| 1883 |
Benito
Mussolini was born on July 29 in Dovia di Predappio
(Emilia Romagna) to father Alessandro, a black
smith, and mother Rosa Mussolini; |
| 1892 |
Mussolini
enrolls to a boarding school in Faenza (Emilia Romagna); |
| 1894 |
Following
a knifing, he is expelled from the boarding school and
transfers to a high school in Forlimpopoli near his home
town; |
| 1901 |
Mussolini
graduates to become an elementary school teacher. He
joins the socialist party of Italy, "Partito
Socialista Italiano" (PSI); |
| 1901/02 |
He
works as an elementary school teacher in Gualtieri near
Reggio Emilia; |
| 1902 |
To
avoid mandatory military service, he moves to
Switzerland where he holds jobs as a regular
construction worker, office clerk and translator; |
| 1905/06 |
Mussolini
receives a pardon for his desertion and returns to Italy
to serve in the military; |
| 1906/09 |
He
works again as a school teacher and becomes an activist
in the socialist movement; |
| 1909 |
Mussolini
moves to Trieste where he publishes a newspaper for
workers. Only a few month after his arrival, he is
deported by the Austrian-Hungarian authorities. He moves
to Forlė (Emilia Romagna), where he publishes his own
socialist newspaper; |
| 1910 |
He
starts a relationship with the 17-year old Rachele Guidi
who bares his first child; |
| 1911 |
In
opposition to Italy's expansionist war in Libya,
Mussolini calls for a general strike and is arrested and
convicted to serve 5 months in jail. (Between 1911 and
1915 He is arrested and jailed eleven times); |
| 1912 |
In
July, Mussolini is elected to the executive committee of
the socialist party. In November he is hired as
Chief Editor of the socialist daily newspaper
"Avanti" in Milan. He is able to increase the
papers distribution from 20,000 to over 100,000; |
| 1914 |
On
July 29, Mussolini signs a non aggression/anti war
manifest on behalf of his party. However, in
October he joins the proponents of war and calls for
Italy's participation in WW1. He is consequently
expelled from the socialist party. He resigns from the
newspaper "Avanti" and publishes his own
national newspaper "Popolo d'Italia". Together
with the poet and writer Gabriele D'Annunzio he leads
the movement for Italy's participation in the war; |
| 1915 |
On
August 31 Mussolini joins the army. He marries Rachele
Guidi; |
| 1917 |
In
February, Mussolini is promoted to master sergeant and
is severely wounded shortly thereafter. He returns to
Milan in August where he resumes as managing
editor of his newspaper; |
| 1919 |
On
March 23d Mussolini co-founds the "fasci[a] di
combattimento", a right-wing association of
veterans with who call for an authoritarian order and
the revision of the peace accords, more favorable for
Italy. |
| 1921 |
May
15th, the "fascists" gain 34 seats in the
Italian parliament. Mussolini, now the recognized leader
of the Italian right-wing, transforms the
"fasci" to the "National Fascist
Party" known as the Partito Nazionale Fascista
(PNF); |
| 1922 |
At
the heights of the political crises between October 27
and October 30 (which is also plagued by a mass strike),
Mussolini takes advantage of the wide-spread fear for a
revolution and openly threatens to overturn the
government. (March on Rome). King Victor Emanuel III
by-passes the parliament and appoints Mussolini Prime
Minister; |
|
1924 |
April 6,
following Mussolini's new election law the "fascists" gain
a two thirds majority during parliamentary election; |
| 1925 |
January 3,
Mussolini claims fascist's responsibility for the murder
of Giacomo Matteotti (1885-1924), a member of the
[socialist] opposition. During the following months
Mussolini's dictatorship is further solidified in part
promoted by several royal decrees; |
| 1926 |
Ban of all
parties other then the Fascist National Party ("PNF"),
establishment of special courts focusing on suppression of
any opposition. Several attempts on Mussolini's life
are unsuccessful; |
| 1928 |
Foundation of the
"Fascist Council" |
|
1929 |
February
11, the Vatican and Italy recognize each others sovereignty after 58
years of isolation. The reconciliation with the Vatican
and the catholic church results in a high approval rating
Mussolini's among Italians; |
|
1933 |
June, first
meeting between Mussolini and Adolf Hitler; |
| 1935 |
October,
Italy starts the war against Ethiopia; |
| 1936 |
May 9,
following victory in the war against Ethiopia, Mussolini proclaims
the "Italian Empire" and claims Italy's supremacy over the
Mediterranean region;
November 1, following the alliance with Hitler, Mussolini announces
the creation of the "Rome-Berlin Axes"; |
| 1938 |
September
29, Mussolini is able to mediate an agreement between Hitler and the
Western Alliance. In spite of this success, Mussolini becomes
increasingly dependent from Hitler and eventually introduces anti
Semitic laws in Italy; |
| 1939 |
Italian
forces occupy Albania; |
| 1940 |
June 10,
Italy declares war to France and Grate Britain. October,
following the three-country pact between Italy, Germany and Japan,
Italy attacks Greece; |
| 1941 |
Italy is
forced to withdraw from Ethiopia; |
| 1943 |
July 9, the
Allied invasion of Sicily weakens Mussolini's position and
strengthens the anti fascist movement;
The Fascist Council deposes Mussolini on July 24/25 and King Victor
Emanuel III orders his arrest;
September 12, German Para troopers free Mussolini from his jail in
Gran Sasso (Abruzzi) and take him to Hitler's HQ, the "Wolfschanze";
September 23, with Hitler's help, Mussolini forms a fascist shadow
government and proclaims the "Social Republic of Italy".
Operating from Salo (lake Garda), Mussolini attempts to regain power
over Northern and Central Italy. He remained a puppet of the German
forces. |
| 1944 |
June 5,
Allied forces occupy Rome; Germany's power in the region is rapidly
shrinking; |
| 1945 |
April 27,
forces of the Italian underground detain Mussolini at lake Como as
he attempts to flee to Germany;
April 28, Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci are shot and
beaten. Their bodies are hung in public |
