Mussolini's views on antisemitism and race Benito Mussolini

mussolini adolf hitler in berlin, 1937

although mussolini had disregarded biological racism, firm believer in national traits , made several generalizations jews. nevertheless, mussolini considered italian jews italians. mussolini s antisemitic remarks in late 1910s , 1920s more suited moment rather sincere belief in them. mussolini blamed russian revolution of 1917 on jewish vengeance against christianity remark race not betray race . . . bolshevism being defended international plutocracy. real truth. yet within few weeks did u-turn remark bolshevism not, people believe, jewish phenomenon. truth bolshevism leading utter ruin of jews of eastern europe.

in 1920s, mussolini stated fascism never raise jewish question , in article wrote stated italy knows no antisemitism , believe never know it. , elaborated let hope italian jews continue sensible enough not give rise antisemitism in country has never existed. in 1932, mussolini during conversation emil ludwig described antisemitism german vice , stated there no jewish question in italy , not 1 in country healthy system of government. on several occasions, mussolini spoke positively jews , zionist movement, although fascism remained suspicious of zionism after fascist party gained power. until 1938 mussolini had denied antisemitism within fascist party.

the relationship between mussolini , adolf hitler contentious 1 on. while hitler cited mussolini influence , privately expressed great admiration him, mussolini had little regard hitler, after nazis had assassinated friend , ally, engelbert dollfuss, austrofascist dictator of austria in 1934.

with assassination of dollfuss, mussolini attempted distance himself hitler rejecting of racialism (particularly nordicism , germanicism) , antisemitism espoused german radical. mussolini during period rejected biological racism, @ least in nazi sense, , instead emphasized italianizing parts of italian empire had desired build. declared ideas of eugenics , racially charged concept of aryan nation not possible. mussolini dismissed idea of master race arrant nonsense, stupid , idiotic.

when discussing nazi decree german people must carry passport either aryan or jewish racial affiliation marked on it, in 1934, mussolini wondered how designate membership in germanic race :

but race? there exist german race? has ever existed? ever exist? reality, myth, or hoax of theorists?

ah well, respond, germanic race not exist. various movements. curiosity. stupor. repeat. not exist. don t so. scientists so. hitler says so.

when german-jewish journalist emil ludwig asked views on race in 1933, mussolini exclaimed:

race! feeling, not reality: ninety-five percent, @ least, feeling. nothing ever make me believe biologically pure races can shown exist today. amusingly enough, not 1 of have proclaimed nobility of teutonic race himself teuton. gobineau frenchman, (houston stewart) chamberlain, englishman; woltmann, jew; lapouge, frenchman.

in speech given in bari in 1934, reiterated attitude towards german ideology of master race:

thirty centuries of history allow supreme pity on doctrines preached beyond alps descendants of illiterate when rome had caesar, virgil , augustus.

though italian fascism varied official positions on race 1920s 1934, ideologically italian fascism did not discriminate against italian-jewish community: mussolini recognised small contingent had lived there since days of kings of rome , should remain undisturbed . there jews in national fascist party, such ettore ovazza, in 1935 founded jewish fascist paper la nostra bandiera ( our flag ).

front page of italian newspaper corriere della sera on 11 november 1938: fascist regime has approved racial laws.

by mid-1938, enormous influence hitler had on mussolini became clear introduction of manifesto of race. manifesto, closely modeled on nazi nuremberg laws, stripped jews of italian citizenship , position in government or professions. racial laws declared italians part of aryan race , forbid sexual relations , marriages between italians , considered of inferior race , chiefly jews , africans. jews not permitted own or manage companies involved in military production, or factories employed on 1 hundred people or exceeded value. not own land on value, serve in armed forces, employ non-jewish domestics, or belong fascist party. employment in banks, insurance companies, , public schools forbidden.

even after introduction of racial laws, mussolini continued make contradictory statements race. many high government officials told jewish representatives antisemitism in fascist italy over. antisemitism unpopular within fascist party; once when fascist scholar protested mussolini treatment of jewish friends, mussolini reported have said agree entirely. don t believe bit in stupid anti-semitic theory. carrying out policy entirely political reasons. hitler felt disappointed mussolini s lack of antisemitism.

mussolini , italian army in occupied regions openly opposed german efforts deport italian jews nazi concentration camps. italy s refusal comply german demands of jewish persecution influenced other countries.

in september 1943 semi-autonomous militarized squads of fascist fanatics sprouted throughout republic of salò. these squads spread terror among jews , anti-fascists year , half. in power vacuum existed during first 3 or 4 months of occupation, semi-autonomous bands virtually uncontrollable. many linked individual high-ranking fascist politicians. italian fascists, government employees more fanatic civilians or paramilitary volunteers, hastened curry favor nazis. informers betrayed neighbors, squadristi seized jews , delivered them german ss, , italian journalists seemed compete in virulence of anti-semitic diatribes.

it has been speculated mussolini adopted manifesto of race in 1938 merely tactical reasons, strengthen italy s relations germany. mussolini , italian military did not consistently apply laws adopted in manifesto of race. in december 1943, mussolini made confession journalist/politician bruno spampanato seems indicate regretted manifesto of race:

the racial manifesto have been avoided. dealt scientific abstruseness of few teachers , journalists, conscientious german essay translated bad italian. far have said, written , signed on subject. suggest consult old issues of il popolo d italia. reason far accepting (alfred) rosenberg s myth.

mussolini reached out muslims in empire , in predominantly arab countries of middle east. in 1937, muslims of libya presented mussolini sword of islam while fascist propaganda pronounced him protector of islam.