Mussolini: Il Duce,

Founder of Fascism,

and Hitler’s Inspiration

BenitoMussolini(1883-1945)

•  SonofaBlacksmith•  ASocialist=llWWI,whenhisna=onalismtookover

•  Wenttoschoolun=l18– Receivedadegreeforteaching

•  Voluntaryisola=oninSwitzerland•  1904-ReturnedtoItalytojointhearmy

ItalyaLerMussolinigetsback

•  Sept1911–ItalygoestowarwithTurkeyoverLibya– Sabotage,disrup=onofrailwaylines– Mussoliniastherockstar

•  Socialistfac=oninItalycausingproblems•  1914–MussolinibreaksfromSocialistsandformsFascists– DoctrineofFascism– Popolod’Italia

AimsofMussolini•  Restorethedamagedna=onalpride–  StartedinEthiopia–losttoMenelikII

•  ReturnItalytotheheightoftheRomanEmpire•  BuildupthecountryofItalysoitneverhastobowtoanyotherpower

RiseofMussolini

•  ARDITI–militarizedsectofsoldierswhobelievedinthehonorofwar– whenMussolinigetsaholdofthem,theybecometheSQUADRISTI

•  1919officiallyformsfascists

RiseofMussolini

•  1922–MarchonRome– BringallfasciststoRomefromacrossthecountry

– Theytakeoverallimportantbuildings

– Demandtheresigna=onofthegov’t

•  KingasksMussolinitoleadanewgov’t– 30October1922

ItalianFascistParty

•  Individualhasnomeaningbuttoglorifythestate

•  Warcreatesvirtue•  Secretpolicemaintainorder,in=midateopposi=on

•  ExtremePro-Italian•  Minori=esdemonizedtounifythemajority(An=-Semi=c,homosexual,communist,etc

•  Totalitariancorpora=sm

TheSecretPolice•  Becauseofthefearofenemiesandtheneedforsecurity,humanrightscanbeignored

•  Peoplelooktheotherwayorapproveoftorture,execu=ons,assassina=on,etc.

Educa=on•  Firstsentencepronouncedbychildrenatschoolwas“LetussalutetheflagintheRomanfashion;hailtoItaly;hailtoMussolini”–  “Cerchiamodisalutarelabandieranelcampodellamodaromana,grandineinItalia;grandineaMussolini”

•  Textbooksemphasized:– GloryofancientRome–  Limita=onsimposeduponItalybygeographyandtheWest

–  Imperialdes=nythatawaitedItaly

TheIndividualandtheState

•  Menwereurgedtoberuthless,selflesswarriors

•  Womenwereencouragedto“winthebadleofmotherhood”– 14ormorechildrengotyouamedal– Womenwerepushedoutofpayingjobs

•  Shapingtheyoungwasoneofhisgoals– LearnedaboutancientRome

MussoliniandtheJews•  MussolinididNOThaveaJewishHolocaustprogram–  75%ofItalianJewssurvivedWWII

•  However–“TheManifestooftheRacistScien=sts”(1938)–  ForbidallJewsfromteachingorservingingov’tormilitary

–  PureItalians– Humanracesexistandtheyrepresenttrueraces

MussoliniBecameHitler’sRoleModel