Account for the rise and fall of Benito Mussolini

The post World War I period, was a period of both economic and political instability in Europe. This was no different in the case of Italy, for it was suffering from the Great Depression as well as many other post-war effects. Italy’s short-lived ministries seemed incapable of providing strong leadership and stability. Thus, when Benito Mussolini’s fascist movement unleashed, it received overwhelming support. Mussolini preached strong leadership which spoke a double language, it talked of revolution and social leveling, and it also preached national revival and emphasized the importance of martial ardor, hierarchy, and discipline. As a result, Italian conservatives fully supported Mussolini.

In Italy, there was a fear of communism. Economic stability would not be present with communism, and the Italians had had enough. Being a capitalist nation, communism would completely destruct their already suffering economy. Thus when fascism emerged, it received extensive support due to their anti communist leadership. King Victor Emanuel II of Italy appointed Mussolini prime minister in 1922, because he preferred giving leadership to Mussolini’s party over other communist parties. Therefore there was no need for the “March on Rome”, Mussolini’s plan to seize power by force. Mussolini did not need to overthrow the government, his anti communist feeling was enough.

As many other dictators, Mussolini used force as a weapon to inspire terror within the Italians. The Matteotti Affair of 1924 exhibits the brutality of the Mussolini perfectly. Socialist Deputy, Giacomo Matteotii, spoke out against Fascist acts of terror. He disappeared suddenly, and later it was found out that the he was killed by Fascist orders. The fascist leader then resorted to press censorship to cover up his ruthless act, but it was too late, the truth was out. He then accepted responsibility and crushed every opponent of his regime. Terrorized by his force, people either kept quiet or emigrated. Mussolini’s Black Shirts worked similarly to Hitler’s Storm Troopers, they both did their dictators’ dirty work. The Black Shirts would beat up opponents of the party, especially communists. This force on communists, led to an increase of support by Italian businessmen and conservatives. Also, in 1924, Mussolini obtained a massive majority in the Chamber of Deputies through a rigged election in which violence and terror were used.

After World War I, the Italians were both angry and embittered. They entered the war on the side of the Allies, because they were promised land. When the War Ended in 1919, no new land was acquired. Thus leading to an overwhelming feeling of betrayal. The Treaty of Versailles, only added to the frustration and betrayal of the Italians. They felt that their government betrayed them; they felt it failed to obtain the full price of Italy’s entrance into the war. Naturally, when Mussolini’s regime emerged promising revived glory, it received overwhelming support.

Mussolini was an incredibly good public speaker. His persuasive language helped him gain support in Italy. His regime also censored any anti-fascist talk, as exhibited in the Matteotti Affair. By not allowing people to listen to what his opponents were saying, Fascism had a monopoly over other political parties. He used propaganda to create a new image of himself as the strong leader (Il Duce). The persuasiveness of Il Duce alone is a clear example of how propaganda was used. He placed giant posters of himself everywhere with slogans saying, “Mussolini is Always Right”. Many newspapers and magazines talked about his greatness, talent, and genius. Indoctrination of Italian youth was also occurring at a fast pace, for they were brainwashing preached fanatic loyalty to the fascist party. They were taught to set the fascist regime as their uttermost top priority.

The agreements conducted by Mussolini also helped him gain vast support. In 1925, he signed the “Corporate State” Agreement, which essentially, gave organized Italian Industry freedom to what they see fit in return for its implied promise to support the Fascist regime. Theoretically, the Confuindustria (Federation of Italian Industrialists), would give their unconditional support to Mussolini’s regime. Through the Lateran Treaty and the Concordat that accompanied it, Mussolini was able to settle an ongoing dispute between the Church and Italy. Mussolini was an atheist, but he fully understood the importance of Catholicism in Italian life, thus he saw it to be in his best interest to improve the relationship between the two. In 1929, Pope Pius XI, and Mussolini were able to reach an agreement on issues that have been a source of debate for over sixty years, in the Lateran Treaty. The pope was given a few acres of land around the basilica of St. Peter’s and the Vatican, thus securing the church’s independence from the state. He also obtained a position for the Church in public education and assurance that Italian marriage law would not contradict with Catholic teaching. Through this treaty, Mussolini was able to obtain the support of the Pope as well as devout Catholics.

During the Great Depression of 1929, Mussolini distracted Italians by invading Abyssinia in 1935. He also signed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 which gave him political power. His inclusion in the Spanish Civil War also strengthened his ideological aims. He was gaining more power globally by invading Abyssinia and by helping out in the Spanish Civil War without the help of the Allies or the League of Nations.

With the wide support Mussolini was receiving, no one would’ve predicted his people would soon turn against him. Mussolini often bragged about Italy’s amazing military strength, but these were hollow boasts. When Hitler invaded Poland, Mussolini did not help Hitler due to the lack of military strength. When France was about to be defeated by Germany, Mussolini saw this as an easy opportunity to grab land. But the Italians managed to advance only a few kilometers before France surrendered, thus there was no real gain. In 1940, Britain was under German attack, so Mussolini saw this as another easy opportunity for victory, so he invaded British colonies in Africa. A month later, he ordered an attack on his old enemy, Greece. Both invasions failed, and Mussolini had to ask for Hitler’s help. Hitler sent troops both to Libya and Italy, making Italy look like an occupied territory than a partner. 1941 was an extremely disastrous year for Italy, for they were defeated by the British at Tobruk, Egypt. Also, they were defeated at the Battle of Alamein. Italians were fed up. Italy was unsuccessful in all the wars it took part in under Mussolini, and for that Italians had to pay the price. For example in the invasion of Abyssinia, the Italians had to sell their jewellery to help pay for the invasion. The various invasions were a waste of resources; Italians were fed up. They disliked food rationing and they disliked German armies which were flooding into their country. More than anything, they disliked Mussolini who had brought all these disasters upon them. Mussolini had lied to them about their nation’s strength and readiness for war; once again the Italians felt betrayed. Due to public pressure, King Victor Emanuel II dismissed and imprisoned him.

Mussolini received overwhelming support at first because he offered strong leadership at a time of weakness and instability. He knew how to please the people by displaying his anti communist attitude openly and his longing for restoration of national pride. He took Italy into WWII while it was not ready, and lost battle after battle, losing support along the way, till finally his own people killed him.
Samar Al-Ansari
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