What rule did Mussolini have in World War II?

Question

I need to describe the leadership of the Axis powers including him for a presentation and i don't know exactly what kind of things to include?

Sorry, i meant to say role not rule. I know he was the ruler of Italy.

Answer 1

What was the role of Benito Mussolini in World War 2?

Mussolini was the dictator of Italy until 1943.

He was aggressive in trying to expand Italy's world presence. Before the official beginning of WWII in Sept 1939 he had already sent forces to capture Albania and Ethiopia. Lacking the strength of Germany, he decided to tag along with German victories, thus involving Italy in wars with France, Britain and Greece in 1940 and 41.

His various initiatives were without exception, disasters. His armed forces were inadequate for the various tasks put before them. The Italian economy was weak and inefficient from the start. Italy had basically withdrawn from active military involvement when in 1943 there was a popular uprising against Mussolini.

German leaders had wisely predicted such a turn of events and moved quickly, expertly and efficiently to disarm the Italian armed forces before they could be used by the new Italian government to attack Germany. In one of the most brilliant commando attacks of the war German units even raided the complex where Mussolini was being help captive and freed him.

Mussolini thus became a mere figurehead for the remainder of the war, having neither a military nor any political power. Near the end of the war in 1945 he was captured again by Italian partisans who murdered him and his mistress and then strung their mutilated bodies upside down in a north Italian town plaza.

The Mussolini name lives on in Italy and members of his extended family are still active in politics today.

Answer 2

Mussolini had a chance to make Italy one of the huge WINNERS of WW2. A more intelligent foreign and military policy could've kept Italy out of the war until 1942, or later (this is exactly what his military advisors wished him to do). Certainly the French and British would've accommodated any reasonable territorial demands in the Med. What he DID do was alienate the considerable pro-Italian sentiment in the US by declaring war on France in June 1940. He also insisted on invading Greece, without letting the Germans know. This was partly because he felt offended , by Hitler not telling him about Poland. The Greeks basically defeated the Italian army (celebrated in Greece to this day), and had to ask for German assistance.
Later, he asked for MORE German help in North Africa. These increased ties to Germany annoyed even the most die-hard members of the Fascist Council. They eventually (1943) booted him out, and with King Victor Emannuel's help, surrendered to the Allies. Mussolini was bailed out YET AGAIN, by the Germans from his house-arrest at Gran Sasso resort, and formed the Salo Republic in Northern Italy. The majority of Italians saw this for what is was-a Nazi puppet state, and refused to listen to him. Later, at the end of the war, his convoy was intercepted by partisans outside of Milan. He and his mistress Claretta Pitacci were summarily executed by the communists. Their bodies were exhibited in the main square for some days afterward.

Answer 3

You need to be a little more specific. There have been literally thousands upon thousands of books written about world war 2. In very brief terms, it started on Sep 3, 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany after it had invaded Poland. Ultimately virtually every major nation on the planet became involved. Nazi Germany was finally defeated, surrendering on May 8, 1945. Japan, (allies of Germany) after suffering two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki finally surrendered in August 1945. Google World War 2 and you will find thousands of websites providing information about this topic.

Answer 4

The Italians have not, and are currently considered, poor fighters. I find this interesting given the history of the Roman Empire. They are generally considered a bit tougher than the French, and that is saying almost nothing! Mussolini's soldiers did fight to take over Ethiopia and exerted some influence in the North African theater of the war. The brave Italian soldiers used tanks and machine guns against African warriors armed with spears! They weren't such brave warriors when facing General Patton's crew and he made relatively quick work of them!