The March on Rome:
Benito Mussolini surrounded by his Blackshirt allies during the March on Rome.
The same day that this picture was taken, Mussolini legally assumed power with the consent of King Victor Emanuel III. His official role in the new government was Prime Minister.
Three years later he named himself “Il Duce” (the leader), and held power as dictator until his demise during WWII.
October 28, 1922 - 89 years ago today.
An American soldier soldier standing at the altar of a bombed out Catholic church during WWII.
Acerno, Italy - September 23, 1943
This day in history:
Three months following the deposition of Benito Mussolini, Italy (run for a short time by Pietro Badoglio) declares war on Nazi Germany as a co-belligerent of the Allied forces.
October 13, 1943 - 68 years ago today
US Army Jeeps driving by Mount Vesuvius during an eruption.
Bay of Naples, Italy - March, 1944.
The Gran Sasso raid: After being deposed and arrested, Benito Mussolini was taken a ski resort in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. On the personal orders of Hitler, after reconnisance verified Mussolini’s location, German gliders under the order of Otto Skorzeny surrounded the complex and rescued Mussolini without firing a single shot. September 12, 1943 - 68 years ago today.
Hitler and Mussolini meeting for the first time.
Hitler was embarrassed about his appearance - he arrived to the meeting in civilian clothes, while Mussolini wore a full military uniform.
Venice, Italy - June 14, 1934.
General George S. Patton landing on the beaches of Sicily.
In July of 1943 a large scale Allied invasion of Sicily took place with the help of General Patton. Codenamed Operation Husky, after six weeks of fighting the Allied were able to push Axis troops back.
The foothold in Sicily led to an even greater invasion of Italy and eventual liberation from Fascist power.
The mission ended in success on August 17, 1943 - 68 years ago today.
As a sign of what was to come in the next few years, one of the first ever bombings on a civilian population took place in Guernica, Spain on April 26, 1937.
In order to help the Spanish Nationalist cause, planes from the Germany and Italy took part in the air raids. Casualty rates differ by source, but there were at least a few hundred deaths along with a large amount of damage to the town.
The bombing would inspire Pablo Picasso’s painting Guernica, painted as a gesture against war and as a way to bring attention to the events which transpired that day.
The headquarters of Benito Mussolini and the Italian Fascist party in Italy.
The imposing face on the front entrance is that of Benito Mussolini himself.
1934.
