History UsefulNotes / BenitoMussolini

But if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons on Ethiopians, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide in Slovenia, murdered thousands in Albania, caused a famine in Greece, attempted to ''Italianize'' conquered peoples and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still one of history's most despicable figures, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just unable to match the sheer scale of cruelty committed by Hitler or Tojo.]]

Mussolini first got the idea for fascism when he was a war reporter in the trenches of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, following around the soldiers (and later becoming one). And he liked what he saw in the army: he wanted to create a society organized like a military battalion, rigidly conformist, with no dissenters to undermine patriotic values.

Today, he is most famous for being the first fascist ruler of any country, and for his colonial war against Ethiopia in 1935 (called Abyssinia at the time) which proved the ridiculous incompetence of the League of Nations. As Italy became diplomatically isolated due to that war, he became a close ally of Adolf Hitler and fought on UsefulNotes/NaziGermany's side during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, although the Italians were more of a hindrance to Germans than a help[[note]]This was mostly due to logistical problems and political instability. The Italian Navy actually gave the British a run for their money in the Mediterranean—much more than Hitler's fleet could claim U-Boote notwithstanding—and Italians who fought alongside Rommel's Afrikakorps were quite effective in combat when competently led. On the downside, their issued small arms were mostly inferior to what everyone else carried and their tanks were outdated. As for logistics, suffice it to say that the long European tradition of joking about "Italian efficiency" didn’t just come out of nowhere. The Italian Navy in particular had powerful guns with excellent optical fire control, but was let down by shells manufactured to such loose tolerances that even perfectly aimed, they rarely hit their targets; the Navy was also hampered by lack of fuel.[[/note]]. To be fair, when Hitler wanted Italy to enter the war, Mussolini said what amounted to "can it wait until I've industrialized my country in five years?" (this may have been a random number chosen to delay Italian entry ''indefinitely''... until Germany annexed half the continent with ease, at least). Italy simply wasn't ready for war, and Mussolini knew it.

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 1883 -- 28 April 1945) was an [[UsefulNotes/FascistItaly Italian fascist]] politician who was leader of Italy from 1922, pretty much up to his death. Unlike his German contemporary UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, he was never in official command of his nation due to King Victor Emmanuel III nominally being his boss.

* ''WesternAnimation/GuillermoDelTorosPinocchio'' is set in Fascist Italy and a [[LightIsNotGood white-clad]] Mussolini himself shows up in one scene to attend a puppet show hosted by Count Volpe. Despite being head of state, [[TheNapoleon Mussolini is the shortest character in the entire film]]. [[spoiler: He's not amused when Pinocchio and Spazzatura sabotage the show by doing an anti-fascist musical number about Mussolini getting pooped on, and orders Pinocchio to be shot on the spot and Volpe's tent burned to the ground]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GuillermoDelTorosPinocchio'' is set during fascist-era Italy and Mussolini himself shows up in one scene to attend a puppet show hosted by Count Volpe. [[spoiler: He's not amused when Pinocchio and Spazzatura sabotage the show by doing a musical number about Mussolini getting pooped on, and orders Pinocchio to be executed on the spot and Volpe's tent burned to the ground]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GuillermeoDelTorosPinocchio'' is set during fascist-era Italy and Mussolini himself shows up in one scene to attend a puppet show hosted by Count Volpe. [[spoiler: He's not amused when Pinocchio and Spazzatura sabotage the show by doing a musical number about Mussolini getting pooped on, and orders Pinocchio to be executed on the spot and Volpe's tent burned to the ground]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GuilermeoDelTorosPinocchio'' is set during fascist-era Italy and Mussolini himself shows up in one scene to attend a puppet show hosted by Count Volpe. [[spoiler: He's not amused when Pinocchio and Spazzatura sabotage the show by doing a musical number about Mussolini getting pooped on, and orders Pinocchio to be executed on the spot and Volpe's tent burned to the ground]].

