Page 1 Page 2
Portrait of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini was born on July 29th, 1883 in the town of Varnano dei Costa near the village of Predappio. His mother Rosa Maltoni was married to a blacksmith named Alessandro Mussolini. Alessandro, being an admirer of the Mexican revolutionary Benito Juarez, named his son after the patriot and hero. Benito Mussolini was an avid writer and after he finished his schooling, he became an editor for the Milan socialist paper “Avanti”. He became well known among the Italian socialists, but soon started promoting his views for war against Germany in World War I.
This infuriated the Socialists who were against Italy’s entry into the war. In 1915 he formed his own paper, Il Popolo d’Italia, and continued his promotion for war. When Italy finally joined the Allies to fight Germany, Mussolini enlisted into the “Esercito” (Army). Mussolini achieved the rank of Corporal, the same rank as Adolf Hitler, but was discharged in 1917 due to shrapnel wounds while in a trench.
He returned to his career in journalism in which he began to develop his ideas that would soon become known as Fascism. After the war, Italy was in turmoil. The economy was shattered and there were strikes and protests everywhere.
On March 23, 1919, Mussolini and several other veterans formed the National Fascist Party. This party grew in popularity among the people of Italy, who were disenchanted with the chaos surrounding them.
A younger Benito Mussolini
Mussolini seemed to have the answers to bring their country into order. During this time, he adopted the Roman salute and the Black Shirt militia, which Hitler later copied from the him as the Brown Shirts. On March 15th 1921, Mussolini along with 35 other Fascists were elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
In August of 1922, The ruling Leftist party ordered a general strike in the nation. Mussolini was enraged and issued an ultimatum that if they did not end the strike, his Fascist party would. The Leftist claimed he was trying to siege the government, but the armed forces wanted nothing to do with stopping the fascists from preventing the strike. On October 29, 1922, King Vittorio Emanuele III (1869-1947) phoned Mussolini to come to Rome and form a government. Mussolini insisted on a telegram and it was wired soon afterwards. Mussolini boarded a train to Rome and was greeted by thousands of Fascist Blackshirts awaiting his arrival.
His first act was to send the strikers back home to their families and their jobs. Mussolini managed to assume the powers of all the government offices in order to regain control of the economy. In a short period of time, he was successful in stabilizing the economy and taking his country out of economic turmoil. He became known as “Il Duce” (the leader).
Page 1 Page 2
Pages: 1 2
Loading ...
Is it true that is was common for Italian immigrants in the US to send money to support Mussolini’s cause , as they felt he was good for their homeland prior to WW 2?
Thanks
Mussolini sorted Italy out economically and organizationally but if you lose a war do not expect history to treat you favourably. Lack of resources stifled his military ambitions. Only England, France and the USA were permitted to have an empire at this stage of world history thus proving the old adage that history is written by the victors. Mussolini was driven by Italy’s poor territorial treatment by the allies after World War 1. This was the root cause of his closer and closer ties to Germany even though Mussolini disliked Hitler and did not trust him. Give Italy back her rightful territories! SPQR.
if u wanna know why the guns didnt fire email me at andrewhoy55@yahoo.com
Wow! What are the odds of not one, but TWO firearms failing?! Crazy! There’s two explanations I believe, One: Someone who knew and was with the persons who were going to capture Ill Duce either bent the firing pins or disabled them somehow and 2. Mother Italy didn’t think it was time for his death! I believe number one.
i will want to look at thoes picts of him please e-mail me at terry.huffman33@yahoo.com
thanks
I am looking for a photo of Mussolini – he is standing (back against a wall I think) with his arms folded, head tilted back – well sort of looking down his nose. That is not a very good discription but it all I can come up with. I am not a researcher – just interested in some of the things he did – personal research. I think it is interesting how he came to power and some of the things – programs – he started. I was stationed in Italy (Sicily) for two years and there were still pictures of him (very faded) on walls of building. He was wearing a helmet. I was there in 1969 and 1970.
i think he was a horrible person along with adolf hitler
I have a picture album that belonged to Mussolini. It is pics of him and his family with some of his prized horses. most pics are dated 1920 to 1932. Are there any collectors that may be interested.
I have 6 3″x5″ black and white photos of Benito Mussolin’s hanging by partisans taken by an American soldier at Milan, Italy in 1945. I wish to sell them to a collector. What might they be worth?
Do you still have the pics?
well to be truthful mussalini was a shocking leader who couldnt make his mind up and made decisions because of his bad temper, lets all remember that he was expelled from his first school for wounding another boy and then from his next for bullying and fighting :/