Why did Mussolinis Fascist Party become popular in Italy after World War I?
* Italy had suffered badly during the war – 460,000 soldiers were killed and the country was heavily in debt. the Italian army had been heavily defeated and had only won its first major victory at Vittorio Veneto in October 1918. Italy had been promised extra land by Britain and France during the war, but when the war ended it was not handed over. This made it look as if the Italian Government had been ignored. the governments after the war were weak. they were coalitions (made up of more than one party) and were not able to take decisions. there was rising unemployment and this led to unrest in many cities and many people began to support the Communists. Mussolini set up the Fascist Party and posed as a strong man who could sort out Italy’s problems. He promised to rebuild Italy and recreate the Roman Empire. Mussolini organzed armed gangs, called the Blackshirts, who dealt with troublemakers and criminals. they also broke up strikes. In some cities, Bologna for example, the Fascists
