Mussolini, Benito

(1883-1945) Italian dictator. Combining socialism with nationalism, he founded the fascist movement in 1919. Taking power following the "March on Rome" in 1922, he created a one-party state and embarked on an expansionist foreign policy, pacifying Libya (1923-31), invading Abyssinia (1935-36) and annexing Albania (1939). Allied with Adolf Hitler from 1936, Italy joined World War II in June 1940 but lost its Balkan and North African campaigns. Deposed in July 1943, before Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, Mussolini was made head of the puppet republic of Salo by the Germans, who took northern Italy in September 1943. He was killed by partisans at the end of the war.