The Fall of Mussolini : Italy, the Italians, and the Second World War

At the end of World War II, Italy's newly formed parliamentary government began spreading what historian Philip Morgan calls "the unifying myth." The Italy that appeared in their version of events is almost entirely anti-Fascist, with the heroes of the resistance movement fighting to rid their country first of Mussolini, then of their German occupiers. In truth, the situation surrounding Mussolini's removal from power, return to power, and eventual execution was far more complicated. This book presents an accurate history of Italy during the war years, rather than what Italians imagine or want their actions to have been. Mussolini threw Italy into war so that it could share in the spoils of what he was certain would be a German victory. By 1943, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians dead, most of Italy wanted out. Over the course of a few months, King Emanuel II had Mussolini ousted from power and signed a treaty with the Allies, sending thousands of British and American forces into Italy from the south while thousands of German troops invaded her northern border. Germany succeeded in taking over northern Italy and putting Mussolini back in place, this time as a puppet of the Nazis. The resulting chaos included fighting by anti-fascist rebel groups, retributions on all sides, and mini civil wars throughout the country. When Germany finally surrendered, Italy was in complete disarray. Morgan focuses on how common people responded to and coped with the extraordinary pressures of wartime living, and the invasion, occupation, and division of their country by warring foreign powers. His descriptions of little known events from Italy's war, as well as vivid eye-witness reports from people who hid Jews, fought in the resistance, and killed collaborators, clearly shows how much the country suffered during this time. And it proves how crucial the experience of this period was in shaping Italy's post-war sense of nationhood and transition to democracy. In this powerful history, Philip Morgan tells the dramatic story of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, illuminating both the causes and the consequences of this momentous event. Morgan recounts how King Emanuel first ousted Mussolini and how Germany then succeeded in putting him back in place, this time as a puppet of the Nazis. The resulting chaos included fighting by anti-fascist rebel groups, retributions on all sides, and mini civil wars throughout the country. When Germany finally surrendered, Italy was in complete disarray. The book shines light on how common people responded to and coped with the extraordinary pressures of wartime living and with the invasion, occupation, and division of their country by warring foreign powers. Morgan's descriptions of little known events from Italy's war, as well as vivid eye-witness reports from people who hid Jews, fought in the resistance, and killed collaborators, clearly show how much the country suffered during this time. And it proves how crucial the experience of this period was in shaping Italy's post-war sense of nationhood and its transition to democracy. The book also debunks the myths that arose after the war, which depicted the nation as almost entirely anti-Fascist, with the heroes of the resistance movement fighting to rid their country first of Mussolini, then of their German occupiers. In truth, the situation surrounding Mussolini's removal from power, return to power, and eventual execution was far more complicated. This book presents an accurate history of Italy during the war years, rather than what Italians imagine or want their actions to have been. "A clear and sensitive account of a forgotten conflict. Takes readers well past the jokes and romance which demean most other interpretations of Fascist Italy's war." --Richard Bosworth, author of Mussolini Preface......Page 8 Contents......Page 12 List of Illustrations......Page 14 List of Maps......Page 15 Abbreviations......Page 16 Introduction: Remembering the Second World War in Italy......Page 20 1. The First Fall of Mussolini, July 1943......Page 30 2. Fascist Italy at War, 1940–1943: Propaganda and Reality......Page 53 3. Fascist Italy at War, 1940–1943: Collapse of the Home Front......Page 91 4. The Forty-Five Days, July to September 1943......Page 104 5. The Armistice, September 1943......Page 112 6. The Invasion and Occupation of Italy, and the Kingdom of the South, 1943–1945......Page 146 7. The Other Two Italies, and their Three Wars, 1943–1945......Page 183 8. Continuing the Wars, and the Second Fall of Mussolini, April 1945......Page 218 Conclusion: Italy’s War......Page 246 Notes......Page 255 Select Bibliography......Page 265 Acknowledgements......Page 273 B......Page 274 D......Page 275 G......Page 276 L......Page 277 N......Page 278 P......Page 279 S......Page 280 W......Page 281 Z......Page 282 The dramatic story of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, illuminating both the causes and the consequences of this momentous event. Morgan shows how Italians of all classes coped with the extraordinary pressures of wartime living, both on the military and home fronts, and how their experience of the country at war eventually distanced them from the dictator and his fascist regime. Looking beyond Mussolini's initial fall from power, Morgan examines how the Italian people responded to the invasion, occupation, and division of their country by Nazi German and Anglo-American forces - and how crucial the experience of this period was in shaping Italy's post-war sense of nationhood and transition to democracy. A fascinating reconstruction and re-evaluation of the causes and consequences of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, covering everything from high politics to the everyday experiences of ordinary Italians as war continued to ravage their country. - ;The dramatic story of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, illuminating both the causes and the consequences of this momentous event. Morgan shows how Italians of all classes coped with the extraordinary pressures of wartime living, both on the military and home fronts, and how their experience of the country at war eventually distanced Introduction : remembering the Second World War in Italy The first fall of Mussolini, July 1943 Facist Italy at war, 1940-1943 : propaganda and reality Fascist Italy at war, 1940-1943 : collapse of the home front The forty five days, July to September 1943 The Armistice, September 1943 The invasion and occupation of Italy, and the Kingdom of the South, 1943-1945 The other two Italies, and their three wars, 1943-1945 Continuing the wars and the second fall of Mussolini, April 1945 Conclusion : Italy's war. Reconstructing and re-evaluating the causes and consequences of Mussolini's fall from power in July 1943, this volume covers everything from high politics to the everyday experiences of ordinary Italians as war continued to ravage their country Philip Morgan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [236]-252) And Index.