ITALY

    Cards (20)

    • The Catholic Church referred to Mussolini as a man sent by a province
    • Mussolini was made Italy's new god
    • Italians would go to pilgrimages to Duce's birthplace in Predappio
    • The cult of Mussolini
      • Emphasised his infallibility (that he could never fail or be wrong)
      • Used the glorification of Mussolini to unite the whole nation
      • Portrayed him as the saviour of Italy
    • Mussolini was referred to as 'magnificent', 'sublime' and 'Divine Duce'
    • Stories were published that claimed he worked up to 20 hours a day on government business
    • They would never mention his age or that he had to wear glasses
    • Mussolini was portrayed as a war hero, who despite 40 wounds did not need anaesthetics when operated upon
    • Propaganda portrayals of Mussolini
      • Strong
      • Physically fit
      • Intelligent
      • Charismatic
      • Sexy
      • Dynamic
      • Family man
    • The PNF was never really popular BUT Mussolini was INCREDIBLY popular amongst Italian people
    • Mussolini was seen as above the party and state
    • The success of the Cult of Il Duce is demonstrated by the support and admiration from prominent liberal politicians outside of Italy
    • Lord Curzon: 'Mussolini is "a man of marvellous energy and iron fist"'
    • Winston Churchill: 'Mussolini is "the greatest living legislator" and noted that the fascist regime had become a guiding center for anti-socialist efforts'
    • Sigmund Freud: 'Dedicated one of his books to Mussolini, hailing him as the "hero of Culture"'
    • The cult of Il Duce was EXTREMELY powerful in winning the support of the Italian people who saw him as a GOD
    • Mussolini's image was more popular than fascism itself which perhaps shows the Italian regime as Mussolinism
    • Mussolini himself believed in this cult which would explain his aggressive approach to FP
    • Mussolini slept 9 hours a day which made his 20 hour working day implausible
    • Mussolini suffered from mental paralysis and had a gastric ulcer that made him bed bound frequently
    See similar decks