In the aftermath of World War I , Italian dictator Benito Mussolini began his wearisome and stern rise to power . He created Italy ’s Fascist Party , became choice pastor and finally pick out full ascendance of the area ’s day - to - day conclusion making . Those decisions , of course , had consequences , and Mussolini like to take reference for everything that go aright in Italy , even when it did n’t go that well at all . He was particularly affectionate of saying he was responsible for successful , large - scale public works labor , such as the railway system .
In fact , there ’s an old expression about Mussolini that goes something like this : " Mussolini made the trains go on time . " In other wrangle , even dictator have their in force points . Sure , fascism is an often brutal model of effective government , full of poverty and corruption , but hey , at least thetrainswere newly punctual [ source : Cathcart ] .
But , in Mussolini ’s case , even this item was n’t just true . He used pro - Fascistpropaganda to boost his power and selected the rail industry as an example of a key way in which he ’d ameliorate day-to-day life for Italians . While there really were some improvements around the country – in terms of reduced unemployment and investment in infrastructure – this did n’t always transform into the theorize perfection perpetuated by propaganda [ source : Biography ] .
Cue the gearing .
Italy ’s railroad had entered into a state of disrepair after World War I , but after the war ended , there had been a numeral of measures implemented to boost efficiency . Mussolini , of trend , care to say he was creditworthy for those advance . However , those changes actually accept piazza before he assumed tycoon , so technically , he could n’t really take credit ( although that did n’t arrest him ) . More to the degree , the trains did n’t always run on time , either .
But where did this transportation - crazed fascist follow from , anyway ?
Mussolini led a very troubled sprightliness , one that let in a violent childhood . He bullied class fellow and was prostrate to picking fights . At 10 , he stabbed another child in the hired man and later stuck a tongue in a lady friend ’s limb . As a young grownup , Mussolini was known for a proclivity for steel combat . [ source : Greenspan ] .
When Mussolini seized the rein as Italy ’s dictator in the 1920s , it was n’t a democratic move . So , he may have believe his plan for a honest mode of public transfer would meliorate his public standing .
By riding the coattails of a rail rebuilding labor that was already afoot when he took over the country , he hoped the trains would serve his political aspirations from , well , derailing . Notably , the regime work up particularly extravagant stations for the independent lines that tourists and visiting politico were most likely to see , all the good to boost his repute [ source : Dudley ] .
In the interim , there were several attempt on his lifespan , and he set a serial of authoritarian - like moves into movement . He banned more than 100 members of parliament , refused to let react party have their say , created a confidential police effect , did away with local elections and reinstate the dying penalisation for political crimes .
Then , as fascists are wo nt to do , he made friends – with another fascist , Adolf Hitler .
Just prior to Hitler ’s World War II rampage , Mussolini signed a " Pact of Steel " that aligned Italy with Nazi Germany . When the state of war broke out , Italy fought on the side of theNazis , but its army was not up to equality against the Allies . Soon , even with Germany ’s assistance , Mussolini was forced out of power and Italy was sidelined in a warfare that waste all of Europe .
He escape arrest with the aid of German special force and for a while served as leader of a marionette government in northerly Italy . He seemed all set for a cushy life as a post - war leader . But then , things went horribly sideways for Germany and the Axis Powers . The Allies stormed towards Berlin , smashing Germany ’s alliances in the mental process .
As the Allies promote , Mussolini and his schoolmistress disguised themselves and tried to slip unnoticed into Switzerland , where they hoped they ’d be dependable from retribution . Instead , they were spotted . Mussolini was executed and his clay string up as part of a macabre display of vengeance in a Milan public square . Those mythical on - time trains , it seems , could n’t redeem him in the end .
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