Benito Mussolini

Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini born July 29, 1883 in Northern Italy is most famous for his dictatorship of Italy during WWII.
In 1902 Mussolini relocated to Switzerland to find work. This is where he became immersed in socialist politics. Mussolini went back to Italy in 1904 and worked as a journalist for the socialists. He supported Italy's entry into WWI and broke with Italian socialism. Mussolini was drafted into the Italian army and fought in WWI.
In 1919 Mussolini shaped the Fascist Party with the support WWI veterans who were unemployed. Benito Mussolini organized these veterans into teams known as the Black Shirts. It was their job to terrorize political opponents. In 1921 the Fascist party was invited to join the coalition government.
In 1922 the Black Shirts marched on Rome and Mussolini was presented as the man capable of restoring political order in Italy. Mussolini dismantled democratic institution of the Italian government and in 1925 made himself dictator. It was Mussolini's goal to re-establish Italy a European power. He held his country together by sheer willpower and intimidation.
In 1935 Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and incorporated it into his empire. He provided support to Spain in the Spanish Civil War and increased cooperation with Nazi Germany. Mussolini was highly influenced by Hitler and introduced anti-Jewish legislation in Italy. He declared war on Britain and France in 1940, but his army was weak and he was defeated in North and East Africa as well as the Balkans.
In 1943 Mussolini was overthrown by Allied troops and imprisoned by his friends in his Fascist party. Then later in 1943, the German army occupied Italy and freed Mussolini. He was again installed as the government lead, but his power was very small. As the Allies proceed through Italy, Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland. Mussolini was caught by Allied Italian supporters and shot to death on April 28, 1945.
Mussolini was married to Donna Rachele Guidi in December of 1915 and they remained married until his death in 1945. Mussolini and Donna had five children. His term fascism came from the fasci or bundles of branches bound together to make them stronger.