Benito Mussolini gobbled up power like a hungry bear. First this big bully seized power in Italy and crushed his opponents. One of the first modern dictators in an age that saw other dictators (such as Hitler), Mussolini eliminated any opposition and blamed Italy's problems on foreigners.
He wanted to rule more than just Italy, so he conquered Ethiopia and annexed Albania. Then he joined Hitler and declared war on the Allies. After years of dreadful fighting, the Allies finally captured Mussolini. But in a daring episode, German paratroopers rescued him, and he set up a puppet government in northern Italy. After more fierce fighting, the Allies eventually liberated all of Italy. His fellow Italians executed Mussolini.