Mussolini, Benito Amilcare Andrea(Il Duce)

Italian dictator and Fascist politician

initially active in socialist agitation

editor of socialist journal "Avanti" 1912-1914

founded journal "Il Popolo d'Italia" 1914

advocated Italian entry into World War I on side of Allies

fought in World War I 1915-1917

became pro-intervention nationalist and opponent of Communism

founded Fascio di Combattimento 1919 in Milan, initiating Fascist movement in Italy

officially organized Fascist Party 1921

oversaw Fascist takeovers of Fiume, Bologna, and Milan 1922

organized Fascist Congress in Naples 1922 and demanded resignation of Luigi Facta

led Fascists in march on Rome 1922, leading to Luigi Facta's resignation

appointed prime minister by Victor Emmanuel III 1922

prime minister of Italy 1922-1943

received dictatorial powers 1922 (lasting through end of 1923) to restore order

upon assassination of Italian emissaries to Greece, threatened Greece and occupied Corfu, withdrawing under international pressure 1923

engineered 1923 law guaranteeing two-thirds of parliamentary seats to party gaining plurality of popular vote, ensuring Fascist control of parliament following 1924 elections

when Fascists' assassination of Giacomo Matteotti led to secession of non-Fascist faction from parliament (Aventine Secession), disavowed connection with assassination and initiated press censorship 1924

cemented press censorship, forbade Freemasonry and secret societies, and began widespread arrests of political opponents 1925

received authorization to govern by decree 1926

incorporated Fascist militia into regular army 1928

incorporated Fascist Grand Council as official organ of government 1928, with exclusive power to nominate candidates for election to Chamber of Deputies

signed Lateran Treaty with papacy 1929, establishing Vatican City

established National Council of Corporations 1929 to coordinate industrial interests

with Austria and Hungary, concluded Rome Protocols 1934, providing for cooperation in trade and foreign policy

launched invasion of Abyssinia 1935, despite opposition from League of Nations

completed formal annexation of Abyssinia 1936

established Rome-Berlin Axis 1936

concluded Pact of Steel 1939 with German Nazi regime

deposed Zog I of Albania and annexed Albania as Italian protectorate 1939

replaced Victor Emmanuel III as commander-in-chief 1940

concluded Tripartite Pact 1940

formally entered World War II 1940

launched unsuccessful attempt to invade Greece 1940

steadily lost popular and party support due to lack of military success in World War II

deposed and arrested 1943 by joint action of Victor Emmanuel III and Fascist Grand Council

rescued by German Nazi raid 1943 and installed as head of Salo puppet regime in German-controlled northern Italy

nominal head of government of Repubblica Sociale Italiana (Salo Republic) 1943-1945

ordered execution of Galeazzo Ciano 1944

upon imminent German withdrawal from Italy, attempted to negotiate with Italian partisans, but captured and executed