foundation of Fascism
 Totalitarianism
 Nationalism
 Militarism
Giovanni Gentile
 Giovanni Gentile was the original author who
“helped Mussolini formulate his political philosophy
(Anissimov and Bronwyn).”
Factors that Led to Single Party State
 Mussolini believed war was the perfect opportunity
for change.
 Italy’s suffered economic, social, and political
instability because of war.
 The recruitment of the Blackshirts militia.
 Weakness of the government and the collapse of the
Left. (Cook)
Mussolini’s Successes
EARLY ACHIEVEMENTS
RISE TO POWER
LIFE AS A DICTATOR
POST-DISMISSAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Early Achievements
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1904 – 1914 Mussolini was journalist and editor for Avanti
(McMillan)
Joined Italian army at the start of WWI
War injury in 1917 allowed Mussolini to become editor of
Popolo d’Italia
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Newspaper strongly demanded Allies to support Italy’s demands at Paris
Peace Conference
Rise to Power
 Mussolini took advantage of Italy’s
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poor conditions.
Mussolini attacked Vittorio
Orlando because he failed to get
Italy’s objectives with the Treaty of
Versailles
Formed the Black Shirts
Appointed Prime Minister by King
Emmanuel III in 1922 to avoid
communist revolution in Italy
Mussolini as Dictator
Carried out extensive public-works program
 Fascists tried improving various sectors of Italian affairs.
(Mangion)
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Cultivation of more lands
Irrigation of the marshes
Production of corn
Railway and road network improvements
Lowered unemployment rates
 1929 – Mussolini won jurisdiction of the Vatican through
an agreement with the Papacy. (Mangion)
Mussolini as Dictator
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Captured capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, in May 1936
Signed non-military alliance with Adolf Hitler and Nazi
Germany in October 1936
Invaded and captured Albania in 1939
Also signed Pact of Steel with Nazi Germany in 1939
Post-Dismissal Achievements
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Rescued from prison by Adolf
Hitler and Otto Skorzeny on
September 13, 1943
After rescue, Mussolini set up a
Salo Republic
 Fascist regime in Herman
occupied Northern Italy
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Arrested and executed five
people that voted against him
on the Fascist Grand Council
 One of those five was his sonin-law, Galaezzo Ciano
Mussolini’s Failures
INVASION FAILURES
FAILURE AS A LEADER
LOST LOTS OF LAND
POST-DISMISSAL FAILURES
Invasion Failures
 Invaded Ethiopia in 1935
 League of Nations condemned and sanctioned Italy.
 Invaded Greece in 1940
 Greece overpowered Italy
 Suffered from War in North Africa in 1940
 Italy outnumbered the British but still faced numerous
casualties.
 British took part of Tobruk.
Failures as a Leader
 By 1941, Mussolini was dependent on Nazi Germany
for survival.
 Galaezzo Ciano became dissatisfied with Mussolini.
 Ciano resigned in February 1943.
Loss of Lands
 In July 1943, US and British forces attacked Italy
 Great amounts of land were confiscated.
July 10 – Gela, Licata, and Vittoria
 July 11 – Pallazolo
 July 13 – Augusta
 July 14 – Vizzini, Biscani Airfield, and Niscemi
 July 22 – Palermo
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End of Mussolini
 July 25, 1943 – Dismissal from
office.
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He was immediately placed under
arrest
 April 23, 1945 – Allied Army
crossed River Po at Montua
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Mussolini escaped to Switzerland
 April 27, 1945 – Was captured
 Bodies were shot and hung.