Benito Mussolini Quotes
Fascism, in so far as it considers and observes the future and the development of humanity quite apart from political considerations of the moment, believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. It thus repudiates the doctrine of Pacifism - born of a renunciation of struggle and an act of cowardice in the face of sacrifice. War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the people who have the courage to meet it.
Mussolini, Benito. The Doctrine of Fascism. Translated by Jane Soames, Hogarth Press, 1933, p. 11.
Many notables of the left and the right supported Mussolini in his early political days. Virtually all of the worst dictators were welcomed by many when they first appeared on the scene. Human nature seems to have us all looking for exceptional leaders and statesmen and that is exactly what the dictator relies upon to acquire power, By the time most recognize the truth, the dictator has control of all the levers of compulsion. Many Americans were fooled just as the Europeans were. For others, see {623202}. {623200} and {623201}.
Leese was imprisoned several times for various crimes including helping members of the Nazi Waffen SS escape at the end of WWII. He had been a veterinarian in the British Army Camel Corps and an expert on camel health. As a lover of animals he was one of the early animal rights extremists and became a virulent anti-Semite because of his antipathy to the Kosher ritual slaughter of food animals.
This was the origin of the ultra right wing British Fascistic.
Fascists were variously described as “brown shirts” or “black shirts” at the time.
American Communist Party Newspaper. The communists were so supportive of the war effort that they were often unconditional defenders of the Roosevelt Administration’s war program. Most communists suspended their advocacy of labor strikes and Black enfranchisement during the war because it would ultimately lead to the weakening of the Allied efforts against the Nazis. Programs such as the “March on Washington Movement” were seen as untimely and therefore subversive and fascist. For more communist criticism of attempts during this period to further civil rights see {603312}
Greece was bitterly divided between left and right. Morrow and others were very critical of policies, practices and corruption of both sides much to the chagrin of our State Department which was siding with the right out of fear of communism.
The “Blue Shirts” were so called because of the color of the shirts that the young fascist thugs of the Nationalists wore in China—a color later adopted by the communists for dress. European Fascists tended to have young thug “enforcement” type battalions which were named for the color of their shirts: “Brown Shirts” in Germany, “Black Shirts” of the Fascist movement in England. Ironically, the Red Scare after WWII, convinced American leaders to support Chiang (who called himself and his party the “nationalists”) who was a deep admirer of fascism himself. Chiang’s version of Fascism which combined European type Fascism with traditional Asian warlordism and corruption alienated the majority of the Chinese peasants. America was forced to choose between Chiang led corrupt Nationalist fascists, and Mao led communists. We chose Chiang, but Mau and the Communists won. Chiang’s forces then seized Taiwan and this was the only part of China that did not go communist. After Chiang’s death, the island mini-nation became less fascist and more democratic, and by the 1990’s became a full-fledged democracy.
Virtually all of the worst dictators were welcomed by many when they first appeared on the scene. Human nature seems to have us all looking for exceptional leaders and statesmen and that is exactly what the dictator relies upon to acquire power, By the time most recognize the truth, the dictator has control of all the levers of compulsion. Many Americans were fooled just as the Europeans were. For others, see {623198}, {623202} and {623201}.
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the Fascist coup d'état in 1922 until his deposition in 1943, and Duce ("Leader") of Italian Fascism from the establishment of the Italian Fasces of Combat in 1919 until his execution in 1945 during the Italian Civil War. As dictator of Italy and founder of the fascist movement, Mussolini inspired other far right rulers such as Adolf Hitler, Francisco Franco, and António de Oliveira Salazar.