Background Information
Benito Mussolini was born in Foril, Italy, in 1883. When he was in his 20's Mussolini had fled to Switzerland in order to evade military service. He eventually returned and worked as a journalist. When Italy entered World War 1, Mussolini joined the Italian Army and reached the rank of corporal. He was wounded in the war. After WW1 Mussolini attacked Vittorio Orlando after he failed to achieve Italy's objectives at the Versailles Peace treaty. He then was able to organize various right-wing groups in order to form a Fascist Party. Mussolini and his party soon were able to transform the nation into a one-party dictatorship. After a few years Mussolini was able to establish Italy as a totalitarian state. Mussolini tried to delay the war until 1942, but Germany started the war by invading Poland. When the war started Italy immediately sided with Germany in the war. Soon after the war had started on July 24th 1943, after the allies began to invade Italy, the Grand Fascist Council voted against Mussolini and the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III had him arrested. A few days after he was arrested Mussolini was able to escape prison with help from German special forces during a raid. He quickly fled north only to be captured by Italian partisans and was executed.