Was Benito Moussolini evil?

[Nikitn]

Well, I red a few wikipedia articles about him, and it seemed like he was one of the "lesser evil" Axis leaders. Italian Army didn't do any major war crimes either, as far as I know. I was a bit shocked, so I want to hear your opinion.

[Visna]

AFAIK he wasn't evil in the Hitler sort of evil way.
Hitler viewed him as a bit of a clown, but a useful ally nonetheless.

[Last Roman]

AFAIK he wasn't evil in the Hitler sort of evil way.
Hitler viewed him as a bit of a clown, but a useful ally nonetheless.

somewhat funny you should mention that, as Mussolini didn't have the greatest opinion of Hitler, or the Germans. He's quoted as saying "I should be happy, I suppose, that Hitler is on our side. But they are Germans, and will end up screwing up our idea" (paraphrased as I dont have the book with the quote with me)

[Ummon]

AFAIK he wasn't evil in the Hitler sort of evil way.
Hitler viewed him as a bit of a clown, but a useful ally nonetheless.

Actually, initially Hitler was in awe of Mussolini. Later, he discovered that Mussolini was a fraud.

Well, I red a few wikipedia articles about him, and it seemed like he was one of the "lesser evil" Axis leaders. Italian Army didn't do any major war crimes either, as far as I know. I was a bit shocked, so I want to hear your opinion.

More like deluded, unintelligent and rash.

[gaius valerius]

Well, I red a few wikipedia articles about him, and it seemed like he was one of the "lesser evil" Axis leaders. Italian Army didn't do any major war crimes either, as far as I know. I was a bit shocked, so I want to hear your opinion.

Why would he be evil? As far as I'm concerned his deeds were wrong, he was a dictator that served hollow ideals and a perverse ideology. Does this make him evil? No. He was just a prick who got what he deserved.

[DAVIDE]

Well, I red a few wikipedia articles about him, and it seemed like he was one of the "lesser evil" Axis leaders. Italian Army didn't do any major war crimes either, as far as I know. I was a bit shocked, so I want to hear your opinion.

Italians made human and war crimes in the same way of Germany and Japan. The 8 concentration camps just in Lybia, served to replace native population with italians or the huge bombings with sulfur mustard in Somalia and Eritrea against population, just to cite two of them. Those events arent famous because Italy's never been processed for war crimes

[Nikitn]

Italians made human and war crimes in the same way of Germany and Japan. The 8 concentration camps just in Lybia, served to replace native population with italians or the huge bombings with sulfur mustard in Somalia and Eritrea against population, just to cite two of them. Those events arent famous because Italy's never been processed for war crimes

Indeed, but didn't the other Imperialist European powers do the same?

[Praetorian_BGX]

Mentally ill and funny on some way.

[clandestino]

He was funny, actually ridiculous.

[The Noble Lord]

He was funny, actually ridiculous.

Seconded.

[antares24]

Well, I red a few wikipedia articles about him, and it seemed like he was one of the "lesser evil" Axis leaders. Italian Army didn't do any major war crimes either, as far as I know. I was a bit shocked, so I want to hear your opinion.

Mussolini wasn't evil. He did some useful things for Italy, even if he made the big mistake of leading the country in a war it was unprepared to fight.
He was, however, a dictator, that persecuted and sometime killed his political opponents, so for sure he can't be considered a good men either. I see him as similar to many other dictators or absolutist kings of history.

As for Italy war crimes, there were of course a few, but they were more similar to those done by other colonial powers, nothing like the holocaust and the mass killings of civilian or pow made by the german army, the japanese or the russians.

[Nikitn]

Mussolini wasn't evil. He did some useful things for Italy, even if he made the big mistake of leading the country in a war it was unprepared to fight.
He was, however, a dictator, that persecuted and sometime killed his political opponents, so for sure he can't be considered a good men either. I see him as similar to many other dictators or absolutist kings of history.

As for Italy war crimes, there were of course a few, but they were more similar to those done by other colonial powers, nothing like the holocaust and the mass killings of civilian or pow made by the german army, the japanese or the russians.

I really don't think many people realize, that Benito Mussolini gave up all his nations Jews to Hitler, and those Jews were eventually all murdered. Unlike the original regime of Hungary and other Axis countries.

As for the mass killings of POW's by USSR - that is incorrect, it was nowhere near the scale of Japan or Germany (except for SS - they received no mercy). But that is different discussion.

[antares24]

I really don't think many people realize, that Benito Mussolini gave up all his nations Jews to Hitler, and those Jews were eventually all murdered. Unlike the original regime of Hungary and other Axis countries.

the racial laws that led to the deportation of jews were done under german pressure, it wasn't an Italian iniative, and many jews were hide by Italians. Of course it was a pretty bad thing and i condemn it.

