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.