| Yekare History”
[Intro – 0:00–0:20]
????️ Narrator (neutral but engaging tone):
He was feared, admired, and hated in equal measure. The man who dreamed of reviving the Roman Empire… but ended up dangling from a gas station roof.
This is Benito Mussolini, Italy’s infamous dictator — and today, on Yekare History, we count down 10 of the weirdest facts about Il Duce.
???? Cue dark, cinematic music and vintage Italian war footage.
10. The Teacher Turned Tyrant
Before becoming a dictator, Mussolini was actually a school teacher. Ironically, he taught history — the very subject he would later try to rewrite through propaganda.
9. The Failed Socialist
Mussolini started as a Marxist socialist, editing the socialist newspaper Avanti!. But after clashing with pacifists during World War I, he flipped sides and embraced nationalism.
8. He Survived Dozens of Assassination Attempts
At least 30 failed attempts were made on his life — including one by a 50-year-old woman who shot him in the face. He survived, and proudly showed off his scar.
7. The “Roman God” of Propaganda
Mussolini controlled every image of himself — making sure newspapers always showed him bare-chested, strong, and godlike. His photographers had to capture him from below to look taller.
6. His Own People Mocked His Salute
While he demanded the Roman salute, many Italians secretly called it “the macaroni wave”, mocking its stiffness.
5. He Claimed to Speak to Lions
Mussolini once owned a pet lion named Ras, which he supposedly “communicated with.” Ras lived in his garden until it almost mauled his chauffeur.
4. Hitler Was His Biggest Fan
Adolf Hitler idolized Mussolini, even copying his speeches and mannerisms. But by the end of World War II, Hitler saw him as weak and a failure.
3. His Mistress Recorded Everything
Mussolini’s lover, Clara Petacci, kept detailed diaries about their secret meetings. Her writings later exposed his paranoia, vanity, and strange obsessions.
2. His Body Was Stolen After Death
After his execution in 1945, Mussolini’s body was stolen from a morgue by fascist loyalists and hidden for over a year before being found in a monastery.
1. He Once Said He’d Rule the World — But Couldn’t Rule His Wife
Despite all his power, Mussolini was terrified of his wife, Rachele, who often scolded him for his affairs. Even dictators aren’t immune to domestic drama.
[Outro – 2:10–2:30]
????️ Narrator:
Mussolini wanted to be remembered as a god — but history remembers him as a warning.
For more strange stories from history, subscribe to Yekare History — where the past comes alive.
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Wear your history with pride.