stephen.carpinito



Type in the content of your page here. **__ Mussolini The Story __**
 * Stephen Carpinito Group 84 October 27, 2009 **
 * For my report I’ve decided to write about Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini. Mussolini was born on July 29, 1883, in Predappio, Italy, and became a socialist just like his father. In the year 1910 he became a secretary for the local socialist party in Forlì, Italy. He, a socialist, agreed with other socialists that Italy should not enter the war against Germany and Austria-Hungary. But, after Italy did enter the war Italy was on the winning side. And, after serving as a secretary for the socialist party he finally entered parliament in the year 1921. This was the beginning for his 21 year career as a governmental leader in Italy. He was a master politician and propagandist. He mastered propaganda while he worked as an editor for a local newspaper and for his own newspaper. He then switched his party from socialism to fascism, of which he was the founder, and led the March on Rome in the year 1922. The March on Rome was led by fascist Italians who wanted to pressure the king, Victor Emmanuel, into giving Mussolini more power. Finally, in the year 1925, Mussolini declared himself dictator of Italy. As a dictator, he imposed government control of the industries, the schools, the press, and the police. Also, he was the head of the fascist militia. He was an explosive, spontaneous leader, and was considered quick of mind and described as almost animal-like. One of his dreams was to make Italy a major world power. He attempted to accomplish his dream through HOSTILE takeovers of foreign countries. He, in 1935 and 1936, conquered Ethiopia, but his actions were condemned by England and France; this led him to his alliance with Hitler and Hitler's Germany. Then, in 1939 Mussolini conquered and annexed Albania to Italy. These were only a few of his actions that helped him to accomplish his dream of an Italian Empire; another was his alliance of Italy and Hitler's Germany. The reason why he allied himself with Hitler was because in 1937, after visiting Nazi Germany, he believed Hitler's army to be invincible. But, only when, in 1940, Germany was well on its way of taking over France did Italy join in the war, World War Two. As you may know, Monaco is now located in region once controlled by Italy, so Mussolini must have wanted to annex it back to create his Italian Empire. Although Mussolini was hesitant on entering World War Two, Mussolini was not hesitant on entering the Spanish Civil War in 1936. He and Hitler joined the war by sending in troops to help support the Spanish rebels led by General Francisco Franco. But, Mussolini should have been hesitant, because, during the war, his troops suffered great losses in North Africa and Greece. Mussolini's troops were to face stronger opposition when they were forced to fight Soviet troops and American troops as those two nations entered the war. But, enough of his dream for Italy, more about some of his good achievements. Mussolini helped solve relations between the Italian government and the Vatican. Relations between the Italian government and the Vatican had been rough, because, in 1870, the Italian government had taken Rome away from the pope; they did this by separating religion from state. He solved relations by signing a treaty with the pope. He also created his own public character. He did this by making himself seem like one of rock-solid strength; he rarely used gestures when speaking to set himself apart from the eccentric, Italian image, and he created his own image, one of whom you could place absolute trust and confidence into. Another thing he did was to create his own secret police force, kind of like the Russian KGB. He dubbed his police force as "OVRA", a meaningless term used to frighten or intimidate people. Also, when the liberal governments of Giovanni Giolitti, Ivanoe Bonami, and Luigi Facta failed to stop anarchy, guess who the king invited to create a new governmental system? None other than…Benito Mussolini! So, it just goes to show you…LIBERALISM doesn't work Mr. President Obama!!!! Although, maybe it's time to focus on some of Mussolini's negatives in life. As a student, Mussolini broke many rules. And trust me, the nuns must not have been too happy about that. And yes, he did go to a Catholic school. But the nuns must have been happy about his expulsion, which took place after Mussolini STABBED a fellow student. But, before his expulsion, he had already STABBED his girlfriend. He was also put in prison for begging while in Switzerland. Now you may be asking yourself," Why is one of the world's most influential leaders begging for some money?" Well, I will tell you why…HE WAS POOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another thing he did was take credit and/or responsibility for the ASSASSINATION of a prominent socialist politician, Giacomo