WORLD HISTORY II- MEYERS
WORLD WAR II
Rise of Italy
National Goals
LEADER:
Benito Mussolini
Nickname: Il Duce
Fought in WWI, angered by lack
of territorial gain promised to
Italy by Allied powers
Inflation, unemployment hurting
Italian economy
Mussolini began organizing other
veterans into a band of
“fascists” (latin= fasces, meaning
bundle of forces or unity)
Appealed to masses through
promise of land reform for
peasants and better benefits for
workers
Slogans:
“Believe, Obey, Work”
“Everything in the State, Nothing
Outside the State, Nothing
Against the State”
“Mussolini is Always Right”
After threatening to march on
the capital, the King appoints him
Prime Minister
Next election the fascists “win” a
majority, Mussolini seizes total
power.
1. Stop threat of communist takeover
2. Unite groups disaffected with
King Victor Emmanuel
3. Military buildup and expansion into Africa
4. Restore power and glory of Ancient Rome
5. World domination
Path to War
1. Once Prime Minister, elimination
of opposition: fear and terror
using “black shirts” (secret
police / army)
2. Expansion of military and navy,
1922-1926
3. Invasion of Ethiopia, 1935
4. Rome-Berlin Axis signed 1936,
military alliance between Italy
and Germany
5. Support for fascist dictator
Francisco Franco during Spanish
Civil War (1936-1939). Franco
and fascists win.
6. Tripartite Pact (GR, IT, JA), 1940