Page 4 - Second World War

Rise of fascism

The fascists maintained an armed
After several liberal paramilitary wing, which they Within a few years,

governments failed to employed to Mussolini had
rein in these threats, and fight anarchists, communists, and consolidated dictatorial
the fascists had socialists. power and Italy became a

increased their public police state. On 7 January
1935, he and French
profile by highly visible Foreign Minister Pierre

punishment expeditions Laval signed the Franco-
to supposedly crush Italian Agreement, giving
the socialist threat, Britain attempted to him a free hand in the

King Victor Emmanuel III broker peace but Abyssinia Crisis with
of Italy invited Benito Ethiopia, in return for

Mussolini to form a failed; Mussolini was an alliance against
Hitler.
government on 29 October bent on conquest
1922.