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Factual content is mixed with glorification of his personal traits. Special publication devoted to the air show at Turin on 3 July , one of many celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the Fascist assumption of power.

A full-page photograph shows Mussolini as a pilot, another side of the all-competent leader. A large table lists all Italian transatlantic flights from to A year after this air show, Italo Balbo would lead his squadron of sea planes to Chicago, the first successful transatlantic crossing of its kind.

A highly romanticized biography, with illustrations in color by the well-known Fascist artist Bruno da Osimo, and typical of books on Mussolini in this period. The national anthem of Italian Fascism extols the giovinezza , the youth of the Fascist party and its future. The song is accompanied by a piano score; on the cover is a full-page sketch of Mussolini by the artist Riva.

Additional Exhibit Items The following items were part of the original exhibit in the Department of Special Collections but are not pictured above. Florence: R. A collection of over one hundred anecdotes about Mussolini and his life as leader of the Fascist party, intended to give the impression of his extraordinary intelligence and ability. Raffaello de Rensis. Mussolini Musicista. Mantua: Edizioni Paladino, Typical for the early period of Fascism, this special issue of the monthly Mussolinia glorifies Mussolini and presents him as an expert in almost all things.

The journal opens with full-page photographs of Mussolini posing with famous composers and playing the violin, and describes his involvement with musicians and musical events. Corriere della Sera. Milan, 26 October Emil Ludwig. Pressure from Mussolini and his followers forced the government to order the internment of foreigners they considered enemies. After the Treaty of Versailles in —and his dissatisfaction with it—Mussolini gathered the various fascist groups into a national organization called Fasci Italiani di Combattimento.

The Italian Fascists courted war veterans and encouraged violence against socialists. Mussolini stockpiled weapons and explosives in his newspaper offices. By the end of the year, Mussolini stood in a general election as the Fascist candidate but lost in a Socialist sweep.

Two days later, Mussolini was arrested for allegedly collecting arms to overthrow the government. He was released without charges the next day. Elections brought a huge win for the Fascists, with Mussolini taking a seat as a deputy in Parliament. The party changed its name to Partito Nazionale Fascista. In , Fascists were instructed to wear uniforms, including black shirts, when in squads that were modeled after Roman army groups. All party members were considered squad members. Soon after, several Italian cities were seized by Fascist squads, who also burned down Communist and Socialist offices.

In October , Mussolini threatened to march on Rome to take control of the government through violent force if it was not handed over. The government was slow to act, eventually dispatching troops, though Fascists had already seized control of some local governments. He dissolved the government and asked Mussolini to form a new one.

Mussolini did not become a dictator overnight, but a speech he gave to the Italian parliament on January 3, asserting his right to supreme power is generally seen as the effective date that Mussolini declared himself dictator of Italy.

Soon after, the Italian parliament made suspicion of being anti-Fascist punishable by imprisonment without trial. The next year police rounded-up Socialists, and the government restricted their publishing activities.

A Socialist deputy plotted to assassinate Mussolini, but the betrayal of a friend led to his arrest just before the attempt. Several other assassination attempts followed.

In , Fascists created a youth group called the Opera Nazionale Balilla, pressuring children to join. The Catholic Boy Scouts were dissolved and the formation of other youth groups became illegal. The same year, all Communist members of Parliament were arrested, and all Socialist members expelled.

Anyone who could not be prosecuted for a crime was detained for up to five years and placed in island internment camps. Cinemas were required to screen government propaganda in the form of newsreels. Fascists owned 66 percent of the newspapers and controlled reporting, issuing daily editorial guidelines and threatening editors with arrest.

The Order of Journalists was created and membership was mandatory. To his credit, Mussolini carried out an extensive public works program and reduced unemployment, making him very popular with the people.

In , determined to show the strength of his regime, Benito Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. The ill-equipped Ethiopians were no match for Italy's modern tanks and airplanes, and the capital, Addis Ababa, was quickly captured. Mussolini incorporated Ethiopia into the new Italian Empire. Impressed with Italy's early military successes, German dictator Adolf Hitler sought to establish a relationship with Mussolini. Flattered by Hitler's overtures, Mussolini interpreted the recent diplomatic and military victories as proof of his genius.

That same year, Italy and Germany signed a military alliance known as the "Pact of Steel. Influenced by Hitler, Mussolini instituted discrimination policies against the Jews in Italy.

In , Italy invaded Greece with some initial success. Hitler's invasion of Poland and declaration of war with Britain and France forced Italy into war, however, and exposed weaknesses in its military.

Greece and North Africa soon fell, and only German military intervention in early saved Mussolini from a military coup. Roosevelt devised a plan to take Italy out of the war and force Germany to move its troops to the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union. Allied forces secured a beachhead in Sicily and began marching up the Italian peninsula. With pressure mounting, Mussolini was forced to resign on July 25, , and was arrested; German commandos later rescued him.

Mussolini then moved his government to northern Italy, hoping to regain his influence. On June 4, , Rome was liberated by Allied forces, who marched on to take control of Italy.

Mussolini and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, were executed on April 28, , in Mezzegra near Dongo , Italy, and their bodies were hung on display in a Milan plaza. Following the liberation of Rome by Allied forces, the pair had attempted to escape to Switzerland but were captured by the Italian underground on April 27, The Italian masses greeted Mussolini's death without regret.

Mussolini had promised his people Roman glory, but his megalomania had overcome his common sense, bringing them only war and misery. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!