Benito Mussolini's Early Life

Benito Mussolini

• From Italy, moved to Switzerland to avoid military service
• Became involved in socialism, working for trade unions and writing for socialist newspapers
• Advocated for the violent overthrow of European monarchies
• Was arrested, sent back to Italy, completed military service, and returned to work as an avid socialist
• His speeches and journalistic abilities made him famous among Italian socialists
• Initially anti-war, but later supported Italy's involvement in WW1, believing it could bring about a socialist revolution
• Was kicked out of the socialist party for his pro-war stance
• Founded the fascist movement, aiming to unite Italian people and conquer the Mediterranean

Adolf Hitler

• From Germany, served in WW1, and later became a politician
• Believed he was Germany's great destined savior
• Established a dictatorship with himself at its center
• Shared similar ideas with Mussolini and eventually became allies

Japan

• Isolated itself from the rest of the world for over 200 years
• Was forced to trade with the West and imposed "unequal treaties"
• Decided to expand its empire, taking over northern China and Korea
• Defeated Russia in a war and took Germany's colonies and islands in Asia
• Invaded China, leading to the worst of Japan's atrocities against the Chinese people

Interwar Period

• Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis powers, believing they were racially superior and wanting to expand their territories
• Hitler hated the Treaty of Versailles and began to violate its terms, introducing conscription and building up his army
• The Allies implemented a policy of appeasement, giving in to Hitler's demands in hopes of avoiding war
• Hitler invaded Austria, then demanded the Sudetenland, and eventually invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia
• Mussolini took over Albania and occupied the Adriatic Sea
• Japan launched another invasion of China, and the Second Sino-Japanese War began

The Start of World War II

• Germany and Italy formed the Pact of Steel, and Hitler made an alliance with Stalin to invade Poland
• Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France declared war on Germany
• The French and British armies were largely unprepared and under-equipped
• Hitler launched the Blitzkrieg, a lightning-fast attack through Belgium and into France
• The Allies were caught off guard, and France fell quickly
• Britain was left alone, and Hitler tried to force them into submission through mind games and air raids

Benito Mussolini

• Evaded military service in Italy by moving to Switzerland, where he became involved in socialism
• Advocated for the violent overthrow of European monarchies as a socialist, getting arrested and eventually deported back to Italy
• Completed military service and continued to promote socialism, becoming famous among Italian socialists for his speeches and writings
• Shifted from anti-war to pro-war stance, believing Italy's involvement in WW1 could lead to a socialist revolution
• Was expelled from the socialist party for supporting Italy's involvement in WW1
• Founded the fascist movement, aiming to unite Italian people and conquer the Mediterranean region

Adolf Hitler

• Served in WW1, then became a politician, believing he was Germany's destined savior
• Established a dictatorship with himself at its center
• Shared similar ideas with Mussolini, leading to an alliance between the two leaders
• Believed in his own superiority, leading to a desire to expand Germany's territories

Japan

• Underwent over 200 years of isolation, then was forced to trade with the West, imposing "unequal treaties"
• Decided to expand its empire, taking over northern China, Korea, and defeating Russia in a war
• Took control of Germany's colonies and islands in Asia, then invaded China, leading to atrocities against the Chinese people

Interwar Period

• Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis powers, believing in their own racial superiority and seeking to expand their territories
• Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles, introducing conscription and building up his army
• The Allies implemented a policy of appeasement, giving in to Hitler's demands to avoid war
• Hitler invaded Austria, then demanded the Sudetenland, and eventually invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia
• Mussolini took over Albania and occupied the Adriatic Sea
• Japan launched another invasion of China, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War

The Start of World War II

• Germany and Italy formed the Pact of Steel, and Hitler made an alliance with Stalin to invade Poland
• Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany
• The French and British armies were largely unprepared and under-equipped
• Hitler launched the Blitzkrieg, a lightning-fast attack through Belgium and into France
• The Allies were caught off guard, and France fell quickly
• Britain was left alone, and Hitler tried to force them into submission through mind games and air raids

Benito Mussolini

• Evaded military service in Italy by moving to Switzerland, where he became involved in socialism
• Advocated for the violent overthrow of European monarchies as a socialist, getting arrested and eventually deported back to Italy
• Completed military service and continued to promote socialism, becoming famous among Italian socialists for his speeches and writings
• Shifted from anti-war to pro-war stance, believing Italy's involvement in WW1 could lead to a socialist revolution
• Was expelled from the socialist party for supporting Italy's involvement in WW1
• Founded the fascist movement, aiming to unite Italian people and conquer the Mediterranean region

Adolf Hitler

• Served in WW1, then became a politician, believing he was Germany's destined savior
• Established a dictatorship with himself at its center
• Shared similar ideas with Mussolini, leading to an alliance between the two leaders
• Believed in his own superiority, leading to a desire to expand Germany's territories

Japan

• Underwent over 200 years of isolation, then was forced to trade with the West, imposing "unequal treaties"
• Decided to expand its empire, taking over northern China, Korea, and defeating Russia in a war
• Took control of Germany's colonies and islands in Asia, then invaded China, leading to atrocities against the Chinese people

Interwar Period

• Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis powers, believing in their own racial superiority and seeking to expand their territories
• Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles, introducing conscription and building up his army
• The Allies implemented a policy of appeasement, giving in to Hitler's demands to avoid war
• Hitler invaded Austria, then demanded the Sudetenland, and eventually invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia
• Mussolini took over Albania and occupied the Adriatic Sea
• Japan launched another invasion of China, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War

The Start of World War II

• Germany and Italy formed the Pact of Steel, and Hitler made an alliance with Stalin to invade Poland
• Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany
• The French and British armies were largely unprepared and under-equipped
• Hitler launched the Blitzkrieg, a lightning-fast attack through Belgium and into France
• The Allies were caught off guard, and France fell quickly
• Britain was left alone, and Hitler tried to force them into submission through mind games and air raids