Dictatorships (continued)
Both Hitler and Mussolini subscribed to the ideals of fascism, which put the needs of a nation as a whole above those of its citizens. Hitler based his rule on communism. Both ideologies, however, took any and all rights away from the people. Each of these militant leaders sought to expand their rule and their empires by conquering additional lands and destroying anyone in their way.
Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini came to power during the early 1920s. A veteran of World War I, he was opposed to the peace settlement that had been arranged when the war came to an end. Like others in his country he worked to organize the Revolutionary Fascist party. Mussolini quickly earned a reputation as a tyrant. He became so feared and powerful, that even Italy’s king perceived his force and appointed him Prime Minister of Italy in 1922.
Map and location of Italy
Mussolini believed that the government in Italy was failing, both politically and economically. He sought to make a change through brutal force and conquest of other lands. In 1935, he invaded Ethiopia.