The Rise of Mussolini in Italy

1. The Rise of Mussolini in Italy By: Katie Galough and Jen Tripp Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)

2. Problems after WWI • 460,000 soldiers killed • Heavy debt • Britain and France did not give Italy the land they promised • Governments were all coalitions that couldn’t make decisions • Rising unemployment led to unrest in cities

3. The Treaty of Versailles • Italians believed that it treated them badly. • Italy had not been given the land promised at the Secret Treaty of London. • Italy’s foreign Minister Orlando left before the conference ended, feeling humiliated.

4. What is fascism? • A system of government with centralized authority under a dictator. • Usually involves terror, censorship, nationalism, and racism.

5. Benito Mussolini

6. Mussolini gains power • Mussolini set up a Fascist Party and promised to solve Italy’s problems • Promised to rebuild Italy and recreate the Roman Empire • Organized armed gangs called the “Blackshirts” • Came to power in 1922 and was appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel to prevent a Communist Revolution in Italy

7. 1922 March on Rome • to establish Mussolini and the Fascist Party as the most important party in Italy • In 1921 the fascist parties in Italy joined together to form the Fascist Party • Mussolini said this at a party conference: "Either the government will be given to us or will shall seize it by marching on Rome."

8. March on Rome, 1922

10. Fascism under Mussolini

11. Quote • “Fascism conceives of the State as an absolute, in comparison with which all individuals or groups are relative, only to be conceived in their relation to the State.” ~Benito Mussolini

12. Mussolini and Hitler Hitler and Mussolini had a close relationship. In October 1936 they signed a non-military alliance. Mussolini signed a full defensive alliance with Nazi Germany in the Pact of Steel. Mussolini and Hitler

13. Italy during WWII Mussolini intended to annex Malta, Corsica, and Tunis. He wanted to create a “New Roman Empire.” He annexed Albania, straining the military. His troops were unprepared for the German invasion of Poland. Italy remained neutral. Mussolini during WWII

14. Italy during WWII cont’d Italy soon declared war on Britain and France but troops were unprepared. It was defeated by Greece and lost the world’s first carrier strike. Italy was defeated on all fronts of the Anglo-American landing. Mussolini

15. Quote from Mussolini’s speech in Rome February 23, 1941 • “We are not like the English. We boast that we are not like them. We haven't elevated lying into a government art nor into a narcotic for the people the way the London government has done…when the enemy wins a battle it is useless and ridiculous to seek, as the English do in their incomparable hypocrisy, to deny or diminish it.”

16. Propaganda postcard of Mussolini

17. Mussolini’s Execution Mussolini was taken prisoner by the partisans and was joined by his mistress, Clara Petacci. A few days later they were shot to death. In April of 1945, their bodies were hung at an Esso gas station along with the bodies of other fascist leaders. Mussolini and his mistress