The rise of fascism in Italy

Italy suffered the enormous human and economic after-effects of the Great War. There was a major political crisis  since they did not get as much as they expected (irredentism). Besides there was a social and economic crisis.

Some farmers occupied big properties, workers invaded factories, a lot of people, particularly middle and upper classes, were afraid of a communist revolution like the one in Russia. The fascists led by Benito Mussolini began to control many parts of Italy. . When socialists called for a general strike in 1922, Mussolini's men terrorised them and controlled the situation. That made him very popular

In the elections (1919 and 1921) he didn't get many votes but on 27th and 28th October 1922 Mussolini marched on Rome with his 30,000 Blackshirts in order to seize the power. King Victor Emmanuel III was terrified so Mussolini was asked to become Prime Minister.  He changed the election system and in the next elections (1924)  fascists got the power. He began to change Italy into a dictatorship where people had to do as they were told. He got rid of the other political parties and became the head of the state; the king had no real power any more. Mussolini was now called il Duce (=the leader).