| After a short period as Primary School teacher, goes to Switzerland, maybe to avoid military duty. Back to Italy in 1904 becomes journalist, with good results which lead him to the position of director of the socialist newspaper 'Avanti!'. In 1914 is disbarred from socialist party for his 'interventist' convictions (Italian Socialists where in favour of a strict Neutrality, which the same Mussolini sustained in the 'Avanti'), and founds the newspaper 'Il Popolo d'Italia'. During the Great War fight in the 'Bersaglieri' Corps and reach the rank of corporal. Dismissed after having been injured goes back to Milan where carries on the direction of his journal. From this attacks the Premier Vittorio Emanuele Orlando and his cabinet, and taking advantage of the discontent and disorders following the end of the war unifies righthand antigovernment groups in the Partito Nazionale Fascista (National Fascist Party). In 1922 the movement gains official acknowledgment by the king Vittorio Emanuele III, fearing a communist revolution. In 1924 is designed Premier, after an heavy electoral fight. When the socialist deputy Giacomo Matteotti reports gerrymanderings, orders for his killing. In 1925 starts an heavy military campaign in Libya, to repress the Senussian Riot; the campaign ended with the capital execution of the chief Omar Al Muchtar. In 1929 abolishes all parties and makes the final turn of his government to a dictatorship. In the same year signes the agreement with the Vatican known as 'Concordato', which marked the partial end of Italian Risorgimento ideals. In October 1935 invades Ethiopia, the sizing of which annunces the 5th of may of the followin year, proclaiming the Empire. From this last war gains large approval in Italy, but also an almost total international political isolation which, made worse by the economical sanctions, favours his final alliance with Hitler. In 1937 send troups and weapons in Spain to help Francisco Franco in the civil war. In 1938 is the official craftsman of the Munch Acnowledgments, while playing just the role of the spokesman for proposal already devised by G�ring, in a form very similar to the ones already rejected in G�desberg. In 1939 sizes Albania e signes the 'Iron Pact' with Hitler. "Not belligerent" at his outbreak, enters the war the 10th of june 1940, certain of the german victory. After three years of war, a long list of defeats, and with a large part of the national territory sized and occupied by the Allies, the 25th of july 1943 is removed from the charge of Duce by the Great Counsel of Fascism and put under arres by order of the king. After the signing of the armistice by marshall Badoglio and the escape of the King, Hitler ordered the invasion of Italy which was caught almost without fighting. Mussolini was freed with a paratrooper action lead by Major Otto Skorzeny, and put on chief of the newly formed Repubblica Sociale Italiana. Captured by partisans while trying to escape is sentenced to death and executed in Giulino di Mezzegra on april 28, 1945. His figure still splits italians. Certainly he understood them much more than they understood him. |
| Benito Mussolini |
| Predappio (Forl�) 1883 - Giulino di Mezzegra (Como) 1945 Fascist Dictator of Italy |
 |