Benito Mussolini Biography

Enrich your study of political figures in world history with this biography of Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist Party and Italy's dictator during World War II.
Grades:
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Themes:
Political Leader / World War II Figure

Born: 29 July 1883
Died: 28 April 1945 (Shot to death)
Birthplace: Predappio, Italy
Best known as: Italy's dictator during World War II
Known as "Il Duce" -- the Leader -- Mussolini was the Fascist dictator of Italy during World War II. Mussolini grew active in Italian politics in the first decade of the 1900s. He then spent time in exile in Switzerland and Austria, where he worked writing and editing socialist newspapers. He returned to Italy after serving in World War I and gained power and notoriety as a revolutionary nationalist. He founded the Fascist Party in 1919, used force and intimidation against political opponents and took power in 1922. Nicknamed Il Duce, Mussolini created a dictatorship and dissolved the parliament. Yet for many years he was popular as he expanded government services and public works. In the 1930s Italy invaded Ethiopia and Albania and in 1939 Mussolini promised an alliance with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. Italy's failures in the war led to Mussolini being removed from government, and when the war ended he was arrested, tried and executed.

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Related Resources:

World War II Timeline
1920's Timeline
World History: 1920s
Italy Clip Art Image
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