Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy from 1922, until he was overthrown in 1943, during the Second World War.
Mussolini came to power in 1922 using muscle power and subversive tactics. He went on to set up a repressive and fascist regime, with values rooted in nationalism, anti-communism, and militarism. He also enforced a very strict censorship, and state propaganda.
Mussolini allied himself with German dictator, Adolf Hitler, upon whom he had quite an influence. Mussolini as a military leader was an opportunist, with expansionist aims, and in June 1940 he entered the Second World War, unprepared, on the side of Nazi Germany. Italy only enjoyed initial success, but then suffered a series of setbacks.
In 1943, following the setbacks in North Africa and on the Eastern front, Mussolini's colleagues began turning against him, and he was stripped of power on 25th July 1943, after which he was promptly arrested. He was soon freed and set up a fascist state in northern Italy. Following the Allied invasion of Italy, Mussolini tried to escape, in April 1945, to Switzerland, but was taken captive by Communist Resistance units, and executed near the lake of Como.
Mussolini came to power in 1922 using muscle power and subversive tactics. He went on to set up a repressive and fascist regime, with values rooted in nationalism, anti-communism, and militarism. He also enforced a very strict censorship, and state propaganda.
Mussolini allied himself with German dictator, Adolf Hitler, upon whom he had quite an influence. Mussolini as a military leader was an opportunist, with expansionist aims, and in June 1940 he entered the Second World War, unprepared, on the side of Nazi Germany. Italy only enjoyed initial success, but then suffered a series of setbacks.
In 1943, following the setbacks in North Africa and on the Eastern front, Mussolini's colleagues began turning against him, and he was stripped of power on 25th July 1943, after which he was promptly arrested. He was soon freed and set up a fascist state in northern Italy. Following the Allied invasion of Italy, Mussolini tried to escape, in April 1945, to Switzerland, but was taken captive by Communist Resistance units, and executed near the lake of Como.
