Mussolini and his Trains

Benito Mussolini’s swift rise to power began in the wake of the First World War. And his goal was to create a fascist state that would end all forms of political corruption and misuse of labor but also maintain capitalism and private property.

The dictator achieved his goals to a large extent. But we wish people would stop saying, “Mussolini made the trains run on time.” Because although Mussolini wielded a far-reaching influence over various industries, transportation wasn’t one. Trains were so vital to commerce, and their capacity to function had nothing to do with some supernatural ability of his.