In 1938 , at the outbreak of World War II , which had a larger population , the Western Allies ( United Kingdom , France , Poland and British Dominions ) or the European Axis ( Germany and Italy )
By 1943 , after Italy faced multiple military failures , the complete reliance and subordination of Italy to Germany , the Allied invasion of Italy , and the corresponding international humiliation , Mussolini was removed as head of government and arrested on the order of King Victor Emmanuel III who proceeded to dismantle the Fascist state and declared Italy 's switching of allegiance to the Allied side .