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Many of these men were unemployed after the war, and they felt that their sacrifices during the war had been in vain. Mussolini cleverly formed squadrons of these veterans and employed them against all those he declared to be the enemies of Italy. These squads of former soldiers became known as ‘Blackshirts,’ and they proved to be a formidable paramilitary force.<ref>Kallis, p. 45</ref>

====Impact of World War I====

Italy’s military performed dismally during the war and had sustained extremely high casualties, and there had also been mass desertions. Many people and especially soldiers were disenchanted with the political class’ handling of the war. They were widely seen as corrupt and ineffective, and many held them personally responsible for the country's failings during the war. The Italian political system, though technically a democracy was in reality dominated by the traditional landowning and business elite. <ref>Gregor, 1979, p. 56</ref>

====A conspiracy?====

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>

* 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.

* John Whittam. ''[http://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%20Fascist%20Italy%5D Fascist Italy]''. Manchester University Press, 2006.

====References====

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