Mussolini

Our first honorary "Asshole of History" is none other than Benito Mussolini. He brought shame, ruin, and destruction upon the illustrious nation of Italia before and during WWII.

Pals with fellow dictators Hitler and Franco, Mussolini served as Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 until 1943. After allying his country with Nazi Germany and weathering a series of military disasters, he was finally kicked out of office by his own government. Italy quickly switched sides and joined the Allies. Hitler put Mussolini under protective custody and encouraged him to start a tiny fascist regime in northern Italy. Which he did.

The discredited dictator attempted to flee the country in 1945, unwisely choosing a German uniform as a disguise. Mussolini was captured by partisan forces and summarily executed. His unfortunate remains were the subject of repeated body-snatchings.

Mussolini's rather attractive granddaughter Alessandra is currently a neo-fascist member of the European Parliament.