Matteotti. Even though he did not really/physically kill the poor socialist, it was Mussolini's fiery, fascist speeches and ideas that caused some fascist thugs to kill Giacomo. Also, Mussolini allied himself with NAZIS!!!!!! I mean, I know they were one of the most powerful military powers on the planet and that they are located relatively close to Italy on a map, but come on! They were and are wacked up in the head with their Jewish genocides/prosecutions. And then, Mussolini had his little extramarital affair with one of his many mistresses, Clara Petacci, who was the women who was executed alongside Mussolini in the year 1945, but I will get to that later in this four-page essay. His real wife's name was Donna Rachele Guidi. He and Donna were married on December 17, 1915. The two of them had FIVE children! Their children's names are Edda, Vittorio, Bruno, Romano, and Anna Maria. But, Mussolini had had a wife before he had married Donna! She was considered insane by Mussolini and she was institutionalized until her dying days. But, she and Mussolini had had a child, Benito Albino. The unhappy couple was married in the year 1914. Now, on to what made Mussolini famous in the first place! One thing that made him famous was: restoring the prestige that Italy had had during the Roman Empire. Mussolini also added land to Italy by conquering and annexing countries from Europe and Africa to create his dream, an Italian empire. Another thing that made him famous was just being the dictator of Italy and the leader of a puppet government in Northern Italy. Also by helping the pope recognize the Italian country as legitimate. But now, time for things that were going on in the world during Mussolini's time. From the years 1914 to 1918 World War One was taking place. Due to treaties, Italy received FAR less land than expected, so this leads back to Mussolini's plan to restore prestige and LAND back to Italy! Then, in the 1930's there were invasions and conquerings of both Ethiopia and Albania at the hands of Mussolini's Italy. Also in the 1930's, was the Spanish Civil War where the rebels got support from Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany. And finally, World War Two which took place from the years 1939, when France and England declared war on Germany, to 1945, the end of the Mussolini Story. Yes, Mussolini was ASSASSINATED by fascist hating Italians in the year 1945. Mussolini had been removed from power and arrested by the king. Luckily for Mussolini, he was rescued by German commandos and made the head of a puppet government in Northern Italy. Unfortunately, the puppet government did collapse, and while trying to flee Mussolini was found with some Nazis and was captured. Then, on April 28, 1945 he and one of his lovers, Clara Petacci, were killed. But now, to Mr. Maday's favorite question," Why did I pick Benito Mussolini and not Josef Stalin?" **
 * The reason why I chose Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was because he's Italian and Stalin isn't! No, the real reason is because of his name. He named after three revolutionaries, two anarchists and the Mexican leader, Benito Juarez! Another reason why I chose Mussolini was/is the fact that he was a powerful government leader and did many things for Italy. Some of the things he had done were to conquer and annex both Albania and Ethiopia to Italy. He also wanted to restore the prestige Italy had had during the Roman Empire. Also, I chose him for the good he did, in Italy, to control the crime and the Mafiosi in Sicily. Yes, Mussolini in the 1920's suppressed Sicilian Mafiosi activities. He also got the pope to recognize a legit, Italian government, and you know how much I admire the pope, just ask Eric or Greg! Mussolini changed the pope's views and opinions of Italy, just one reason why I chose him. I did, however, choose him for other reasons, I chose him because he was very quick of mind and often left his opponents unable to respond to his witty remarks and because I wanted to study someone intelligent. For those reasons I thought it would be both fun and interesting to research Mussolini, and I was right. Even though it was hard to study someone for a research project; I figured he was going to be exciting to study. He was, in fact, very interesting to learn about and it was fun to do it, because I don't think I would have studied him if I hadn't said," You know what… maybe Catherine was right, maybe it will be fun to research this guy!" So now, I have learned about four things Italy, Mussolini, fascism, and even a little about the good-old Sicilian Mafia.

Bibliography: Encyclopedia Americana/ Mussolini/ Danbuery, Connecticut/ Grolier Incorporated/ 1998 World Book Milenium 2000/ Mussolini, Benito/ Chicago, Illinois/ World Book Inc./ 2000 Mussolini, Benito/ Benito Mussolini/ Gale/ 1994/ Date accessed: 9-30-09 David Wellechinsky/ Children of famous parents: Italian Dictator, Benito Mussolini**