Okla-homey
3/23/2009, 07:35 AM
March 23, 1919: Mussolini founds the Fascist party
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7972/fascmussolini.gif
Ninety years ago today, Benito Mussolini, an Italian World War I veteran and publisher of Socialist newspapers, breaks with the Italian Socialists and establishes the nationalist Fasci di Combattimento, named after the Italian peasant revolutionaries, or "Fighting Bands," from the 19th century.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1486/fascmussolini.jpg
Mussolini and colleagues riding triumphantly through his capitol
Commonly known as the Fascist Party, Mussolini's new right-wing organization advocated Italian nationalism, had black shirts for uniforms, and launched a program of terrorism and intimidation against its leftist opponents.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/120/71385328.png
Fascism is a radical, authoritarian nationalist ideology that aims to create a single-party state with a government led by a dictator who seeks national unity and development by requiring individuals to subordinate self-interest to the collective interest of the nation or race. Fascists believe only the strong can survive by being healthy, vital, and have an aggressive warrior mentality by conquering, dominating, and eventually eliminating people deemed weak and degenerate.
In October 1922, Mussolini led the Fascists on a march on Rome, and King Emmanuel III, who had little faith in Italy's parliamentary government, asked Mussolini to form a new government. Initially, Mussolini, who was appointed prime minister at the head of a three-member Fascist cabinet, cooperated with the Italian parliament, but aided by his brutal police organization he soon became the effective dictator of Italy.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7301/fascistheadquarters1934.jpg
Fascist party headquarters in Rome in 1934. Most prominent of course is the dictator's face and repeated use of the Italian word for "yes".
In 1924, a Socialist backlash was suppressed, and in January 1925 a Fascist state was officially proclaimed, with Mussolini as Il Duce, or "The Leader."
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6100/fasc1941mercurydimereve.jpg
FWIW, American dimes from 1916 to 1945 had a figure of "Liberty" on one side, and a fasci on the other, the latter being a Roman symbol of strength through the union of states. The bundle of rods, with an axe in center, was stronger than an individual rod. This dime was retired in 1946 when the FDR dime replaced it following FDR's death in 1945.
Mussolini appealed to Italy's former Western allies for new treaties, but his brutal 1935 invasion of Ethiopia ended all hope of alliance with the Western democracies.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8972/fascmussolini1.jpg
In 1936, Mussolini joined Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in his support of Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, prompting the signing of a treaty of cooperation in foreign policy between Italy and Nazi Germany in 1937.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6294/fascdaviessm8101.jpg
Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 81 Pipistrello (nicknamed "Bat ") was an Italian bomber/transport aircraft of the Second World War developed from the Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 73 passenger airliner of the mid-1930s. Largely obsolescent with its three 700-horesepower Piaggio P.X RC.35 radial piston engines, it nevertheless was a large and handsome flying machine. Note the fascist insignia on the wings and fuselage.
Although Adolf Hitler's Nazi revolution was modeled after the rise of Mussolini and the Italian Fascist Party, Fascist Italy and Il Duce proved overwhelmingly the weaker partner in the Berlin-Rome Axis during World War II.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1296/fascbenitomussolinianda.jpg
Mussolini and his BFF Hitler
In July 1943, the failure of the Italian war effort and the imminent invasion of the Italian mainland by the Allies led to a rebellion within the Fascist Party. Two days after the fall of Palermo on July 24, the Fascist Grand Council rejected the policy dictated by Hitler through Mussolini, and on July 25 Il Duce was arrested.
