Mussolini, it was said shortly after his rise to power, "made the trains run on time." He actually did. And he made other improvements in the desperately poor nation of Italy, which became a nation in 1875 and went broke fighting the Germans in World War I.
The streets of Italy were filled with politically inspired violence and the communists were seen as the fons et origo of the dysfunction. Mussolini promised to solve all that with his Fascist government. King Victor Emmanuel appointed Mussolini as head of the government and Mussolini did what he promised. He instituted exercise programs and promoted education. Workers repaired and restored public projects, cleared swamps. A cross-Atlantic flight of Italian airplanes led by General Balbo were warmly greeted in New York.
No more riots in the streets but, as one of the witnesses puts it, "He gave us law and order at the expense of liberty." He eliminated the free press and forbid criticism of Fascism. He abolished the parliament. This is what's generally known as totalitarianism.
Once Hitler began World War II in 1939, Mussolini waited and judged which way the wind was blowing. Hitler took all of continental Europe, isolating the UK, and had successfully invaded he USSR. Hitler looked like a winner. Mussolini then bet on the wrong cavallo and suffered unintended consequences.
The streets of Italy were filled with politically inspired violence and the communists were seen as the fons et origo of the dysfunction. Mussolini promised to solve all that with his Fascist government. King Victor Emmanuel appointed Mussolini as head of the government and Mussolini did what he promised. He instituted exercise programs and promoted education. Workers repaired and restored public projects, cleared swamps. A cross-Atlantic flight of Italian airplanes led by General Balbo were warmly greeted in New York.
No more riots in the streets but, as one of the witnesses puts it, "He gave us law and order at the expense of liberty." He eliminated the free press and forbid criticism of Fascism. He abolished the parliament. This is what's generally known as totalitarianism.
Once Hitler began World War II in 1939, Mussolini waited and judged which way the wind was blowing. Hitler took all of continental Europe, isolating the UK, and had successfully invaded he USSR. Hitler looked like a winner. Mussolini then bet on the wrong cavallo and suffered unintended consequences.
