The political career of Benito Mussolini started in 1912 as a socialist reformist. Mussolini came into notice in 1922 when he was appointed the Prime Minister by King Victor Emmanuel, soon after the “March of Rome.” With assistance from Giovanni Gentile, he also wrote an excerpt on Fascism for the Italian Encyclopedia.

He advocated the inclusion of Italy in World War II and hence was removed from the Socialist Party. This compelled him to organize his own Party, the Fascist Party.

Here are some more interesting facts about Mussolini.

• Mussolini came into reign by exploiting the common fear among restless labors and communists. His main followers belonged to the middle-class and upper middle-class sections of the society that included doctors, lawyer, and veterans.
• Mussolini is still respected by a lot as one of the best leaders for his country but most consider him to be a feeble narcissist who was responsible for the violent demise of the fascist regime and a war massacre that his country had to face due to his off beam leadership.
• Mussolini has an image of a weak dictator who had little knowledge as a dictator or leader. Among the three prolific leaders of World War II, II Duce or Mussolini was the weakest. Hitler of Germany and Stalin of U.S.S.R were the other two leaders.
• Mussolini even appointed men who would exaggerate about his prowess to the common men. But the Italians knew that his fame was artificial and self-made. Hence to certain extent, the people did not abide by his propaganda.
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once met Mussolini but was not moved by his thoughts and views. In fact the only thing Gandhi was impressed of was Benito Mussolini’s boastful nature and pride.
• Mussolini was eventually killed with his mistress Clara Petacci about a couple of years after his downfall. This assassination was carried out by the Communists Partisans.
• Romano Mussolini, his son wrote a book on him, My Father II Duce, which describes him both as a leader as well as a father. According to his son, Benito was not as merciless as people thought instead he was a cordial yet proud leader.
• Hitler had sent his Nazi Special Forces to rescue Mussolini when the King of Italy had arrested him in 1943 hence he was considered a useful leader as well. He had blatant love for his country and the countrymen.
• Benito was bestowed with the both the honor of being the “Minister of Foreign Affairs” in the Social Italian Republic as well as the “Duce of the Nation”. Still a part of Italy undertaken by the Nazis, followed fascism.
• Even after being saved by the Nazi Forces, Mussolini could not gain back the faith of his countrymen. He became quite disorganized with time and his coup started to disrespect him as well.

He was then editor of a profound newspaper of those days, Avanti. He is popular as a fascist dictator who leaded his country, Italy, in World War II. His men kept fighting to the Axis coup until the fascists were finally abdicated followed by his death in 1945.