Fascism in Italy was an ideology and authoritarian system of government led by Benito Mussolini from 1922 to 1943. Fascism emerged amid political and economic crises after World War I, when the Italian people were disappointed with the outcome of the war and the chaotic state of the country. Mussolini exploited fears of communism and dissatisfaction with the liberal government to form the fascist movement, which promised order, national revival, and the glory of the state. He managed to seize power through the “March on Rome” in 1922 and was appointed Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel III.
After coming to power, Mussolini transformed the government into a totalitarian dictatorship. He dissolved other political parties, restricted press freedom, and controlled education and social life through propaganda. His regime emphasized extreme nationalism, militarism, and total devotion to the state and its leader. All citizens were encouraged to follow fascist ideology from a young age through official organizations. Power was concentrated in Mussolini, who was revered as “Il Duce,” and any form of opposition was suppressed by state apparatus, including the secret police (OVRA).
The collapse of fascism in Italy began when the country failed in World War II. Italy’s involvement in the war on Germany’s side led to many military defeats and suffering for the people. In 1943, Mussolini was overthrown and arrested. He briefly led the Italian Social Republic (RSI), a Nazi puppet government in Northern Italy, before being captured and executed by anti-fascist partisans in 1945. Since then, fascism has been banned in Italy, and the country transitioned to a democratic republic through a referendum in 1946.
