Benito Mussolini
Mussolini was a fascist Italian leader who stood alongside Hitler during WWII. Learn about how an unruly child grew to be a powerful yet unsuccesful dictator who brought persecution and division to Europe during this period, but even more so to his own country.
There are so many plain and obvious reasons that Benito Mussolini is a villain. It seemed that he was bad enough when we learned about him in history class, but there is so much more to him that makes him who he became: a self-centered fascist dictator. Although those words may be enough to prove that he is a villain, I will provide you with a close look on what his life was like. Mussolini’s childhood, his transition to fascism, and his rule as dictator are three major topics that I will be discussing.
Childhood
Young Benito was the son of Alessandro Mussolini, a strong believer in socialist ideals. He was well-known to take after his unruly and fiercely anti-clerical father during the first part of his life. Many remembered him as a bully and hooligan, and it didn’t stop there. He had once stabbed a boy at a secondary school, in which he was expelled. He was never the ordinary and well-behaved boy that you commonly see sitting in their desk paying close attention to their respectable teacher. It was perhaps because of his father that gave him his whole outlook on life and shaped his entire personality. It only strengthened over the years as he moved out of childhood and into Italian society.
From Child to Fascist
Surprisingly, he began his adulthood working as a teacher. He continued his career until he was looked upon as a bad example, because he had a passion for gambling, drinking heavily, and womanizing. After his teaching ended, he moved to Switzerland and spent two years of his life there. He was then expelled from the country after being known as an “impulsive and violent” young man. When he returned to his birthplace, he became a leading member of a local socialist movement, and also worked on a socialist newspaper in 1908. Being an irredentist, he supported the act of force to change territorial boundaries between Austria-Hungary and Italy. He later became a popular writer for another socialist newspaper, and was also known for his fiery speeches. Although he seemed to strongly support socialism, his view would soon take a major shift. It was during World War I that he started a newspaper for the fascist movement.
Rise to Power
Mussolini began to lead an extremely nationalist group in 1919. That same year, he drew in his growing number of followers to form a militia, known by some as the Black Shirts. Finally, in 1920, he gained a foothold in the government, and, in the following year, he formed a well-organized political party that supported his beliefs. He had organized a strike that seized control of railroad stations and telephone exchanges, and destroyed trade union buildings and socialist newspaper offices. Eventually, he would come to control all communication in the northern half of Italy. In 1922, he declared himself the dictator after King Victor Emmanuel III put in his support for Mussolini’s ideals.
Law of the Land
In 1923, the Acerbo Law was introduced. It stated that the winning political party that had at least twenty-five percent of the votes would receive two-thirds of the seats in the government. This allowed it to be much easier for the fascists, along with their nationalist alliances, to win (although you will soon discover that persecution makes this law rather pointless.) In 1923, they secured 65.25% of all votes, although there were several intentional errors on the fascist’s part. Terrorism was spreading among the anti-fascist politicians. One socialist candidate was killed, and others were beaten. Also, names of the deceased were added to the electoral roll, and many opposing votes were destroyed. When 1925 came around, Mussolini declared that “no opposition to his power would be tolerated.” He created a policy that allowed persecution of all anti-fascist groups. In the courts, all decisions that were made could not be reversed by an appeal when one was imprisoned. Eventually, persecution became so extreme that anti-fascist politicians were detained in penal settlements, many of which died there. The limitations grew as 1928 came, and free elections were completely banned. Only the electorate could vote, which included 400 candidates that were nominated by the Fascist Grand Council. But even more, all leaders later became limited to fascists alone.
All Italians that were in the work force had to join the Corporazioni, which was a fascist organization. Children had a fascist organization of their own, named the Balilla. All women were forced to be homemakers and were strongly encourage to have many children. If a woman was able to give birth to at least seven kids, they were given medals. This was called the “Battle for Births.” All pregnant women were saluted, and any man that was not married was taxed.
