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====Background====
Prior to 1914, Mussolini was a committed socialist. <ref>John Whittam. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0719040043/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0719040043&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=e4bbe537193f219127ba43a1cb7de8eb Fascist Italy]''. (Manchester, England; New York, New York, USA: Manchester University Press, 2006). p. 165.</ref> However, when the socialists adopted a policy of neutrality in World War One, Mussolini opposed it and was later expelled from the party .<ref> -Whittam, p. 166</ref>. Mussolini was a well-known journalist and had strongly advocated for Italy’s entrance into the war in his newspaper, in 1914. Mussolini was an Italian Nationalist, and he wanted to unify his country, he regularly employed nationalist rhetoric that portrayed Italy as a great power to eliminate regional loyalties that had kept the country divided despite the official unification of the country in 1871.
When Italy did enter the war on the side of the Allies in 1915, Mussolini volunteered and served with distinction on the front. He was severely injured in 1917 and was forced to leave the army.<ref>Whittam, p. 117.</ref> Mussolini, like Hitler, Mussolini was deeply influenced by the war, and he came to believe that war was essential for a nation, as it would allow it and its people to achieve greatness. Later on, as leader of Italy, he would seize every opportunity to become involved in war and conflict. The war also confirmed Mussolini in his belief that action mattered more than debate and reason, and this was central to his fascist ideology, in turn, this led to the glorification of violence.<ref> Kallis, Aristotle. 2000. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415216125/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415216125&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7f886345b5e4f3a16e2fc31dab010522 Fascist Ideology]''( London, Routledge 2000)p. 45.</ref>
====A conspiracy?====
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The Italian army and police could easily have dispersed the Blackshirts, who were unarmed. However, they were allowed to congregate in Rome and they forced the government from power and Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy.<ref> Bosworth, Richard J. B. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038567/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143038567&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ccf60885755b7018e8e260f6899f1260 Mussolini's Italy]'' (2005). p. 89</ref> Many argued at the time and since that this was part of a strategy by the Italian Monarchy, army, landowners, industrialists and the Catholic Church to allow Mussolini to seize power. They were so afraid of an imminent revolution led by Socialists or Communists that they allowed the Fascist to take power. Many in the conservative elite believed that Mussolini was the only alternative to a ‘Red Revolution.’<ref> Bosworth, p. 101 </ref> They did not really like Mussolini but believed that he could secure their interests and prevent the country from a Soviet-style revolution. However, they believed that they could manage him and that he would agree not to interfere with their privileges. When Mussolini became Prime Minister, he set about to create a one-party state. However, he did not attempt to interfere with the interests of the Monarchy, army, church and other members of the elite, who had allowed him to seize power. This was their reward for allowing Mussolini to become the undisputed leader of Italy ‘Il Duce.’ <ref> Bosworth, p. 99</ref>
====Suggested Readings====
* Kallis, Aristotle. 2000. ''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415216125/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415216125&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7f886345b5e4f3a16e2fc31dab010522%20Fascist%20Ideology%5D Fascist Ideology]'' London, Routledge, 2000.
* Anthony James Gregor (1979). ''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520037995/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520037995&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4a5f21e69ccadd77db64058f31f928c3%20Young%20Mussolini%20and%20the%20Intellectual%20Origins%20of%20Fascism%5D Young Mussolini and the Intellectual Origins of Fascism]''. University of California Press, 1979.* De Grand, Alexander. ''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/027596874X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=027596874X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=42fa8cf7dcd7f08fc94cb2f38709ff8a%20The%20Hunchback's%20Tailor:%20Giovanni%20Giolitti%20and%20Liberal%20Italy%20from%20the%20Challenge%20of%20Mass%20Politics%20to%20the%20Rise%20of%20Fascism,%201882–1922%5D The Hunchback's Tailor: Giovanni Giolitti and Liberal Italy from the Challenge of Mass Politics to the Rise of Fascism]'' Praeger,2001.* De Grand, Alexander. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803266227/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0803266227&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=981bb5a41634eb0933f4fb317c10a84e Italian Fascism: Its Origins and Development]. Oxford University of Nebraska Press: Oxford, 2007 (3rd Edition).
* Farrell, Nicholas. ''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842121235/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1842121235&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=1ded7d46b1d91a3be742b28a7a7209d3%20Mussolini:%20A%20New%20Life%5D Mussolini: A New Life]''. London: Phoenix Press, 2003.
* Bosworth, Richard J. B. ''[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038567/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143038567&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ccf60885755b7018e8e260f6899f1260%20Mussolini's%20Italy%5D Mussolini's Italy]'' Penguin, 2007.
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