Mussolini and Fascist Italy

In 1920 the PSI had won the elections to many town councils and therefore controlled local taxes and services. Italy had been swept by a series of strikes and many politicians and members of the elite thought that the country was close to a socialist revolution during the 'Biennio Rosso' ('Two Red Years') of 1919-20. The 'Biennio Rosso' was important, as it can be argued that Italian Socialists played a major role in the success of their bitter enemies, whom were the Fascists. The threat of a Socialist revolution drove many of the elite to support Fascism, and the Socialists' weakness helped the Fascists come to power and succeed. An attempted general strike in August 1922, in protest against Fascist violence had fizzled out after twenty-four hours, partly down to the Fascists themselves. The PSI had talked over revolution but did not have a strategy for achieving it.…