Spreading Fascism
Soon enough, Mussolini began to seek beyond his borders. He first intervened in Albania, where he put King Zog under rule. It basically became a colony of Italy. Later, this same country would resist the Italian influence in their nation, and many conflicts would rise. In 1935, Mussolini’s forces invaded Ethiopia. There, they gassed many Ethiopian villages and other despicable acts. Applauding Italian victory, Mussolini gave himself the title “Founder of the Empire.” When World War II begins, he would also attempt to invade and control Greece.
Partners in Crime
Mussolini was known to be admired by the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, who looked upon him as an equal. He was thought to be one of the very few that Hitler actually liked. Mussolini would criticize Hitler in private, but would publicly praise him. In 1936, the two regimes drew closer when they both aided General Franco’s Falangist rebels in the Spanish Civil War. Their relationship would weaken as World War II progressed.
World War
In 1940, Mussolini had declared war on Britain and France. He failed to convince Hitler to invade Britain after several persuasions. In 1941, Mussolini invaded Greece, but was failing miserably until German troops were sent to assist the Italians. Their only prominent victory in the latter part of the war was in the same year, in which they had knocked out two British battleships. In 1942, he had sent troops to attack the British Western Desert Force that was stationed in North Africa. Once again, they failed, and Mussolini began to blame and harass the Italian troops for their constant failures in the war. He began to set his sights upon the U.S.S.R., although invasion was highly discouraged by Hitler. Despite Hitler’s advice, Mussolini sent his troops into the harsh Russian winter in summer clothing and cardboard shoes. Due to their lack of preparation, nearly half of all the soldiers that were sent died during the 1943 winter. The invasion of the Soviet Union was their last hope of victory, and everything began to crumble after their grave defeat.
Failure and Death
Although Italy was defeated, they still assisted Hitler by establishing an ill-fated republic in northern Italy named Salo. Its main purpose was to provide Hitler with resources that were necessary for the war. Things still continued to crumble apart, and he began to order executions upon many members of the Fascist Grand Council, among them his own son-in-law. Eventually, the fascists became weak enough to be overturned, and Mussolini was later executed.
After such a life, Benito Mussolini could never say with confidence that he had done anything noble for this world. All his life, his goals were those that would divide the world, but because of his strong ego, he was foolish enough to believe that he was able to do everything he dreamed about doing, and it gave him an unclear perspective of reality, which resulted in an untimely death. For such a power to even occur makes us all think twice about the values of our leaders today.
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67 Comments
tin, posted this comment on Mar 22nd, 2007
but mussolini is quite bad at his childhood/?
LIL, posted this comment on Mar 27th, 2007
Hitler did, in fact, know what he was doing, as well as risking in the process. I, instead of appreciating Mussolini, believe that King Emmanuel should have cut down Mussolini before the situation became to disturbing, which it did.
I must hand this historical man my hand, though, for taking sensible action in times of crisis, even despite my personal distaste for him and his fascism.
kaylie 101, posted this comment on Apr 12th, 2007
I thank god every day these leaders are dead how would you like to live under there rule huh
12345678910, posted this comment on Dec 6th, 2007
good site for reports
paige, posted this comment on Dec 10th, 2007
need more pictures
ernesto lover, posted this comment on Jan 18th, 2008
i think benito was a bad boy man what kid stabes a boy man he must have been crazy
Allan, posted this comment on Jan 28th, 2008
I would kick his ass
asain guy with history, posted this comment on Feb 21st, 2008
well Mussolini wasn’t that bad compared to hitler but hitler took some ideas from mussolini and went into a genocide and had a bad childhood
lwi, posted this comment on Feb 26th, 2008
well this is the best article i have read bout mussoline and u are right he really miss used his power.
