Benito Mussolini was born on 29 July 1883 in Predappio in northern central Italy. His father was a blacksmith. Employment prospects in the area were poor so in 1902 Mussolini moved to Switzerland, where he became involved in socialist politics.

He returned to Italy in 1904, and worked as a journalist in the socialist press, but his support for Italy's entry into World War One led to his break with socialism. He was drafted into the Italian army in September 1915.

 Fascists: Believed in nationalism, dictatorship, racism and the use of violence. They were opposed to democracy and communism  Dictatorship: Rule by one person or party, using propaganda and the secret police

WHAT CAUSED MUSSOLINI TO RISE TO POWER 1.Italian nationalists were disappointed at the end of WW1 because they did not gain all the land they were promised by joining the war They failed to get Fiume and the region of Dalmatia

2. The Italian economy was in a depressed state. Soldiers were demobilised. 2 million were unemployed 3. There were strikes and riots in the cities. Labourers in the countrside took over the landed estates

4. There was a fear that communism would take over 5. The Italian government were weak and were not able to solve the economic and social problems of the country. Many blamed democracy

6. Mussolini formed the Blackshirts They attacked socialist and comunist groups and broke up strikes. By 1922, they had 250,000 members, mostly soldiers and ex-officers 7. Mussolini organised the March on Rome and was appointed Prime Minister of Italy

The people started to look to an alternative, the fascist party. Mussolini promised to create low paid jobs, crush communism and crime and restore the roman empire.

MA MARCH ON ROME Fascist's went on the march on Rome on October 1922 to seize power. Mussolini was made prime minister by the king to avoid Civil War

HOW DID MUSSOLINI ESTABLISH A DICTATORSHIP?

1.He passed the Acerbo law (1923) which meant that the party with the greatest number of votes in the general election would get two-thirds of the seats in Parliament. Mussolini used violence to win the 1924 election

PROPAGANDA 2. Mussolini controlled the press, radio and cinema. Mussolini used propaganda to develop a ‘cult of personality’. His motto was ‘Mussolini is always right’

RULE BY DECREE 3. Mussolini had the power to make any law without approval by the parliament.

4. Gradually Mussolini Took out all opposition by banning other parties and setting up a secret police (OVRA)to arrest opponents.

SOCIALISTS 5. A socialist leader Giacomo Matteoto was murdered by the Fascists. In protest the Socialist party withdrew from parliament. This gave greater power to Mussolini

6.Young boys and girls from eight years of age had to join the ballilla for boys and Piccole Italiane for girls. ( youth movement)

EDUCATION EDUCATION 7. Mussolini and the Fascists used education to teach children the fascist virtue of obedience. Textbooks were changed to support fascism. Teachers had to be fascists

CORPORATE STATE This was the organisation of workers and employers in order to end strike and disputes. Trade unions were controlled by fascists. Very little freedom was compensated by benefits given to workers e.g. paid holidays 8. This was the organisation of workers and employers in order to end strike and disputes. Trade unions were controlled by fascists. Very little freedom was compensated by benefits given to workers e.g. paid holidays

BUT....  Mussolini’s totalitarian state did not have complete power over the King or the Catholic Church

Many say Mussolini’s best achievement was when he formed alliances with the catholic church with the Lateran treaty which gave the Pope his own independence in the Vatican LATERAN PACTS 1929

VATICAN

In October 1935 he invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) against the wishes of the League of Nations Mussolini invades Abyssinia

 Mussolini wanted to enlarge his empire. The League of Nations imposed sanctions on Italy that had little effect

Mussolini formed an alliance with Hitler in 1936 with the Rome Berlin axis and Pact of Steel ALLIANCE WITH HITLER

MUSSOLINI AND HITLER

ITALY AND WW2  Italy joined Germany in the war against the Allies.  Italy were defeated by British forces in North Africa and Greece.  Hitler had to send troops to help the Italians  Germany and Italy lost the war  The king removed Mussolini from power

Mussolini had a wife, Donna Rachele Mussolini, who survived world war II and two children.

Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and shot on 28 April 1945.