Biographical review of Benito Mussolini-
(1) M created museum for Fascist Civilization to mark 20th anniversary March on Rome 1942.His supreme Glorious Excellence- Supreme genius who has prevailed all over the world.
(2) Like most dictators, M fostered the idea that he was a man of the people accessible to all. M spent more than half of his time curating his own image. He was ultimate master of propaganda, at once an actor, stage manager, orator and brilliant self-publicist.
(3) M realised that the political power he failed to obtain through free elections could be seized through brute force. M realised that pomp લોકોને આંજી નાંખવા ભભકા ને દેખાવો and pageantary ખાલીઠાઠમાઠ appealed far more to the crowd than incendiary editorials.
(4) Fascism as an ideology remained vague, but M now realized the shape it would take ; he would be the leader ,the one sent be destiny to revive the fortunes of his nation. Started working as an actor—head tilted back, chin pushed forward hands on lips. Fascist squads protected by local authorities, roamed the streets beating up their opponents and assaulting hundreds of trade unions head quarters and socialists party centres. M turned fascism into a party devoted to the destruction of socialism. M wrote Italy needed a dictator to save it from a communist uprising.--- threatened to send 3,00,000 blackshirts strom toopers in Rome . it was a bluff. Only 30000 black shirts were ready. But he bluff worked. He was invited to become the Prime Minister of Italy. Controlled GOVT- first thing he did—Destruction of printing machine of opposition news paper- only fascist version must prevailed—
(5) In privte M was courteous & perfectly chraming. Always instinctive distrust for strangers.. He was very sensitive to the emergence of any possible rival and he viewed all men with a peasant's suspicion.—the New Garibaldi in Black shirts.
(6) M was very keen to bring population under his spell with whirlwind tours around countries even without prior announcements.—using secret funds to promote fascism in the press..to eliminate regime of enemies..3 Jan-1925- decided to pursue a path of exclusive fascist rule..
" if fascism has been a criminal association, then I am the chief of that criminal association." ---- followed a campaign of intimidation at every level, as civil liberties were crushed. Within days the police with the help of fascist militia, searched hundreds of homes and arrested members of opposition.
(7) The press was muzzled.મોઢે તાળું મારી દેવું...to power to close down any publication without warning. Most of the Jounalists who were critical & against M were persecuted તેમના પર જુલ્મ ગુજારવો––The state propaganda was broadcast to all--- orders given to police to immediate seizuere writings –page-8…… Freedom association was suspended even for small groups of three or four persons. As M proclaimed " All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing without the state."p-8.
(8) M invested full executive powers on Christmas Eve 1925 without any intervention of the parliament. The foreign journalist remarks- " M was like a jailor with all the keys hanging at his belt & revolver in his hand , pacing unquestioned up & down Itlay , as in the quiet and sullen ઉદાસ, ખીન્ન્– corridors of a vast prison." M liked to divide & rule, making sure that party officials & the state bureaucracy over saw each other leaving the substance of power to himself. M announced that every party member should go on a religious pilgrimage to birth place of M ( PREDAPPIO) & take oath of power of M almost as divine..p –9.Duce was the one leader,the only leader, from whom all power flows.
(9) A year later, in a preface toa text book on the origins & development of fascism, he equated the revolution with M & M with the nation. When the entire nation walks on the road to fascism, its face, its spirit, its faith become one with the DUCE.
(10)M among public he showed disregards for personality cult but actually he was the architect of it. He was the master of the art of projecting his own image.- M considered himself as the greatest actor of Italy. M did not want anyone over shadow him. M projected as the demi god of Italy. Name of the News paper- " The people of Italy- personal paper of M- The first page of it are written by M daily.—for creating personality cult of M- pictures of M as racing cars, toying with lions cubs, addressing people, playing a violin, swimmers, horse ridings,etc… A French Journalist remarked—Wherever u look, wherever u go, u will find M. again M always M. He was on portraits, on medals, even on Bar soaps, M's name was adorned on Newspaper, books, walls & fences. M is omnipresent, like a god, M observes u & all from every angle and u see him in every spot.
(11)Life of Benito M published in English in 1925 – 17 edition & 18 translations followed. What is mentioned in a book… A very naughty & troublesome boy. He dominated others before he even walked… under the sway of his magnetism & force of his personality. 1939 again M's biography published. Distributed free in schools, read in class. A tireless worker devouted to his people… ' When one speaks of fascism, one speaks of M. Fascism is his cause, he has created it, he has infused it, with his spirit and given it life. કેટલાક સ્કુલના બાળકોએ કેટલાક શરૂઆતના ફકરા મોઢેં ગોખિ નંખ્યા હતા....I believe in supreme M—the creator of the Black Shirts… and Jesus.. Christ—on the walls of school—" From Mussolini to the children of Italy.. on note book cover portrait of M.—p—12.
(12) The nation was told he never slept.. working on behalf of his country in early hours of the morning; so he left light on in his office.. He has prepared a window in his office to address people directly from his window. He can see the people from his window then speak. He invited international audience to built his image at the world level. But foreign journalists who were critical of M were received no further invitations…p-13.
(13)Foreign great dignitaries views about M.--- They had met a prophet. A mere smile was often enough to disarm an apprehensive visitor. M. K. Gandhi met m twice. See what MKG spoke for M. " one of the greatest statesman of the time." W Churchill in 1933- " The roman genius as the greatest law-giver among living men. USA Thomas Edison – " the greatest genius of modern times."
(14)M was always surrounded by mediocre followers & but also M frequently replaced them. M wanted an obedient cretin બુધ્ધીહીન મુર્ખ માણસ. P—13.
