Gonna make the bold stance that Mussolini wasn't a bad guy.
He united Italy, restored its national pride, got its economy going again, and by the standards of interwar Europe, was more accepting of political dissent than other states like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.
He united Italy, restored its national pride, got its economy going again, and by the standards of interwar Europe, was more accepting of political dissent than other states like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.
"B-B-BUT HE WAS A DICTATOR!"
Almost every country in Europe was a dictatorship or became one during the interwar period.
Even beloved Poland, the invasion of whom was the casus belli for World War II, was a military dictatorship after Pilsudski's coup in 1926.
Almost every country in Europe was a dictatorship or became one during the interwar period.
Even beloved Poland, the invasion of whom was the casus belli for World War II, was a military dictatorship after Pilsudski's coup in 1926.
"B-B-BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST!"
Mussolini's girlfriend was Jewish and he specifically prevented the Nazis from deporting/arresting Jews in Italy and the territories under Italian control.
Mussolini's girlfriend was Jewish and he specifically prevented the Nazis from deporting/arresting Jews in Italy and the territories under Italian control.
"B-B-BUT HE WAS AUTHORITARIAN!"
Exactly NINE people were executed for political crimes during Mussolini's rule. A grand total of 4,500 people were convicted of political crimes during that same period. Doesn't even remotely compare to Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.
Exactly NINE people were executed for political crimes during Mussolini's rule. A grand total of 4,500 people were convicted of political crimes during that same period. Doesn't even remotely compare to Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.
"B-B-BUT HE INVADED OTHER COUNTRIES!"
So did everyone else. Poland, beloved Poland, that bastion of freedom and democracy, used a false flag event to seize part of Lithuania and also took part of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
So did everyone else. Poland, beloved Poland, that bastion of freedom and democracy, used a false flag event to seize part of Lithuania and also took part of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Mussolini was just a standard strongman of the interwar period. Not great, but not evil, either. He was what he was.
The only mistake he made was allying with Germany. Had he aligned with the Allies (who courted him at one point) or remained neutral, nobody would care about him.
The only mistake he made was allying with Germany. Had he aligned with the Allies (who courted him at one point) or remained neutral, nobody would care about him.
Mussolini didn't do anything that other European states of the time weren't also doing. The reason we hate him and, say, call Austria the "first victim of Nazi aggression" (despite it too being a dictatorship prior to the Anschluss) is pure political convenience.
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