a country in southern Europe which in 1922 came under the control of fascism. Benito Mussolini (1883 - 1945), as the fascistdictator o f Italy from 1922 - 1945 received backing and support from Nazi Germany and participated with Germany and Japan in the large-scalewar which came to be called World War II (1939 - 1945). See also fascist, Germany and Nazi Germany in this glossary.—HEV Approved Glossary