Benito Mussolini (HM6)

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (* July 29th 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Province of Forlì) is Il "Duce" del Fascismo („Leader of “) since 1921 - although he used to be a radical Socialist and made friendships with later Antifascists - and Dictator at the top of the fascist Regime in the kingdom of since 1925. Additionally, he held and holds diverse Minister posts - Interior minister, Foreign minister, Africa minister, and currently minister of war.
He claims that Italy was a "prisoner in the Mediterranean" and had to break the chains of and 's control, so they and , , and , would need to be faced - to take Corsica, , , , the , and .
== His government ==
On October 28th of 1922, he had forced the King with his "March on " to make him the Minister president. In the soon-done elections, the Fascist party gained just a quarter of the votes, but two thirds of the Mandates, hence could reign unimpedimented. Mussolini now turned Italy into a corporatist-totalitarian State.
In 1929, Mussolini ended the conflict between the National state of Italy and the Pope with the Lateran treaties, and thus created , to get support by the Catholics. He even had his Kids and himself baptized.
In 1930, he started a huge project, the drainage of the Pontine Swamps, to fight Malaria and get new land, on which he could found new cities - Littoria, Sabaudia, Pontinia, Aprilia, and Pomezia. At the West coast of Sardinia, he had the city Mussolinia di Sardegna (OTL Arborea) founded. He also had his capital of Rome redesigned, with many new courts and wide streets, to better control the population.
He had the colony of "pacified", which included aerial attacks with chemical Weapons and the use of concentration camps for 100,000 natives, of which one Half died there.
It is claimed that he made the trains run on time; truth is, even before his Regime, improvements of the railroad system were started, and there are still many delays on the tracks the tourists don't use.
Under his rule, Football/soccer officially was renamed to calcio and the claim made that the game had been invented in Florence of the 16th century.
Even Christmas celebrations aren't untouched, since 1928 on January 6th the Befana fascista is being celebrated in Italy: A charity event organised by the fascist Party centered on the witch Befana from folk belief, during which poor Kids get gifts.
The Regime makes a veritable cult of Mussolini: In the 1920s, he's supposed to be the most photographed Man in history. He is put in scene as a Rider, Flyer, Fencer, Tennis player, Swimmer and Skier - sometimes reminding of opera.
The Italian Jews weren't discriminated or persecuted initially, some even became members of his Party, even some thousand German Jews were let in, OTOH the Antisemites among the Fascists are tolerated as well. But since 1938, first the foreign and later the native Jews were discriminated against.
See also: 
== Alliance with Nazi Germany ==
Originally, he didn't think very highly of the Nazis in Germany, even called them "Murderers and Pederasts", and supported the Austrian Dictator Dollfus against .
But then he approached the latter, when the Western Allies condemned his Expansionism into (but without doing something that would've stopped him). In the Spanish Civil War, the already supported together. It was Mussolini himself who coined the term "Axis Rome-".
In 1938, he won the eternal Friendship of the "Führer", when he supported him with the "Anschluss" of Austria. On April 7th in 1939, he had occupied by Italian Troops and annexed it soon after. In May 1939, he also made a Military alliance with , the pact of Steel.
== During World War II ==
Still, he stayed "non-belligerent", when broke out. At this time, his Regime was already in a crisis, both the Masses and the old Elites were against it. Even the convinced Fascist attacked him, calling him a bootlicker of the "Führer".
On the 8th of June in 1940 (three days later than promised), the "Duce" finally declared war against Britain and France, encouraged by the Wehrmacht's successes.
== The "Duce" ==
In Contrast to Adolf Nazi, he "devours files" and claims of himself to have worked on almost two Million bureaucratic acts during seven years.
Although he acts anti-intellectually, he's read several Books, e.g. by Georges Sorel, Henri Bergson, Gustave Le Bon, Vilfredo Pareto, Platon, Max Stirner and Friedrich Nietzsche. He speaks English and French fluently, but not German (although he claims to do so).
In 1910, he started a relationship with then 19-year-old Rachele Guidi, daughter of the life partner of his father, marrying her in 1915. With her, he had his Kids Edda, Vittorio, Bruno, Romano, and Anna Maria. Also, he has the Son Benito Albino from his short marriage to Ida Dalser (whom he had committed to an insane asylum in 1926), but doesn't acknowledge him. Additionally, he had two mistresses, his Biographer Margherita Sarfatti and since 1936 Clara Petacci.
In 1939, he made his son-in-law Gian foreign minister.
Because of his bad health, he almost exclusively lives on pasta, Milk and Fruits and abstains from Alcohol and cigarettes.
Category:Benito Mussolini
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