Benito Mussolini: biography, political activities, family. The main dates and events of his life

Fascist leader Benito Mussolini for 21 years ruled Italy as dictatorial prime minister. Being a difficult child from early childhood, he grew up rebellious and quick-tempered. Buche, so nicknamed Mussolini, made a career in the Italian Socialist Party. Later, he was expelled from this organization for supporting the world war. Then he formed a fascist party to rebuild Italy with a strong European power.

After the March to Rome in October 1922, Benito becomes prime minister and gradually destroys all political opposition. He strengthened his position with the help of a number of laws and turned Italy into a one-party power. Remained in power until 1943, until he was deposed. Later he became the leader of the Italian Social Republic, which was justified in the northern part of the state, which was wholly supported by Hitler. He held his post until 1945.

Let's find out more about this eccentric and mysterious man, like Mussolini, whose biography is quite interesting.

early years

Benito Mussolini Amilcar Andrea was born in 1883 in the village of Varano di Costa (Province of Forli-Chisena, Italy). Named after the President of Mexico Benito Juarez, and the second name and patronymic were given to him in recognition of the Italian socialists Andrea Costa and Amilcar Cipriani. His father, Alessandro, was a blacksmith and passionate socialist, who gave most of his free time to politics, and spent money on mistresses. His mother, Rosa, was a devout Catholic and teacher.

Benito is the eldest son of three children of the family. Despite the fact that he will become a great speaker of the twentieth century, he began to talk very late. In his youth, he struck many people with his mental faculties, but at the same time he was terribly disobedient and capricious. His father instilled in him a passion for socialist politics and disobedience of power. Mussolini was expelled several times from school, ignoring all the requirements for discipline and order. Once he stabbed a knife of the older boy Mussolini (the biography shows that he will again show violence against people). However, he managed to get a teacher certificate in 1901, after which he worked for a while in the specialty.

Passion for socialism Mussolini. Biography and Life

In 1902, Benito moved to Switzerland to develop the socialist movement. Quickly acquired a reputation for remarkable rhetoric. He learned English and German. His participation in political demonstrations attracted the attention of the Swiss authorities, which is why he was expelled from the country.

In 1904, Benito returned to Italy, where he continued to promote the Socialist Party. For several months he was imprisoned to find out who Mussolini is by ideology. After his release, he became the editor of the newspaper Avanti (which means "forward"). This post allowed him to increase his influence on Italian society. In 1915, he married Rachelle Gaydi. After a while she gave birth to five children Benito.

The break with socialism

Mussolini denounced Italy's participation in the First World War. But soon realized that this was a great opportunity for his country to become a great power. Differences in opinions led to Benito's quarrel with other socialists, and he was soon expelled from the organization.

In 1915 he joined the ranks of the Italian troops and fought on the front line. In the rank of corporal was fired from the army.

After the war, Mussolini resumed his political activities, criticizing the Italian government for showing weakness during the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Created his own newspaper in Milan - Il Popolo d'Italia. And in 1919 he formed a fascist party that was aimed at combating social and class discrimination and supporting nationalist sentiments. His main intention is to win the trust of the army and monarchy. Thus, he hoped to elevate Italy to the level of her great Roman past.

The coming to power of Mussolini

During a collective disappointment after the useless victims of the Great War, discrediting the parliament amid an economic crisis and a high social conflict, Mussolini organized a military bloc known as "black shirts" that terrorized political opponents and helped increase fascist influence. In 1922, plunged into political chaos, Italy. Mussolini said he could restore order in the country if he were given power.

King Victor Emmanuel III invited Benito to form a government. And already in October 1922 he became the youngest prime minister in the history of the Italian state. He gradually dismantled all democratic institutions. And in 1925 he made himself a dictator, taking the title duce, which means "leader".

Politics Duce

He conducted an extensive public works program and reduced the unemployment rate. Therefore, Mussolini's reforms were a great success. He also changed the political regime of the country to a totalitarian regime, in whose power was the Great Fascist Council with the support of national security.

After the removal of the parliament, Benito founded the Chamber of Fascia and corporations with simplified counseling. Within the corporate state, employers and employees were organized in controlled parties representing various sectors of the economy. The sphere of social services has significantly expanded, but the right to strike has been canceled.

The regime of Mussolini reduces the influence of the judiciary, tightly controls the free press, arrests political opponents. After a series of attempts on his life (in 1925 and 1926), Benito bans opposition parties, expels more than 100 members of parliament, restores the death penalty for political crimes, abolishes local elections and increases the influence of the secret police. So Mussolini's fascism consolidated power.

In 1929, he signed the Lateran Pact with the Vatican, after which the conflict between the church and the Italian state ended.

