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'''Benito Andrea Amilcare Mussolini''' (1883-1945) was the [[Fascist]] dictator of [[Italy]].

'''Benito Andrea Amilcare Mussolini''' (1883-1945) was the [[Fascist]] dictator of [[Italy]].

A life-long [[socialist]] [[intellectual]]<ref>''[[Liberal Fascism]]'', [[Jonah Goldberg]], Page 31</ref> and self-proclaimed "socialist heretic", he was nominated prime minister by Vittorio Emanuele III di Savoia, King of Italy, in the time of [[World War II]]. He was head of one of the strong forms of government seen in Europe in this time. He created the political structure Fasci Italiani di Combatimento, which is what later would be known as [[Fascism]], a term which was later used to describe the merging of government and corporation. He was responsible for several war crimes in [[Ethiopia]] and [[Yugoslavia]].

A lifelong [[socialist]] [[intellectual]]<ref>''[[Liberal Fascism]]'', [[Jonah Goldberg]], Page 31</ref> and self-proclaimed "socialist heretic", he was nominated prime minister by Vittorio Emanuele III di Savoia, King of Italy, in the time of [[World War II]]. He was head of one of the strong forms of government seen in Europe in this time. He created the political structure Fasci Italiani di Combatimento, which is what later would be known as [[Fascism]], a term which was later used to describe the merging of government and corporation. He was responsible for several war crimes in [[Ethiopia]] and [[Yugoslavia]].

==Early Life==

==Early life==

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was born July 29, 1883.  

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was born July 29, 1883.  

He was executed on April 28, 1945.<ref>[http://www.custermen.com/ItalyWW2/ILDUCE/Mussolini.htm Execution of Mussolini]</ref>  

He was executed on April 28, 1945.<ref>[http://www.custermen.com/ItalyWW2/ILDUCE/Mussolini.htm Execution of Mussolini]</ref>  

{{cquote|From his father he [Mussolini] had learnt to be a thoroughgoing anti-clerical. He proclaimed himself to be an [[Atheism|atheist]] and several times tried to shock an audience by calling on God to strike him dead. He forcibly denounced those socialists who thought religion a matter for individual conscience or had their children baptised. [In Mussolini's opinion] Science had proved that God did not exist and the Jesus of history was an ignorant Jew whose family thought him mad, and who was a pigmy compared to the Buddha. Religion, he said, was a disease of the psyche, an epidemic to be cured by psychiatrists, and Christianity in particular was vitiated by preaching the senseless virtues of resignation and cowardice, whereas the new socialist morality should celebrate violence and rebellion."<ref>"Mussolini", by Denis Mack Smith, Vintage Books, 1983, page 8.</ref>}}

{{cquote|From his father he [Mussolini] had learnt to be a thoroughgoing anti-clerical. He proclaimed himself to be an [[Atheism|atheist]] and several times tried to shock an audience by calling on God to strike him dead. He forcibly denounced those socialists who thought religion a matter for individual conscience or had their children baptised. [In Mussolini's opinion] Science had proved that God did not exist and the Jesus of history was an ignorant Jew whose family thought him mad, and who was a pigmy compared to the Buddha. Religion, he said, was a disease of the psyche, an epidemic to be cured by psychiatrists, and Christianity in particular was vitiated by preaching the senseless virtues of resignation and cowardice, whereas the new socialist morality should celebrate violence and rebellion."<ref>"Mussolini", by Denis Mack Smith, Vintage Books, 1983, page 8.</ref>}}

Though privately hostile to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], Mussolini oversaw the [[Lateran Treaties]] in 1929, which recognized the independence of the Vatican and even contained a provision that outlawed any display of disrespect for the [[Pope]]. In addition, all schools including Catholic schools had to honor Mussolini and his picture was prominently displayed in each classroom. <ref>[Per User:Jpatt's grandmother who went to school in Italy until age 7]</ref>

Though privately hostile to the [[Roman Catholic Church]], Mussolini oversaw the [[Lateran Treaties]] in 1929, which recognized the independence of the Vatican and even contained a provision that outlawed any display of disrespect for the [[Pope]]. In addition, all schools including Catholic schools had to honor Mussolini and his picture was prominently displayed in each classroom.<ref>[Per User:Jpatt's grandmother who went to school in Italy until age 7]</ref>

By February 1918, he was calling for the emergence of a leader "ruthless and energetic enough to make a clean sweep." In May, he hinted in a speech in Bologna that he might be that leader.

