Here are some facts about the man, the myth, the legend: Benito Mussolini. Once an Italian hero, praised by millions for giving the nation a taste of its lost greatness, Mussolini is well known as the father of fascism, a brutal dictator, and Hitler’s role model.
- Mussolini was expelled from his first boarding school at age 10 for stabbing a fellow student. At 14, he stabbed another student but was only suspended.
- Mussolini spent his early adulthood traveling around Switzerland, getting involved with the country’s Socialist Party and clashing with the police.
- Italy’s leaders never called on the military to stop Mussolini’s insurrection.
- Mussolini did not take power in a coup d'etat.
- Mussolini didn’t become a true dictator until 1925.
- As a socialist youth, Mussolini declared himself an atheist and railed against the Catholic Church, saying only idiots believed Bible stories and that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were lovers.
- Mussolini was deposed without a fight. On July 25, 1943, Mussolini was replaced as prime minister.
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| Benito Mussolini |
I think it's really interesting that a lot of the dangerous character traits of psychopaths were seen in both Mussolini and Hitler. With a predisposition for violence and a ridiculous amount of charisma, they were able to gain status and power. Motivated by competition and showing a remarkable lack of empathy, they were able to pursue their own motivations. Even though I doubt they were true psychopaths, it's interesting to see that there was evidence for their violent motivations even as children. Hitler showed a lot of dissatisfaction with his life, which transposed into scapegoating and anger.
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