About
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was the founder of Fascism and dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Born in Predappio, he was initially a socialist journalist, but broke with socialism to advocate intervention in World War I. In 1919, he founded the Fasci di Combattimento, which evolved into the National Fascist Party. After the March on Rome in 1922, he became Prime Minister, gradually establishing a dictatorship. He signed the Lateran Treaty in 1929, conquered Ethiopia in 1936, allied with Nazi Germany, and introduced racial laws in 1938. Entering World War II in 1940, he was deposed in 1943 and executed by partisans in 1945.
* 1883-07-28 — † 1945-04-28
Major works
- My Autobiography (1928)autobiography
- The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism (1932)essay
- Il tempo del bastone e della carota (1948)memoir
Key milestones
- 1922Becomes Prime Minister after the March on Rome.
- 1929Signs the Lateran Treaty with the Holy See.
- 1945Captured and executed by Italian partisans.
Themes
fascismnationalismauthoritarianismcorporatismpropaganda
Sources: bbc.co.uk · britannica.com · catdir.loc.gov