Military exploits

In 1935, deciding to show the power and strength of his regime, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, violating the recommendations of the League of Nations. Badly armed Ethiopians could not withstand modern tanks and aircraft of Italy, and the capital of Addis Ababa was quickly conquered. Benito founded a new Italian empire in Ethiopia.

In 1939, he sent troops to Spain to support Francisco Franco and the local fascists during the Civil War. So he wanted to expand his influence.

Union with Germany

Impressed by the military successes of Italy, Adolf Hitler (dictator of Germany) sought to establish friendly relations with Mussolini. Benito, in turn, was struck by Hitler's brilliant political activities and his recent political victories. By 1939, the two countries had signed a military alliance known as the Steel Pact.

Mussolini and Hitler carried out a purge in Italy, repressing all Jews. And since the beginning of World War II, in 1940, Italian troops invaded Greece. Then join the Germans in the division of Yugoslavia, invading the Soviet Union and declaring war on America.

Many Italians did not maintain an alliance with Germany. But the entry of Hitler into Poland and the conflict with Britain and France forced Italy to take part in hostilities and thereby show all the shortcomings of its army. Greece and North Africa soon rebuffed Italy. And only the German intervention of 1941 keeps Mussolini from a military coup.

The defeat of Italy and the decline of Mussolini

In 1942, at a conference in Casablanca, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt were working out a plan to lead Italy out of the war and force Germany to move its army to the Eastern Front against Russia. Allied forces provided a foothold in Sicily and began to advance to the Apennine peninsula.

The growing pressure forced Mussolini to resign. After that, he was arrested, but the German special forces soon saved Benito. Then he moves to northern Italy, which was still occupied by the Germans, in the hope of regaining the former power.

The public execution

On June 4, 1944, Rome was liberated by the Allied forces, which took control of the whole power. Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petachchi, tried to flee to Switzerland, but were captured on April 27, 1945. They were executed the next day near the city of Dongo. Their bodies were hung out in a square in Milan. The Italian society did not express any regret for Benito's death. After all, he promised the people "Roman glory," but his megalomania overcame common sense, which led the state to war and poverty.

Initially, Mussolini was buried in the Musocco cemetery in Milan. But in August 1957 was re-buried in a crypt next to Varano di Costa.

Faith and hobbies

As a young man, Mussolini recognized himself as an atheist and even tried several times to shock the public, urging God to instantly kill him. He condemned the Socialists, who were tolerant of religion. He believed that science proved that there is no God, and religion is a disease of the psyche, and accused Christianity of betrayal and cowardice. The ideology of Mussolini was mainly to condemn the Catholic Church.

Benito was a fan of Friedrich Nietzsche. Denis Mack Smith stated that in him he found an excuse for his "crusade" against Christian virtues, mercy and good. He highly appreciated his concept of the superman. On the day of his 60th birthday, he received a gift from Hitler - a complete collection of works by Nietzsche.

Personal life

For the first time Benito married the Idea Dalser in Trento in 1914. A year later the couple had a son, who was named Benito Albino Mussolini. It is important to note that all information about his first marriage was destroyed and his wife and son were soon seriously harassed.

In December 1915, he married Rachelle Gaydie, who had been his mistress since 1910. In marriage, they had two daughters and three sons: Edda (1910-1995) and Anna Maria (1929-1968), Vittorio (1916-1997), Bruno (1918-1941) and Romano (1927-2006).

Mussolini had several mistresses, among them Margarita Sarfatti and his last lover - Clara Petachchi.

Heritage

Mussolini's third son, Bruno, died in a plane crash during the flight of the R.108 bomber for a test mission on August 7,

His eldest son after violent mockery was killed on August 26, 1942.

Sister Sophia Loren, Anna Maria Scicolone, married Romano Mussolini. His granddaughter, Alessandra Mussolini, was a member of the European Parliament, and currently serves in the Chamber of Deputies as a member of the People of Freedom organization.

The National Fascist Party of Mussolini was banned in the postwar Constitution of Italy. Nonetheless, several neo-fascist organizations appeared to continue Benito's activities. The strongest of them is the Italian social movement, which lasted until 1995. But soon changed its name to the National Alliance and radically separated from fascism.

So, we can say: Benito Mussolini was strong, aspiring to victory, crazy and fanatical. Biography of his striking brilliant rise and merciless falls. He was the head of the Italian government from 1922 to 1943. He became the founder of fascism in Italy. During his dictatorial rule he treated his citizens cruelly. He led the state to three wars, during the last of them he was deposed.

Based on the above information, everyone can now know who Mussolini is by ideology and what kind of person he was.