ITALY
Early Years
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Benito Mussolini was born in the Northern part
of Italy in 1883. Mussolini grew up with a father who was not the best influence on him. Benito later became a bully who became fascinated by Socialist values and despised authority. |
Benito Mussolini (July 29, 1883 - April 28, 1945) became the leader of Italy in 1922. In his Early years, he was in the Swiss Army and later made his own military named the Blackshirts. His beliefs, as a leader, included Socialism, which is the belief of how production, distribution, and trade should be run by the government. Yet, he also liked Nationalism (extreme pride in a country). Mussolini was able to gain his leadership by terrorizing people who did not believe in the Fascist party.
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The Blackshirts
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The Fascist group, also called the Blackshirts were mostly derived from veterans of World War One. Mussolini loved wars because there was death and violence. He formed the group Blackshirt or "fighting group". They wore black because it was intimidating, and it was the color of death.
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To the right is the symbol of the Fascist party. The symbol is simply a bundle of sticks tied with a rope and an axe in the center. This symbolized how the Fasict party would stick together. Fascist means “bundle” in Latin. They are a bundle that is out to kill others, which is why the axe is in the center. Above is the saying of the Fascist saying "Me ne Frego", which translates to "I don't give a damn”.
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Conquering EthiopiaBenito Mussolini began to hunger for more power. He decided to invade Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia) to expand his influence and increase Italy’s national prestige. In addition, to increased power, Mussolini wanted revenge for the battle of Adowa, which was the first invasion. Mussolini wanted the natural resources that Abyssinia could provide.
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To the left and below, are images of Ethiopian troops getting ready to fight in the first invasion of Italy, including a young fighter for Ethiopia.
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Allying With Germany
The alliance between Italy and Germany began with their signing a treaty of friendship which recognized their similar desire to destabilize Europe. About a week later, they announced a Rome-Berlin Axis. A month after the signing of the treaty, Nazi Germany signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Imperial Japan. This meant that now Germany had an alliance with Japan and directly against the Soviet Union. A year later, Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact. A couple years later, the Pact of Steel was signed by Germany and Italy. This meant that the two would come to help each other if one was in need. Lastly, Germany, Italy and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in September 1940.
Sources:
"Axis Alliance in World War II — Historical Film Footage." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_fi.php?ModuleId=10005177&MediaId=200>.
Benito Mussolini Biography. Bio, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. <http://www.biography.com/people/benito-mussolini-9419443>.
Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor., Anthony Esler, and Burton F. Beers. "The Rise of Totalitarianism." Prentice Hall World History. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 898-902. Print.
"Fasces | Symbol." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/202174/fasces>.
"Italo-Ethiopian War | 1935-1936." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/297461/Italo-Ethiopian-War>.
"Marching Toward War: Italy Seizes Ethiopia." Marching Toward War: Italy Seizes Ethiopia. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 May 2015. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma04/wood/mot/html/ethiopia.htm>.
"World Biography." Benito Mussolini Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2015. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/Mo-Ni/Mussolini-Benito.html>.