Fascist Italy

This article is about the Kingdom of Italy under Fascist rule. For the German puppet state from 1943 to 1945, see Italian Social Republic.

Kingdom of Italy Regno d'Italia
1922–1943
Top: State flag Bottom: Civil flag Coat of arms (1929–1943)
Motto: FERT (for the House of Savoy)
Anthem:  Marcia Reale d'Ordinanza "Royal March of Ordinance" (1861–1943) Marcia Reale Giovinezza "Youth" (1924–1943)
The Kingdom of Italy in 1942
The Italian empire at greatest extent during WWII.
Capital and largest city	Rome
Common languages	Italian
Religion	Catholicism
Demonym(s)	Italian
Government	Unitary constitutional monarchy under a fascist state
King
• 1900–1946	Victor Emmanuel III
Prime Minister and Duce
• 1922–1943	Benito Mussolini
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies (1922‍–‍1939) Chamber of Fasces and Corporations (1939‍–‍1943)
History
• March on Rome	31 October 1922
• Corfu incident	29 August 1923
• Lateran Treaty	11 February 1929
• Stresa Front	14 April 1935
• Invasion of Ethiopia	1935–1936
• Intervention in Spain	1936–1939
• Invasion of Albania	7–12 April 1939
• Pact of Steel	22 May 1939
• Entry into WWII	10 June 1940
• Tripartite Pact	27 September 1940
• Fall of Fascism	25 July 1943
Area
1938 (including colonies)	3,798,000 km2 (1,466,000 sq mi)
Population
• 1936	42,993,602
Currency	Lira (₤)
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Italy 1943: Italian Social Republic 1943: Kingdom of the South Kingdom of Italy

Fascist Italy, refers to the time when the Kingdom of Italy was led by Italian fascist Benito Mussolini from 1922 - 1943.

History

Main articles: Government of Fascist Italy, Royal Italian Army, Blackshirts, and National Fascist Party

Before World War II

in 1922. The Italian fascist led the March on Rome. The march was successful and Benito Mussolini was appointed by king Victor Emmanuel III to be prime minister.

at this time, Fascism was becoming very popular around the world. Including Germany that became fascist in 1933 when Adolf Hitler (the leader of the NSDAP) became chancellor. At first, Italy opposed German expansionism and prevented Germany from invading Austria in the early 1930’s. But Italy started to invade other countries (like Ethiopia in 1936 and Albania in 1939).

during World War II

Italy joined the Second World War on June 10, 1940, invading British Somaliland in August, and starting the North African Campaign in September the next month by invading Egypt. Italy then tried to invade Greece in October, but got pushed back. Italy took part in the Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941 and got help from Germany to finish their invasion of Greece.

At this point, Italy now controlled parts of Yugoslavia (Croatia and Montenegro) and Greece. And giving some parts to Italian controlled Albania. But not everything was going good for Italy. The allies liberated Ethiopia in 1941 and the North African campaign saw counter-attacks by both the Allies and the Italians. Germany sent some troops to help in North Africa. Italy was involved in the Eastern Front sending troops to fight in Operation Barbarossa and the Battle of Stalingrad, but some of them would be captured by the Soviets and became Prisoners of war.

The Axis forces were defeated in North Africa in 1943 by the allies and a few months later in July, the allies invaded sicily (with all the last axis forces leaving in august). With this, the Italian government ousted Mussolini from power and replaced him with Pietro Badoglio. Italy surrendered in September when the allies invaded the mainland. Germany invaded north Italy occupied all its captured territories and established the Italian Social Republic With Mussolini as leader.

the RSI would collapse in April 1945 with the Death of Benito Mussolini and the Italian campaign ended with an allied victory.