On this date: Mussolini is appointed Prime Minister of Italy

Benito Mussolini was born in a small village in the province of Predappio, on July 29, 1883. Coming from humble origins, his family were followers of socialist and anarchist ideals, and Benito formed his political position largely based on the opinions of his father, Alberto Mussolini. At the age of 17, he joined the Socialist Party and became a very active member.

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In 1902, Mussolini fled the country to escape mandatory military service and took refuge in Switzerland. There he wandered through different parts of the country and due to his anti-clerical and anti-military activism, he was constantly expelled from where he went into exile. Two years later, he returned to his home country with the benefit of an amnesty and did his military service. In a short time he became a big name in the Socialist Party and founded the newspaper “L'Avanti”.

With the outbreak of World War I, Mussolini defended Italy's neutrality in the conflict, but he ended up changing his position and began to defend Italian intervention in the war, as he saw an opportunity to encourage the revolution of the masses in the country. In 1914, he published a new periodical, “Il popolo d'Italia”, which had ultranationalist tendencies and ended up being expelled from the Party.

Shortly after the break with the socialists, Mussolini enlisted in the army and received the rank of sergeant. As a soldier he had rapid rise and in 1919 he founded the “Fasci Italiani di Combatimento”, an armed revolutionary group, which would later become the Fascist Party. Mussolini's groups brought together heterogeneous elements whose political positions ranged from the radical left to nationalism.

With the political situation in Italy deteriorating and the socialist government losing strength, Mussolini organized the March on Rome. On October 30, 1922, a few days after the march, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Benito Mussolini Prime Minister of Italy, tasking him with forming the new government. Three years later, he established a dictatorial regime, proclaiming himself "Il Duce," the leader of the country.

Benito Mussolini was killed on April 28, 1945 after trying to flee Italy and being captured and shot by rebels.