National Fascist Party (PNF)

Founded: March 23, 1919 (as Italian Fasces of Combat); November 9, 1921 (as PNF)

Disbanded: 27 July 1943

Banned: 1 January 1948

Founders: Benito Mussolini (as Duce)

Major Beliefs: Nationalism, Expansionism, Militarism, etc. 

Party Development until 1922: 

Mussolini formed the Fascist Revolutionary Action after being expelled by the Italian Socialist Party. 

On 23 March 1919, it was renamed Italian Fasces of Combat. Their support increased as Italians felt anger towards their treatment in the Treaty of St. Germain. Their policies attracted support from the War Veterans who felt their service had been made worthless by the lack of rewards at the Paris Peace Conference. 

On 9 November 1921, it was renamed again and Mussolini formed the National Fascist Party (PNF).

Impact on the political development of Italy:

• Support for the Fascists grew following the First World War and the widely-hated Treaty of Saint Germain, allowing Mussolini to gain popularity as he presented solutions for many of their problems and the Fascist beliefs aligned with a large number of Italians. This eventually allowed him to gain political power and turn Italy into a dictatorship.

• Italy was under the control of Mussolini's Fascist Party from 1922 until Mussolini's dismissal by the king on 25 July 1943 and when it was disbanded on 27 July 1943. 

• The Fascists led Italy as a totalitarian state by banning all other political parties on 6 November 1926. They held single-party elections in 1929 and 1934.