Mussolini's Biography
Mussolini's Early life
Benito Mussolini was born in Forli, Italy, in 1883. As a young boy, Mussolini was interested in the socialist beliefs and followed in his father's footsteps. Benito was a disobedient child and got expelled from many schools for bullying and disobeying school rules. However, Benito was a very intelligent child. At the young age of 19, Benito left Italy with nothing to go to Switzerland, where he jumped from job to job almost everyday. However, inbetween jumping from job to job, Mussolini read voraciously of theorists such as Benedict de Spinoza and Peter Kropotkin. Soon, Benito became known as a political journalist and public speaker. He also produced propoganda for a trade union, introducing violence as a way of enforcing policies. Benito was arrested many times before he had even turned 21 for his propoganda and unorthodox political views.
The Italian Fascist Party
Before getting arrested for the 5th time, Mussolini was recognized by Italy as one of their most dangerous and powerful young socialists. Mussolini had written a large amount of socialist papers before, and even went on to start a newspaper. His newspaper was called La Lotta di Classe (The Class Struggle). Mussolini's newspaper became so successful that he was soon appointed to be an editor of Italy's official socialist newspaper, Avanti! (Forward!). However, just as soon as he was introduced to the socialist party, he was out of it. Mussolini began writing speeches and articles in favor of war, while before he was against it. He quit working for Avanti! and was soon expelled from the socialist party. Backed by Italian industrialists and the French government, he pushed for a war against Austria. He became editor of a new newspaper, Il Popolo d'Italia (The People of Italy) where he found a new slogan - "From today onward we are all Italians and nothing but Italians. Now that steel has met steel, one single cry comes from our hearts - Viva l'Italia! (Long live Italy!). Mussolini went to go fight in the war. After being wounded, he came home. He later advocated for a new dictator, a man who was "ruthless and energetic enough to make a clean sweep". After giving a speech in Bologna, Mussolini realized that he could be this man. Later, many supporters of his idea showed up in Milan. These supporters included hundreds of republicans, anarchists, revolutionaries and discharged solders.Mussolini called them the Fasci di Combattimento (The Fighting Bands). The group bonded tightly together, thus creating the Italian Fascist party.
World War II
Hitler started WWII in 1939, giving Italy only weeks in advance to prepare. Mussolini became Italy's dictator and played a key role in WWII. He made important bonds with Hitler during this time. With Hitler's success in 1940, Mussolini was persuaded to intervene in what he thought would be a short war. Italy's generals, however, wasted opportunities. With Mussolini forcing offensives, he suffered disasters in Greece and Northern Africa. Only the success of the German military efforts kept his military alive. With the Allied victories of 1942, Mussolini tried to get Hitler to make peace with Joseph Stalin os that they could defeat the British-American forces. However, this did not work in favor for Mussolini. Hitler refused and the Sicillian invasion caused higher powers to overthrow Mussolini. Although Mussolini was overthrown, Hitler saved him and installed him as a "puppet dictator" of northern Italy. Later in 1945, the German surrender caused Mussolini to flee.
Mussolini's Death
Benito Mussolini fled in order to escape conflict, however his efforts were of no use. He was found. He was taken to the village of Giulino di Mezzegra and shot by Walter Audisio, a communist partisan. However, Mussolini's death did not end there. HIs body, along with 15 other fascist leaders, were taken to a square in Milan called Piazzale Loreto, so that the crowds could physically and verbally abuse them. Their bodies were then hung upside down by a metal girder above a service station. Mussolini was buried in an unmarked grave, but later his body was dug up and stolen by fascist supporters. It was later recovered by authorities who kept it hidden for 11 years. However, in 1957, Mussolini's remains were allowed to be buried in the Mussolini family crypt. His tomb was, and still is, a site for neo-fascists and the anniversary of his death is still marked by them.