August , posted this comment on Mar 10th, 2008
this is very very very good info u guys rock maybe u should add more.
nicole, posted this comment on Mar 13th, 2008
hitler was a real jerk. and he had no right to do what he did. he descriminated against not just jews but basically anyone that he didnt see as “good enough”. someone should have shot him. and that goes for all dictators like him, or that support him.
something, posted this comment on Mar 28th, 2008
Mussolini was infact a smart man if he learned how to take control of all Italy. He is’t good I know that but he was smart and thats all that is good about Benito.
flipper, posted this comment on Apr 4th, 2008
i heard that when he as little, at his sedcondary school, mussolini was expelled for stabbing a boy, or was that his dad? alessandro mussolini?
scobra, posted this comment on Apr 7th, 2008
uhhh yall are really lame its the past so just learn it and be done with it..
Kohlton, posted this comment on Apr 14th, 2008
I think he was loser compared to Winston Chruchill
Sg. Martino, Universita' di Bari , posted this comment on May 13th, 2008
This is historically inaccurate,
‘In 1940, Mussolini had declared war on Britain and France. He failed to convince Hitler to invade Britain after several persuasions.’
Hitler had already been at war with Britain and France since 1939, Mussolini joined the war in 1940, Also, Mussolini was compltely against HITLER’s invasion of the U.S.S.R.
‘After such a life, Benito Mussolini could never say with confidence that he had done anything noble for this world.’
Check out the reclaiming on the Agro Pontino, or the archaeological achievements during this time, I am an italian historian, i find your article completely one sided and inaccurate. RESEARCH.
blackorpheusluva, posted this comment on Jun 3rd, 2008
I think that Benito Mussolini wasn’t as terrible as Hitler. I mean come on Hitler just has a kill me sign hanging over him, just waiting to be recognized. At least he didn’t see people as ”unfit to live”, and in a way I respect him for that. He could have been a great leader thought…
balrc.org. , posted this comment on Jul 1st, 2008
I always wonder what makes people do this stuff.
Like Hitler.
what makes them do it?
kick, posted this comment on Oct 21st, 2008
i would stick a boot up his ass
tiny, posted this comment on Oct 22nd, 2008
amen to that southerns (rednecks) should rule the country not yankes
ania, posted this comment on Nov 13th, 2008
wikid site!!!, really learnt about mussolini.
Caleb , posted this comment on Dec 2nd, 2008
anyone think benito mussolini left italy in shambles and his dictatorship?
shannon, posted this comment on Dec 4th, 2008
I have the same question……..
rogerfedderer, posted this comment on Dec 10th, 2008
i
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batman, posted this comment on Jan 21st, 2009
i will eat your head #26
hitler, posted this comment on Jan 21st, 2009
will all of you stop talking about my but budy benito
mussolini, posted this comment on Jan 21st, 2009
thank you hitler.. next person that talks about one of us we will kill them like you killed the jews
nerd, posted this comment on Jan 25th, 2009
Is everything in this site really accurate #17? i have a report due and i want it to be mistake-free!
Lincoln, posted this comment on Jan 28th, 2009
i’m doing a worksheet on this right now. this info helped alot. hope it wasn’t copied and pasted from wikipedia.
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billy, posted this comment on Mar 9th, 2009
i really liked this article it has alot of interesting facts on benito mussolini
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The Fifth Brother , posted this comment on May 3rd, 2009
Mussolini SUCKS!
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MS, posted this comment on May 12th, 2009
What is wrong with you people? GROW UP.
ryan matto, posted this comment on Jun 19th, 2009
i think he is a jerk and i hate him
banana, posted this comment on Oct 6th, 2009
hello, I’m a banana…
tom, posted this comment on Oct 6th, 2009
mussolini was not that bad he took a poor country then make it wealthy so did hitler and everyone loved them till italy lost the war and what would you rather have him or the king it was just the communist Italians that brought down italy down more after the war and everyone back then was angry that they were were fighting war world 2 right after the spanish war and they dident have enough fight left in them and us invaded Italy and the people were more pissed so they blamed mussolini and killed him if the people waited a little nazi germany might of aid them and wasent badder than hitler or the leader of russia if you lived in 1936 who would you rather have the king or mussolini plus its back then they did evil or bad things since the ancient time but today its not much evil
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lauren, posted this comment on Feb 20th, 2007
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