How did they justify killing millions of people? Didn't anyone feel that something is wrong?

I am interested in the early years of his dictatorship, ranging from 1922-1930, and contrasting that against the preceding Italian Republic. A few key interests of mine are:

• How totalitarian was the state? Were people capable of relaxing in the privacy of their own home, or were they constantly watched?
• What changes to the economy occurred? Were poor Italians pushed further into poverty as Mussolini directed more power into the hands of the elite?
• What was the common view of Mussolini? Was he seen as tyrannical, or did he see general support from the population?
• How did media outlets change? Were they placed completely within government control for the purposes of propaganda broadcasting, or were they allowed leniency on what they published?
• Did Italy, and its colonies, see any benefits come about from the early stages of Mussolini's rule?

I'm aware that these areas would take a large amount of words to answer, but I'd be happy if even just one, or a select few, were given answers.

I have come across the journey extracts of my paternal ancestor dating from 1819 to 1844.

In it he describes being in the 4th battalion royal artillery on board the Manchester of London when it was shipwrecked off the coast of Portugal on its return home in 1827. He describes the conflict as the war of succession.

The description of Portuguese towns and marching distances give the text some credibility. As do the later entries which i have verified through local (new zealand) records.

However, i am struggling to find a ship of this name. Also, unless mistaken, i thought the spanish war of succession was well over by 1827.

His notes say he was otherwise garrisoned at woolwich, england.

Are their any u.k military experts who can verify the likelihood of this journal entry?

I'm reading the Last Kingdom historical fiction on 8th century Britain and the Viking invasions, etc. From what I understand in times of war the nobleman of a shire/village would be expected to raise his own host of peasant soldiers either for defense or to join a royal expedition. These low quality troops were simple farmers who would be expected to provision and arm themselves (ie no armor, farming implements like pitchforks and scythes as weapons). Only the nobility's personal professional troops (thegns?) would have the benefit of real armor and weapons. I can only imagine how vulnerable one might feel wielding a crappy home-made weapon against an opponent with chain mail and an iron sword.

might be kind of an insane question, i just wonder if these peasant soldiers would be allowed to appropriate the armaments of any felled opponents, or would this be presumed property of their lord and be punishable as theft?

During the Second World War what was the last decisive victory won by Germany, the last one won by Italy and the last one won by Japan? I'm mainly talking about battles fought against the Western Allies but the Soviets count too.

Posted to /r/AskReddit as well to maximise possible answers. I love to hear people's opinions on this kind of thing!

Why?

Knowing their usage was limited to US forces, how often were troops equipped with one, or had one for use in their trenches?

I am doing research on investigating whether the increase in wealth during Rome's mediterranean expansion (218-167 BC) changed Roman politics and society. Harris' book has been a very helpful insight (Chapters II and III mainly) outlining his reasons for why he believes economic motive was a factor in the expansion.

I am not really looking at the argument of whether the expansion was motivated by wealth or not as I am focussing on the changes to politics/society, but I do believe that gathering information on a different viewpoint than the one proposed by Harris would be beneficial given that economic motive is a factor in the political change. Trying to find something that has provided a different viewpoint has been difficult.

In terms of books/articles I am looking for something written after Harris' book, I've already made a note of the ones within his bibliography. Any help would be appreciated!

Gladiators always look bulky in Tv shows and films, and they always appear eating small porridge rations, was this their real diet?

The passage that brought about this question is Tacitus' Annales 13.35 in which it describes how soldiers had never been on been on guard duty or had seen fortifications before.

Other than your expected guarding the frontier duties, what were the duties of soldiers at the frontier? Did they act as police, escorts?

In the Caucasus region between late October and early November what were German soldiers wearing, and was the village of Gizel evacuated before the Germans finally arrived to it. Also can I get tank variants and German plane variants as well as divisons that partook in the offensive in Gizel. I know the 13th and 23rd Panzer division participated. And what Soviet vehicles/ tanks/ divisions were defending the village?