By February 1918, he was calling for the emergence of a leader "ruthless and energetic enough to make a clean sweep." In May, he hinted in a speech in Bologna that he might be that leader.

==Alliance with Hitler==

==Alliance with Hitler==

In 1931 Mussolini first came into contact with [[Adolf Hitler]] at a meeting of European leaders, and an alliance was formed. For the rest of the 1930's Mussolini began to recklessly spend Italy's money on obsolete arms which he planned to issue to the army if Hitler ever attempted to take over Europe. In 1935, he invaded Ethiopia with this army and using poison gas defeated the imperial troops. The world was horrified at his use of weapons of mass destruction (i.e. poison gas).

In 1931 Mussolini first came into contact with [[Adolf Hitler]] at a meeting of European leaders, and an alliance was formed. For the rest of the 1930s Mussolini began to recklessly spend Italy's money on obsolete arms which he planned to issue to the army if Hitler ever attempted to take over Europe. In 1935, he invaded Ethiopia with this army and using poison gas defeated the imperial troops. The world was horrified at his use of weapons of mass destruction (i.e. poison gas).

==World War II==

==World War II==

Mussolini is responsible for several war crimes during the Italian occupation of Abyssinia (today Ethiopia) and Yugoslavia.  

Mussolini is responsible for several war crimes during the Italian occupation of Abyssinia (today Ethiopia) and Yugoslavia.  

During the second [[Italo-Abyssinian war]], Italian troops commited atrocites such as the use of mustard gas, the bombing of Red Cross hospitals and ambulances, the execution of captured prisoners without trial, the [[Graziani massacre]], the killings at Däbrä Libanos monastery, and the shooting of "witch-doctors" accused of prophesying the end of fascist rule.<ref>Richard Pankhurst, ''Addis Ababa University'', Italian Fascist war crimes in Ethiopia ([http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/northeast_african_studies/v006/6.1pankhurst.html])</ref>

During the second [[Italo-Abyssinian war]], Italian troops committed atrocites such as the use of mustard gas, the bombing of Red Cross hospitals and ambulances, the execution of captured prisoners without trial, the [[Graziani massacre]], the killings at Däbrä Libanos monastery, and the shooting of "witch-doctors" accused of prophesying the end of fascist rule.<ref>Richard Pankhurst, ''Addis Ababa University'', Italian Fascist war crimes in Ethiopia ([http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/northeast_african_studies/v006/6.1pankhurst.html])</ref>

During the Italian occupation of [[Yugoslavia]] in WWII, Italian troops used draconian measures to intimidate the native [[Slav]]ic population into silence, such as summary executions, hostage-taking, reprisals, internments and the burning of houses and villages.<ref>An independent report on Italo-Slovenian relationships in the 1941-1945 period ([http://www.kozina.com/premik/poreng4.htm])</ref>

During the Italian occupation of [[Yugoslavia]] in WWII, Italian troops used draconian measures to intimidate the native [[Slav]]ic population into silence, such as summary executions, hostage-taking, reprisals, internments and the burning of houses and villages.<ref>An independent report on Italo-Slovenian relationships in the 1941-1945 period ([http://www.kozina.com/premik/poreng4.htm])</ref>

==Quotes==

==Quotes==

* "Tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, nulla contro lo Stato" (Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State) <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=wHihWKJE3asC&pg=PA52&dq=everything+in+the+State,+nothing+outside+the+State,+nothing+against+the+State&ei=oW8TSt6pLYPuzQTw9Oy3BA#PPA52,M1  

* "Tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, nulla contro lo Stato" (Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State) <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=wHihWKJE3asC&pg=PA52&dq=everything+in+the+State,+nothing+outside+the+State,+nothing+against+the+State&ei=oW8TSt6pLYPuzQTw9Oy3BA#PPA52,M1 Liberal fascism: the secret history of the American left, from Mussolini to ...‎ - Page 52]</ref>

Liberal fascism: the secret history of the American left, from Mussolini to ...‎ - Page 52]</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Margherita Grassini]]

* [[Margherita Grassini]]