Today it is easy to laugh at Benito Mussolini the fascist dictator of Italy All that posturing seems faintly ridiculous now, but it didn't seem that way in 1922 Back then Italy had seemed to be on the edge of anarchy. The country was riven by strikes and land seizures. The democratic government, just as in Germany, seemed powerless in the face of such unrest so Benito Mussolini the War veteran and a journalist decided to take a stand He organized a right-wing nationalist party the fascists With a country paralyzed for a general strike in august 1922 Mussolini
ordered his followers to March on rome Fearing a civil war italy's King Victor Emmanuel asked him to form a government Mussolini swiftly stamped out any political opposition and assumed dictatorial rights Like Hitler Mussolini's first acts made him immensely popular Massive programs of Public works provided employment and transformed Italy's infrastructure Corruption was routed out and the Mafia more or less eliminated Italy's armed Forces were built up including an advanced Modern Air force In the Mediterranean Mussolini launched a powerful navy bigger than the combined might of the British and French Mediterranean fleet When the great depression came
Italy seen to weather it better than most Mussolini became a source of worldwide inspiration political leaders, not least adolf Hitler in Germany Saw the fascist system as a role Model strong and purposeful in contrast to the weakness of the democracies in Britain and France but Mussolini wanted more than adulation He wanted to recreate the Roman empire And he already had a target in mind for his first imperial land grab.
