The Italian people were duped and realized too late they had a tyrant in Mussolini.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Italy_during_World_War_II
Mussolini was well aware of the military and material deficiencies but thought the war would be over soon and did not expect to do much fighting. This led to confusion amongst ordinary Italians and soldiers who had little idea of what they were fighting for and, hence, had little conviction and saw little justification for it.
*The Italian people were duped and realized too late they had a tyrant in Mussolini.*
Half of the Western world was duped. Read the media of the day and the so-called “intellectuals” at the time and be amazed at their outpouring of affection for Il Duce early on.