Another fascist leader was Benito Mussolini of Italy, who held power of his country ten years before Hitler became supreme leader. Prior to World War I, when Italy was part of the Axis Powers, Mussolini has been a socialist, but after his discharge, Mussolini became a militant nationalist and began to advocate for strong central government in Italy(about muss). When the peace treaties of World War I was signed, Italy was only given a portion of its promised land from the Austria-Hungary Empire, and no colonial territory. Even the strategic port of Fiume was given to Yugoslavia instead of Italy; In response, nationalistic former soldiers displayed resentment by occupying the port of Fiume. On March 23, 1919, “Mussolini personally assembled nationalist …show more content…
In the fall of 1931, the Guandong Army of Japan fabricated a supposed Chinese attempt to destroy the South Manchuria Railroad Company as an excuse for war against China and ensured the fighting lasted until total control of Manchuria (Book 505). In the eyes of Japan, Manchuria was a province which provided abundant resources for the Japan. The major powers of the League of Nations only protested lightly against Japanese’s act of aggression, and Japan further invaded China with no opposition from the West. With the reaction of the League of Nations against Japan, Mussolini sent troops on October 1935 to invade Ethiopia as he always desired to forge Italy into an empire (about muss). Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia, sought aid from the League of Nations; Unfortunately, the League did not provide any physical help while France and Britain only denounced Italy for its act of invasion. “In May 1936, Ethiopia surrendered and Mussolini had his empire” (about muss). In the meanwhile, Germany was under rearmament. Hitler began conscription, built air forces, and modernized the army, which was clearly a violation of the Treaty of Versaille. Hitler further violates the treaty as he sent the army to reoccupy the demilitarized zone of Rhineland in 1936. In despair, the French didn’t protest due to the fact that it wants