Fascist Italy
Mussolini's Rise to Power
In the early 1920s, many Italian citizens wanted change. They loved their nation, but hated the ruling elite, who had led them into World War I and cost them much more than mere money.
In 1920, the nationalist Fascist Party began to violently attack socialist, communist, and monarchist movements. The movement quickly grew in power and popularity, because it appealed to the unsatisfied masses. After two years of phenomenal growth, Benito Mussolini, the party's leader, initiated the "March on Rome," where the Fascist "Blackshirt" paramilitary forces seized power. Mussolini was allowed to create a new government and in 1925 seized absolute power by brutally silencing political dissent. While claiming to be a free people's choice to be "the Leader," he created an oppressive, totalitarian police state. Mussolini wished to see a new Roman Empire, where Italy was a strong world power.
Life in Fascist Italy was relatively normal compared to Nazi Germany. Children still went to school (albite a heavily military one), men still worked at there jobs, and only those who spoke out were punished, rarely fatally or brutally.
In 1920, the nationalist Fascist Party began to violently attack socialist, communist, and monarchist movements. The movement quickly grew in power and popularity, because it appealed to the unsatisfied masses. After two years of phenomenal growth, Benito Mussolini, the party's leader, initiated the "March on Rome," where the Fascist "Blackshirt" paramilitary forces seized power. Mussolini was allowed to create a new government and in 1925 seized absolute power by brutally silencing political dissent. While claiming to be a free people's choice to be "the Leader," he created an oppressive, totalitarian police state. Mussolini wished to see a new Roman Empire, where Italy was a strong world power.
Life in Fascist Italy was relatively normal compared to Nazi Germany. Children still went to school (albite a heavily military one), men still worked at there jobs, and only those who spoke out were punished, rarely fatally or brutally.
"The truth is that men are tired of liberty." ~Benito Mussolini, April 7th, 1923
World War II
Why Italy Entered the War
Benito Mussolini would bring his country into World War II out of jealousy of Hitler's successes, more than an actual desire to build an Italian Empire, though that was a consideration too. He believed Italy should once again control the Mediterranean, which he called in propaganda Mare Nostrum (a Roman term Latin for "Our Sea"), as it had not since the time of the Roman Empire. He also believed Italy should have a vast swath of territory in Africa, which he would seize after securing the home front.
Photos of the extent of The Italian Empire:
Client States
- Montenegro
- Monaco
- Greece (shared with Germany)