Fascism, a simple and seemingly harmless ideology of bringing a group back to its glory days, had managed to rip apart the world, killing millions, spreading hatred, and giving birth to some of the world's most feared dictators: Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Post WWI, much of Europe felt lost and were looking for guidance. Millions of people had died from the war and millions more were displaced, unable to find their way home or unable to find work. Countries were in economic decline, feeling the effect of the war (McDougal 1). In Italy, many people looked to a figure that could guide them through the darkness. Benito Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883, in Predappio, Italy. Educated in Italy, and originally a socialist journalist, Mussolini formed his…show more content… He was a glorious idol that many citizens of Italy looked up to. He took power of Italy with the citizens backing him and the torch of fascism in his hand. Although Italy was in shambles after WWI, Benito Mussolini seized power, enforced his fascist ideology on Italy’s people, and fueled both Hitler’s and his own agenda through his major role in WWII.
Benito Mussolini took power after WWI had taken its tole on Italy, leaving the country confused, in decline, and its citizens humiliated. The Allied side had won World War One, and despite Italy being on the winning side they had not received the land or territory that they had been promised. For all of their contributions to the war, Italy had only received two small territories that not that valuable to the Italian government or people. And definitely not worth the 500,000 casualties of the war (Costly 1).