(15)About M Party—To subordinate the party for M 's will & desire..eliminate those not to toe the M lines..then increasing party membership.. increased from 8 25000in 1931 to 20, 00000 in 1936. New recruits more opportunists rather than interested in tenets of fascism.. his party depoliticized. Fascism has killed anti- fascism and fascism. M spoke " The strength of fascism lies in the lack of fascists... Loyalty to the leader rather than belief in fascism became paramount. It was expected of everyone, within or outside the fascist party.
(16) M relied on institution. Instinct & pure willpower rather than on mere intellect.--- M did not believe in dogmatic programme. In his own carrier, M had not hesitated to change course when circumstances required it. He was unable to develop a political philosophy. M unwilling to be hemmed by any principle, moral, ideological or otherwise. M summed up his whole creed by ' Action, action, action.
(17)Politics became the mass celebration of an individual. M is always right. Was the regime motto. M was not only sent by Providence but the very incarnation of providence. Blind obedience was now expected of every Italian. The words " Believe, obey and fight were painted in long Black Letters on buildings stencillied on walls, embolazoned across the Nation…P-15.
(18) A hail the Duce…with Roman salute.. Right arm outstretched replaced by handshake. The entire population put into uniform. Infants putting photograph on their black shirts… Children wore black uniform every Saturday- declared Fascist Saturday.in 1935. A oy rifle in their shoulders.
(19)From 1933 to 1943 $ 20 million was spent promoting the regime & its leader in newspapers across the nation.—p-15 paid subsidies to local weekly, monthlies as well as foreign news agencies… Secret funds paid to artists , scholars(!) & writers.. " God & history are two termsthat are identified with M. 40,000 free radios installed in schools. 8 00,000 with subsidies for people's radiowith loudspeakers on street squares.. ચારલેનવાળો સરસ રસ્તો પોતાના રાજમહેલ સામેનો શહેરનિ વચ્ચેનો રસ્તો મેદાન તરીકે તૈયાર કરાવડાયો.. બાલ્કનીમાંથી મુસોલીનીની સ્પીચ સાંખળવા માટે..Policy going to people.. Arranged Chartered Buses…. THEY SET TONE OF CHANTING, CHEERING,& APPLOADING AT COMMAND.. Ordinary citizens received a pink card delivered by morning mail ordering them to attend the occasion.. Failure to comply could bring a fine or a prison sentence.. Police mingled in the crowd to ensure that everyone behaved to the nations of the world.. Entire medieval neighbourhood in the old capital were to be pulled down to make a place for modern fascist building worthy of a new imperial centre. M wanted to be remembered as the greatest destroyer, the one who rebuilt Rome. 15 churches & 100 of structures were flattened in various parts of the city… The fascist party head quarter was built p—20
(20) The horrors of the war were concealed from the public at home, by an obedient press, which held M for bringing Libya into the fold of civilization after centuries of barbarism..
(21) M began preparing for war in 1931, telling his generals to be ready by 1935. The levers of government were now entirely in his hands. M convinced himself that he was the man of destiny, a Napoleon & Caesar into one. M is Always right. The sycophants around him encouraged his delusions.—27 millions people took part in the largest staged managed event in human history. Between 1935 to 1938 at least a quarter million people perished in Ethiopia as the result of war. The atrocities were carefully hidden from the public..When M proclaimed the annexation of Ethiopia from his balcony on 9th May, the crowd was delirious. He was enjoying unqualified admiration and support of the whole Italian Nation. It was the last day of his glory.as his star began to wane.
(22)M relations with on the France & Britain worsened. But his army was ill prepared & poorly equipped. M boasted to Hitler that he had 150 divisions by reserves of 12 millions soldiers. But in reality had only 10 divisions with outdated war equipments…. On10 June 1940 M declared war Allied powers.
(23)About psycophants—They lied to M. much he lied to them.. But most of all M lied to himself… a slave to his own myth..M trusted no one.. having no true friends.. no reliable companion to whom M could speak frankly. As the years passed M isolated himself from others. Becoming virtual prisioner.
(24) M did not know how many of his aircraft were obsolete.. no military budget—no proper planning of the staff..The cult of personality demanded loyalty to the leader rather than faith in a particular political programme.
(25)were required to appear periodically at the public square & applaud M. Blame to party but not to the leader.. King can never be wrong..The cult was also tinged with superstition and magic..faith in a providential figure..Italian people were under constant police surveillance..12000 agents in civilians cloths only in Italy…Italy became the nations of prisoners in M's time..Now letter of M stand for misery of the people…Greece's battle became costly affairs.. half of Italy's battle fleet destroyed by Britain.. People of Italy started hearing Radio BBC instead of that of Italy.. hitler man treated counter part of Italy as slaves…Wherever M send his army was defeated.. by July1942 M was a broken man.. wracked by illness..isolated.. disillusioned by the waning of his star.. his mouth revealing a sense of bitternss..
(26) On 2 December 1942 he seemed to have lost his grip on Italian people..On 19 th July1943 Allied planes targeted the capital of Italy ROME first time..For months people accused M for having brought ruin & misery to the country.. M had betrayed Italy. M was criminal, murderer, a bloodthirsty tyrant. People openly wished for his demise…On 25th July 1943 M was placed under arrest…Not a single party member rebelled..In different parts of Italy angry crowds invaded local fascist head quarters on the very day of arrest, flinging effigies, busts, & portraits of the over thrown dictator out of the windows…
(27)He was captured by anti- fascist partisans. He was shot with his wife. Their bodies piled into a van & taken to Milan..
