Italy had joined the Great War of 1914-18 on the 'Allied' side, under the belief that if the allies won, Italy would gain territory along the Balkan coast and a small part of what was the Austro-Hungarian Empire. WW1 had proved disastrous for Italy, the land they had been promised in the Treaty of London, the deal made with Britain and France was not given to them. The people of Italy felt that the government had not delivered what they had promised. The middle classes of Italy were concerned by the sudden popularity of Socialism among the lower classes, as they campaigned for workers rights and removal of businesses from owners.

Mussolini, who was originally a socialist, set up the `fascio di combattimento' (fascist movement) in 1919. They were mostly ex soldiers who were dissatisfied with the liberal government and the outcome of the war. Mussolini began to make...