Soon after the British and Americans began their invasion of Italy, Mussolini was deposed by King Victor Emmanuel III following a de facto vote of no confidence in the Grand Council of Fascism on 25 July 1943. In September the Italians joined the Allies and declared war on Germany. The Germans responded by invading Italy and forcing Mussolini, by now wanting to retire, to form a Nazi state called the Italian Social Republic in Northern Italy. He "ruled" there for about 18 months, being little more than a puppet ruler under the protection of his German liberators, something he was ruefully aware of. In April 1945, allied troops were rapidly advancing into northern Italy and the collapse of the Social Republic was imminent. Mussolini, along with his mistress, Clara Petacci, and a small group of high ranking politicians and other leaders from the Social Republic, tried to flee to Switzerland in the confusion, but on 27 April, they were both caught by members of the Italian resistance. The next day, perhaps coincidentally two days before Hitler committed suicide, Mussolini and all of his travel companions were summarily executed; they shot him in the gut first, dragged him and his compatriots' bodies into the nearby city of Milan (incidentally, where his movement began) and then hung them upside-down at a gas station (symbolically an act of revenge as Axis forces had executed many resistance fighters in the very same spot), while crowds of angry Italians would spit and throw things (trash, bricks, other unpleasant things) at the bodies.

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fascism_and_racism his own massive racism]] (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism and being the leader of the world's first fascist state. Though if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons on Ethiopians, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide in Slovenia, murdered thousands in Albania, caused a famine in Greece, attempted to ''Italianize'' conquered peoples and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still one of history's most despicable figures, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as cruel in scale compared to Hitler or Tojo's plans.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Il [[JustForPun Douche.]]]]

Today, he is most famous for being the first fascist ruler of any country, and for his colonial war against Ethiopia in 1935 (called Abyssinia at the time) which proved the ridiculous incompetence of the League of Nations. As Italy became diplomatically isolated due to that war, he became a close ally of Adolf Hitler and fought on UsefulNotes/NaziGermany's side during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, although the Italians were more of a hindrance to Germans than a help[[note]]This was mostly due to logistical problems and political instability. The Italian Navy actually gave the British a run for their money in the Mediterranean—much more than Hitler's fleet could claim U-Boote notwithstanding—and Italians who fought alongside Rommel's Afrikakorps were quite effective in combat when competently led. On the downside, their issued small arms were mostly inferior to what everyone else carried and their tanks were outdated. As for logistics, suffice it to say that the long European tradition of joking about "Italian efficiency" didn’t just come out of nowhere[[/note]]. To be fair, when Hitler wanted Italy to enter the war, Mussolini said what amounted to "can it wait until I've industrialized my country in five years?" (this may have been a random number chosen to delay Italian entry ''indefinitely''... until Germany annexed half the continent with ease, at least). Italy simply wasn't ready for war, and Mussolini knew it.

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fascism_and_racism his own massive racism]] (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism and being the leader of the world's first fascist state. Though if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons on Ethiopians, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide in Slovenia, and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler or Tojo]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fascism_and_racism his own massive racism]] (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism and being the leader of the world's first fascist state. Though if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide in Slovenia, and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler or Tojo]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fascism_and_racism his own massive racism]] (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism and being the leader of the world's first fascist state. Though if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide in Italian-occupied Yugoslavia, and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler or Tojo]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fascism_and_racism his own massive racism]] (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism and being the leader of the world's first fascist state. Though if one considers his foreign policy where he used chemical weapons, continued oppressive policies in Libya, committed his own genocide on the Slavs, and invaded nations for virtually no justifiable reason or excuse, he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler or Tojo]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority, and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism. Though if one considers his foreign policies where he used chemical weapons and invaded nations for no justifiable reason he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler or Tojo]].

Further, Mussolini's regime rarely executed citizens for political reasons - in fact, only 9 people were executed from 1931 to 1940 (most for non-political offenses), with an additional 17 by Italy's defection to the Allies in 1943. Political opponents were more often jailed for a few years where they were tortured and mistreated, then suddenly amnestied; nor did the Fascist Party ever experience a purge equivalent to Stalin's Great Terror or Hitler's Night of the Long Knives. That said, Fascist Italy wasn't completely free of violence, with historians estimating at least 3,000 Italians died under Mussolini's government and thousands fleeing abroad. Blackshirt ''squadristi'' often terrorized dissidents by destroying their homes, beating them (sometimes forcing them to drink castor oil), or less frequently assassinating them. The murder of socialist parliamentary leader Giacomo Matteotti in June 1924 by a fascist hit squad is the most notorious example, though it's still debated whether Mussolini personally ordered his death.

