Amilcar Andrea Benito Mussolini was the founder and leader of the Fascist Party, the Prime Minisater and First Marshal of Italy. Under pressure from Hitler, he in June 1940 drew Italy into World War II on Germany s side. In the first weeks of the war, Hitler was convinced that the Wehrmacht itself quickly smash the Red Army, but by the end of August, his views have changed. He began to realize that the East can not be won without the help of allies and above all Italy.