Fascist Marshal Pietro Badoglio took over the reins of the Italian government, and in September Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. Eight days later, German commandos freed Mussolini from his prison in the Abruzzi Mountains, and he was later made the puppet leader of German-controlled northern Italy.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4199/fascmussoliniliberation.jpg
Mussolini preparing to board a German aircraft after being rescued from his enemies in Italy
With the collapse of Nazi Germany in April 1945, Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and on April 29 was executed by firing squad with his mistress, Clara Petacci, after a brief court-martial.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9246/fascmussolinihanging.jpg
Their bodies, brought to Milan, were hanged by the feet in a public square for all the world to see.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2623/insane7zo.jpg
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7972/fascmussolini.gif
Ninety years ago today, Benito Mussolini, an Italian World War I veteran and publisher of Socialist newspapers, breaks with the Italian Socialists and establishes the nationalist Fasci di Combattimento, named after the Italian peasant revolutionaries, or "Fighting Bands," from the 19th century.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1486/fascmussolini.jpg
Mussolini and colleagues riding triumphantly through his capitol
Commonly known as the Fascist Party, Mussolini's new right-wing organization advocated Italian nationalism, had black shirts for uniforms, and launched a program of terrorism and intimidation against its leftist opponents.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/120/71385328.png
Fascism is a radical, authoritarian nationalist ideology that aims to create a single-party state with a government led by a dictator who seeks national unity and development by requiring individuals to subordinate self-interest to the collective interest of the nation or race. Fascists believe only the strong can survive by being healthy, vital, and have an aggressive warrior mentality by conquering, dominating, and eventually eliminating people deemed weak and degenerate.
In October 1922, Mussolini led the Fascists on a march on Rome, and King Emmanuel III, who had little faith in Italy's parliamentary government, asked Mussolini to form a new government. Initially, Mussolini, who was appointed prime minister at the head of a three-member Fascist cabinet, cooperated with the Italian parliament, but aided by his brutal police organization he soon became the effective dictator of Italy.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7301/fascistheadquarters1934.jpg
Fascist party headquarters in Rome in 1934. Most prominent of course is the dictator's face and repeated use of the Italian word for "yes".
In 1924, a Socialist backlash was suppressed, and in January 1925 a Fascist state was officially proclaimed, with Mussolini as Il Duce, or "The Leader."
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6100/fasc1941mercurydimereve.jpg
FWIW, American dimes from 1916 to 1945 had a figure of "Liberty" on one side, and a fasci on the other, the latter being a Roman symbol of strength through the union of states. The bundle of rods, with an axe in center, was stronger than an individual rod. This dime was retired in 1946 when the FDR dime replaced it following FDR's death in 1945.
Mussolini appealed to Italy's former Western allies for new treaties, but his brutal 1935 invasion of Ethiopia ended all hope of alliance with the Western democracies.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8972/fascmussolini1.jpg
In 1936, Mussolini joined Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in his support of Francisco Franco's Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War, prompting the signing of a treaty of cooperation in foreign policy between Italy and Nazi Germany in 1937.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6294/fascdaviessm8101.jpg
Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 81 Pipistrello (nicknamed "Bat ") was an Italian bomber/transport aircraft of the Second World War developed from the Savoia-Marchetti S.M. 73 passenger airliner of the mid-1930s. Largely obsolescent with its three 700-horesepower Piaggio P.X RC.35 radial piston engines, it nevertheless was a large and handsome flying machine. Note the fascist insignia on the wings and fuselage.
Although Adolf Hitler's Nazi revolution was modeled after the rise of Mussolini and the Italian Fascist Party, Fascist Italy and Il Duce proved overwhelmingly the weaker partner in the Berlin-Rome Axis during World War II.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1296/fascbenitomussolinianda.jpg
Mussolini and his BFF Hitler
In July 1943, the failure of the Italian war effort and the imminent invasion of the Italian mainland by the Allies led to a rebellion within the Fascist Party. Two days after the fall of Palermo on July 24, the Fascist Grand Council rejected the policy dictated by Hitler through Mussolini, and on July 25 Il Duce was arrested.
Fascist Marshal Pietro Badoglio took over the reins of the Italian government, and in September Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. Eight days later, German commandos freed Mussolini from his prison in the Abruzzi Mountains, and he was later made the puppet leader of German-controlled northern Italy.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4199/fascmussoliniliberation.jpg
Mussolini preparing to board a German aircraft after being rescued from his enemies in Italy
With the collapse of Nazi Germany in April 1945, Mussolini was captured by Italian partisans and on April 29 was executed by firing squad with his mistress, Clara Petacci, after a brief court-martial.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9246/fascmussolinihanging.jpg
Their bodies, brought to Milan, were hanged by the feet in a public square for all the world to see.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/2623/insane7zo.jpg