ITALY: A Place near the Sun

The Germans set the stage with care. For a week they plugged the new “Republican Fascism.” Then, when Joe Goebbels’ men judged the temper right, they played a muffled recording of the Duce’s voice, followed by the crashing notes of Giovinezza and brisk translations in all important languages. Said Mussolini in his supervised 15-minute comeback:

“Blackshirts! Italians! . . . . I am sure you will recognize the voice that called often to you in . . . the most beautiful days of the Fatherland. . . . I needed some time before again appearing in public. . . . It had never been heard of that a man who had served his King absolutely loyally for more than 20 years was arrested on the steps of the King’s private house, forced to enter a Red Cross car . . . and taken from one barracks to another at great speed. . . .

“I was taken from Rome to Ponza . . . to the island of Maddalena . . . to the Gran Sasso [in the Apennines 75 miles northeast of Rome] according to a plan which provided for my being handed over to the enemy.

“Although cut off from the world, I had a sure feeling that the Fuhrer would look after my person as a brother. . . . The word loyalty . . . reflects the spiritual world of the Germans. I was convinced I should experience it. . . . It was about 2 p.m. when I saw the first parachutist coming down, followed by others who were resolved to break any resistance. My guards realized that and did not fire. . . . The liberation . . . will live in history—will in the future become legendary.” The flat, weary voice climbed to the old balcony swagger as it recounted the rescue. Then it fell again:

“It was not Fascism that betrayed the monarchy. It was the monarchy that betrayed Fascism. . . . Take up arms again. . . . Eliminate the traitors. . . . Give Italy a place near the sun. Long live the new Fascist Republican party.”

As the sub-Duce’s old voice croaked the last words. German soldiers controlled the Vatican and German officers conducted such government as there was from Rome to the Brenner.