What Life Was Like In Fascist Italy

The period between WWI and WWII brought about major political changes in Italy, and yet it's fairly uncommon to discuss what actually went on in Benito Mussolini's fascist state during those years. Mussolini implemented policies and reforms that led to a wave of censorship, nationalist propaganda, and widespread militarism, making daily life under Mussolini a tenuous existence.

#BenitoMussolini #WWII #WeirdHistory

[jalight]

"His passing in 1945." That's an awfully nice way to say it.

[Megadethfan]

My grandma mantained till her death 5 years ago that Mussolini was the Best leader italy ever had, my dad was a communist supporter so fights at home were wild 😂

[robertrosano]

My father was in the Italian navy during Mussolinis reign and he loved him because my grandmother didn’t have to pay the mafia anymore for so called “protection” for running a food business. Mussolini ran the mafia out of the country during his reign and my dad hated the mafia but then when Mussolini lost power and was killed the mob resurfaced and my dad was forced to come to this country.

[pizzimontana]

I have never understood why my grandfather, until is death (4 years ago) has always defended Mussolini, even though he soffered war, starvation, he lost some of his friends, part of the family and so on...He always said "the big Mussolini's mistake was to join Hitler, Mussolini was a great leader and Italy lived a great economic boom and welfare under his governement". My grandfather was a great worker, honest and loyal to duty...This always sounded strange to me, but then I noticed also the vaste majority of my friends' grandfathers were of the same opinion. By hearing their stories I wouldn't say it was only propaganda, I believe they were happy and for the first time after the unification of the country (1861) people felt Italy united and strong, they had nice jobs and purchasing power. It is no coincidence that this political model (fascism) was widely emulated in Europe...It probably worked well at the time.

[Courier_Jackalope]

My grandfather was born in NYC, but moved to Italy when he was a little boy. The Italian government tried to force him into the army but due to my grandfather being an American citizen, he was able to flee the country and return to the United States leaving behind his family.
He ended up being drafted into the US army for the Italian front just a few years later and at first worked with pigeons before being made an interrogation officer when they realized he was educated and spoke three languages fluently. Funnily enough, he ended up having to have to question his old school principal who used to beat the hell out him and lock him in closets. He didn't kill him, but made his stay hell.

[eddienash]

Life in imperial Japan could be cool to cover. So many great films have portrayed it well, but there’s always more to the story IMO

[federicobosa]

To be honest this video is full of details that, as an Italian, I don't see that often on videos about Italy during WW2. People tend to forget what kind of dictator Mussolini was also because he was overshadowed by Hitler. Also, kudos for your italian pronunciation!

[JoeAriminvm]

My grandfather used to tell me about how everything was rationed right before the war. He was allowed 100 grams of bread per day (less than a quarter pound). When he was called for his medicals before being drafted he weighed about 50kg (~105lbs). He was deemed unfit for purpose.

[Kat-trig]

My ex's grandfather, who was a staunch anti-fascist, escaped the secret police and jumped on the first boat leaving Italy when he was only 17 years old. He arrived in Argentina with just the clothes on his back. He later married the daughter of Italian immigrants and had a family. I got to meet him shortly before his death in 2009. He had never gone back to Italy, and never saw his family again.

[badazzoverlord]

If you haven't done it already, do one on Francoist Spain. Perhaps one on Francisco Pizarro, too.

[aac]

My grandfather was born in Italy in 1939. He remembers the American invasion and the bombing runs that took place over southern Italy. He moved to Long Island in 1961, like many other Italians before him

[edoardosattanino]

Amazing job.
Even in Italy there aren’t many teachers that address this topic in the accurate and way you did

[PakBallandSami]

it is very great to see people start taking about this part of italys history

[JudgeNicodemus]

Those officers were suprisingly nice. I genuinely didn't expect that.

[tonymoretti]

Dad was born in 1933 and he loved him. Said he was tough on the Mafia thugs

[TheFIoridaMan]

**me frantically taking notes on where he went wrong just in case society collapses and i get to be dictator**

[donniecatalano]

Many of my neighbours were deported, beaten, assaulted. Some of them were never found. I managed to hear some of the stories sometimes - told by those who made it - which made me truly appreciate the freedom we have today.

[joshmusser]

I'd like to hear more about life in other European countries leading up to WW2. The build up to the war is often times over shadowed by the events of the war

[gavinrose]

Fascist Italy executed (officially) many fewer people than did the USA during the same period. No mass graves have been found in the 80 years since the war ended (except those of massacres caused by the Germans). Mussolini preferred to blackmail his enemies, and house arrest or exile was preferred to harsher methods. Mussolini was horrible to Africans, but to Italians he was better than some other heads of state were. And as a side note, he was an environmentalist who saw the need to plant new forests.

[johnphillips]

Still better than the Soviet Union tbh