 
Today it is easy to laugh at Benito Mussolini the fascist dictator of Italy
All that posturing seems faintly ridiculous now, but it didn't seem that way in 1922
Back then Italy had seemed to be on the edge of anarchy. The country was riven by strikes and land seizures.
The democratic government, just as in Germany, seemed powerless in the face of such unrest so Benito
Mussolini the War veteran and a journalist decided to take a stand
He organized a right-wing nationalist party the fascists
With a country paralyzed for a general strike in august 1922 Mussolini ordered his followers to March on rome
Fearing a civil war italy's King Victor Emmanuel asked him to form a government
 
Mussolini swiftly stamped out any political opposition and assumed dictatorial rights
Like Hitler Mussolini's first acts made him immensely popular
Massive programs of Public works provided employment and transformed Italy's infrastructure
Corruption was routed out and the Mafia more or less eliminated
Italy's armed Forces were built up including an advanced Modern Air force
In the Mediterranean Mussolini launched a powerful navy bigger than the combined might of the British and French Mediterranean fleet
When the great depression came Italy seen to weather it better than most
Mussolini became a source of worldwide inspiration
political leaders, not least adolf Hitler in Germany
Saw the fascist system as a role Model
strong and purposeful in contrast to the weakness of the democracies in Britain and France
but Mussolini wanted more than adulation
He wanted to recreate the Roman empire
And he already had a target in mind for his first imperial land grab.
