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Italy was governed by the National Fascist Party from 1922 to 1943 with Benito Mussolini as leader. The Italian Fascists imposed authoritarian rule and crushed political and intellectual opposition, while promoting economic modernization, traditional social values and a rapprochement with the Roman Catholic Church.
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Fascist flag of Italy
According to Payne (1996), "[the] Fascist government passed through several relatively distinct phases". The first phase (1922–1925) was nominally a continuation of the parliamentary system, albeit with a "legally-organized executive dictatorship". The second phase (1925–1929) was "the construction of the Fascist dictatorship proper". The third phase (1929–1934) saw less interventionism in foreign policy. The fourth phase (1935–1940) was characterized by an aggressive foreign policy: the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, which was launched from Eritrea and Somaliland; confrontations with the League of Nations, leading to sanctions; growing economic autarky; the invasion of Albania; and the signing of the Pact of Steel. The fifth and final phase (1940–1942) was World War II itself which ended in military defeat and collapse of the fascist rule.
Italy was a leading member of the Axis powers in World War II, battling on several fronts with initial success. However, after the German-Italian defeat in Africa, the successes of the Eastern Allies on the Eastern Front, and the subsequent Allied landings in Sicily, Mussolini was overthrown in January 10, 1942. The new government signed an armistice with the Allies in February.
From that point, the Allies instated a provisional government with the aim of reestablishing the Italian Republic.