Part 2/10:
Milan, often recognized as Italy's financial and fashion capital, is also steeped in a darker history as the birthplace of fascism. Following World War I, Italy saw the emergence of various organizations formed by disgruntled soldiers, dissatisfied with their treatment post-war. A key event occurred on March 23, 1919, when Mussolini, then a newspaper editor, rallied these groups to form a new political movement that would give rise to fascism.
Mussolini's earlier life as a socialist contradicted his later authoritarian regime, which he employed as a response to the catastrophic aftermath of World War I. This transformed him into a vessel for his generation’s anger, a move that would resonate with many unhappy Italians as he preached about national pride and the betrayal by powerful allies.