The Rise of Mussolini in Italy
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
Problems after WWI
• 460,000 soldiers killed
• Heavy debt
• Britain and France did not give Italy the
land they promised
• Governments were all coalitions that
couldn’t make decisions:
– (proportional representation)
• Rising unemployment led to unrest in
cities
The Treaty of Versailles
• Italians believed that it treated
them badly.
• Italy had not been given the land
promised at the Secret Treaty of
London.
• Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando
left before the conference ended,
feeling humiliated.
What is fascism?
• A system of government with
centralized authority under a
dictator.
• Usually involves terror, censorship,
militarism, nationalism, and racism.
Benito Mussolini (El Duce)
Mussolini gains power
• Mussolini set up a Fascist
Party and promised to
solve Italy’s problems
• Promised to rebuild Italy
and recreate the old
Roman Empire
– Control the Mediterranean
• Organized armed gangs
called the “Blackshirts”
• Came to power in 1922
and was appointed Prime
Minister by King Victor
Emmanuel to prevent a
Communist Revolution in
Italy
1922 March on Rome
• to establish Mussolini and the Fascist Party
as the most important party in Italy
• In 1921 the fascist parties in Italy joined
together to form the Fascist Party
• Mussolini said this at a party conference:
"Either the government will be given to
us or will shall seize it by marching on
Rome."
March on Rome, 1922
Quote
• “Fascism should
rightly be called
Corporatism as it
is a merge of
state and
corporate
power.”~ Benito
Mussolini
Fascism under Mussolini
Quote
• “Fascism conceives
of the State as an
absolute, in
comparison with
which all individuals
or groups are
relative, only to be
conceived in their
relation to the
State.” ~Benito
Mussolini
Mussolini and Hitler
Mussolini and Hitler
Hitler and Mussolini
had a tense
relationship at first
but became close
later. In October
1936 they signed a
non-military
alliance. Mussolini
signed a full
defensive alliance
with Nazi Germany
in the Pact of Steel.
Italy during WWII
Mussolini intended to
annex Malta, Corsica, and
Tunis. He wanted to create
a “New Roman Empire.” He
annexed Albania, straining
the military. His troops
were unprepared for the
German invasion of Poland.
Italy remained neutral.
Mussolini during WWII
Italy during WWII cont’d
Italy soon declared
war on Britain and
France but troops were
unprepared. It was
defeated by Greece
and lost the world’s
first carrier strike.
Italy was defeated on
all fronts of the
Anglo-American &
Canadian landings.
Mussolini
Quote from Mussolini’s speech in
Rome February 23, 1941
• “We are not like the
English. We boast that we
are not like them. We
haven't elevated lying into
a government art nor into a
narcotic for the people the
way the London government
has done…when the enemy
wins a battle it is useless
and ridiculous to seek, as
the English do in their
incomparable hypocrisy, to
deny or diminish it.”
Propaganda postcard of
Mussolini
Mussolini’s Execution
Mussolini was taken
prisoner by the partisans
and was joined by his
mistress, Clara Petacci. A
few days later they were
shot to death. In April of
1945, their bodies were
hung at an Esso gas
station along with the
bodies of other fascist
leaders.
Mussolini and his mistress
Questions
1) What were some of the problems that
Italy faces after WWI?
2)Why did Italians feel betrayed by the
Treaty of Versailles?
3)What is fascism, and how did Mussolini
gain control of the Italian government?
4)How did Italy fare during WWII?
5)What happened to Mussolini?