Word: duces
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...private little matter. But long ago Dictator Benito Mussolini solemnly promised British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain that Italian soldiers would be withdrawn from Spain as soon as the war was over. When the last Loyalist citadel was captured, the British waited a discreet time, then reminded II Duce of his sworn word...
...thing, Benito Mussolini and Vittorio Emmanuele III differ about the future of the House of Savoy. II Duce is amused by his little King, but far from amused by Crown Prince Umberto, Italy's most stubborn antiFascist. The Fascist oath of allegiance, once addressed "to the King and his successors," has been shorn of the last three words. Crown Prince Umberto rarely appears at Fascist celebrations. His sympathizers like to say that he once challenged Benito Mussolini to a duel, still speaks to him like a Prince addressing his Premier...
...Italians, and thus to the "King's party," the alliance with Germany is plainly abhorrent. They dislike the fact that the German Gestapo operates in Italy. They long for the days when Italy followed Britain's lead in international affairs. They are but little impressed by II Duce's imperial ambitions. In a war they would try to keep Italy from becoming the ally of Germany...
While not politically of much power, the royal family nevertheless has strong adherents in the Army and Navy. Crown Prince Umberto is regarded as an Army man, faithfully appears at Army functions. No legislation of II Duce has been more unpopular than his anti-Jewish decrees, and in no place were they more unpopular than in the Navy...
...more cause of friction is personal dislike between the House of Savoy and the Ciano family. II Duce's favorite daughter, Countess Edda Ciano, does not even rate as a royal lady in waiting, is ignored by Queen Elena. Moreover, it was Count Galeazzo Ciano and the scheming Edda who were personally active in bringing Italy into the German alliance, and who have since been working for a social revolution in Italy along the lines of the Nazi one in Germany. Before Adolf Hitler came into power, Benito Mussolini was willing to let things in Italy go on pretty...