Further, Mussolini's regime rarely executed citizens for political reasons - in fact, only 9 people were executed from 1931 to 1940 (most for non-political offenses), with an additional 17 by Italy's defection to the Allies in 1943. Political opponents were more often jailed for a few years where they were tortured and mistreated, then suddenly amnestied; nor did the Fascist Party ever experience a purge equivalent to Stalin's Great Terror or Hitler's Night of the Long Knives. That said, fascist Italy wasn't completely free of violence, with historians estimating at least 3,000 Italians died under Mussolini's government. Blackshirt ''squadristi'' often terrorized dissidents by destroying their homes, beating them (sometimes forcing them to drink castor oil), or less frequently assassinating them. The murder of socialist parliamentary leader Giacomo Matteotti in June 1924 by a fascist hit squad is the most notorious example, though it's still debated whether Mussolini personally ordered his death.

Thus, UsefulNotes/FascistItaly was not as totalitarian as UsefulNotes/NaziGermany or Stalinist Russia -- although a one-party state with media controlled and opposition banned, there was little effort at controlling the thought or actions of Italian citizens as extensively as in those dictatorships (outward displays of loyalty were generally sufficient). It remained a de jure monarchy and was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church (though ironically Mussolini was virulently anti-theist atheist and held Christianity in contempt over all other religions), with whom the Fascists maintained a complex relationship.

Further, Mussolini's regime rarely executed citizens for political reasons - in fact, only 9 people were executed from 1931 to 1940 (most for non-political offenses), with an additional 17 by Italy's defection to the Allies in 1943. Political opponents were more often jailed for a few years, then amnestied; nor did the Fascist Party ever experience a purge equivalent to Stalin's Great Terror or Hitler's Night of the Long Knives. That said, fascist Italy wasn't completely free of violence, with historians estimating at least 3,000 Italians died under Mussolini's government. Blackshirt ''squadristi'' often terrorized dissidents by destroying their homes, beating them (sometimes forcing them to drink castor oil), or less frequently assassinating them. The murder of socialist parliamentary leader Giacomo Matteotti in June 1924 by a fascist hit squad is the most notorious example, though it's still debated whether Mussolini personally ordered his death.

* Website/AlternateHistoryDotCom has a timeline called ''WebOriginal/TheFootprintOfMussolini'' about him. The PointOfDivergence is a Jewish blackshirt giving his life to save Mussolini from a would-be assassin in 1932, and [[ForWantOfANail things change greatly from there]].

* He appears in ''Film/MunichTheEdgeOfWar'', attending the 1938 Munich conference.

* Mussolini plays an important part in Creator/LarryNiven and Jerry Pournelle's [[Literature/TheDivineComedy Dante]]-based ScienceFiction novel, ''Literature/{{Inferno}}'', where he [[spoiler:guides the novel's protagonist [[ToHellAndBack Through Hell and (Not-Quite) Back]]]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority, and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism. Though if one considers his foreign policies where he used chemical weapons and invaded nations for no justifiable reason he is still a horrid figure of history, [[ALighterShadeOfBlack just not as horrific as Hitler of Tojo]].

Once reviled as one of the architects of World War II, on par with Hitler, Mussolini slowly stepped out of the spotlight in the last few decades as more historians began arguing that his reign, at least as far as internal politics go, was no worse than that of most of Europe's dictatorships of the era, partially because of the extreme reluctance of Italian fascists to implement capital punishment; throughout the Italian Fascists' 21-year long rule, no more than twenty-three people were reported to have been executed by the state, and most of them were common criminals. Over time, Mussolini was also given credit for his refusal to deport Italy's Jews to the German camps, despite his own discriminatory Racial Laws against them (this was likely because, in line with dominant social feelings in Italy, Mussolini considered Italy's UsefulNotes/{{Romani}} population the primary troublesome minority, and had them all imprisoned). For this and other reasons, Mussolini no longer gets quite as much posthumous attention as Hitler, despite being a significant influence on the development of Nazism.

* Mussolini makes an appearance in Creator/{{Disney}}'s UsefulNotes/WorldWarII propaganda short, ''WesternAnimation/DerFuehrersFace''.

[[caption-width-right:350:lil [[JustForPun Douche.]]]]