As for the mass killings of POW's by USSR - that is incorrect, it was nowhere near the scale of Japan or Germany (except for SS - they received no mercy). But that is different discussion.

i never said that the scale was the same. But mass killings of prisoner happened in Russia too, just think of the polish officers that were killed after the division of Poland between Germany and the Urss.

oh and i just read the comments of those that say that Mussolini was a clown or a funny guy. That's wrong.

Mussolini was very well considered internationally, with Churchill too having a big respect for him and many praising his autarchy policy that helped Italy during the great depression.
When the Czech crisis happened, Mussolini was lauded as a great statemen for helping solving it. And he was also considered a great man in preventing a communism takeover in Italy.

It was only after 1936 conquest of ethiopia, when Italy started to be isolated internationally, and the relationship with Germany became stronger that Mussolini started to be badly seen.

nah he wasnt. He was just usual to send his lovers to permanent sanitarium. But it's normal you know.

for sure he wasn't the first nor the last head of state hiding his little sin with women.

a few?

yes. In the libian colony the local insurgent were killed and in many case tortured to get information. Nothing new for a colonial power. And in ethiopia gas was used against enemy troops, not very new either. The bombs that "accidentally" ended on the red cross buildings when they criticized Italy weren't really good to be honests. And there was also Iugoslavia, were partisan that were captured were usually sentenced to death. A normal policy in war.

I remind an high command order to the local command in Iugoslavia, where a high ranking general lamented "si ammazza troppo poco!" (there are too few killings!") reffering to the occupation policy.

This show you that Italians troops weren't really heavy handed in their occupation policy.

[Nikitn]

i never said that the scale was the same. But mass killings of prisoner happened in Russia too, just think of the polish officers that were killed after the division of Poland between Germany and the Urss.

Oh, I forgot about Katyn.. I was thinking about war with Germany, not the political killings in Katyn.

And YES, of course Mussolini knew what would happen to the Jews he sent to Nazi Germany. I mean, it was a well known fact that Jews were murdered left and right in Nazi Germany. Personally, he wasn't racist as far as I know, but the sending away of the Jews to Nazi Germany must be his main crime.

[DAVIDE]

And YES, of course Mussolini knew what would happen to the Jews he sent to Nazi Germany. I mean, it was a well known fact that Jews were murdered left and right in Nazi Germany. Personally, he wasn't racist as far as I know, but the sending away of the Jews to Nazi Germany must be his main crime.

Risiera San Sabba, Trieste, Italy. 5000 jews has been gassed and then burnt

[Captain Blackadder]

I really don't think many people realize, that Benito Mussolini gave up all his nations Jews to Hitler, and those Jews were eventually all murdered. Unlike the original regime of Hungary and other Axis countries.

As for the mass killings of POW's by USSR - that is incorrect, it was nowhere near the scale of Japan or Germany (except for SS - they received no mercy). But that is different discussion.

What are you talking about? No he didn't Italy has by far the best record of the axis when it comes to jews

Mussolini was the closest thing that Hitler had to a friend and he always felt that seeing Mussolini was a “special joy, he is a great personality,”[1] Italy has a unique position in the Holocaust whilst the other allied countries mentioned previously helped to varying degrees the Jews that lived in their own borders the Italians helped all the Jews in all Italian territory from the occupied zone of France to the Balkans. The Italians refused to deport any Jews under its authority. So whilst many high level German officials including Gobbels felt that “the Italians are very lax in their treatment of Jews[2] they did nothing. This was because whilst Italy did not play a large role in the conquering of the various nations opposed to the Nazi regime they did a lot of the occupation duties which made it so that Germany could not complain too much over issues of Jews
[1] J,Steinberg, All or Nothing The Axis and the Holocaust 1941-1943,Routledge, London, 1990, pg 18

[2] J, Steinberg, pg 86

[UnitedIreland]

Well, in my opinion, Mussolini was a complete idiot. I could have done a better job (I'm not joking!) The one quote that sums good old Mussloini up for me is this;

Italian General - "Duce, we do not have enough bayonets for all of our soldiers!"

Mussolini - "What do we need bayonets for, the army is only for show!"

[Wolfcp11]

Well, in my opinion, Mussolini was a complete idiot. I could have done a better job (I'm not joking!) The one quote that sums good old Mussloini up for me is this;

Italian General - "Duce, we do not have enough bayonets for all of our soldiers!"

Mussolini - "What do we need bayonets for, the army is only for show!"

If you manage to pacify the opposition without bloodshed, is that not the mark of a great general?

[RTW Fan]

Well, in my opinion, Mussolini was a complete idiot. I could have done a better job (I'm not joking!) The one quote that sums good old Mussloini up for me is this;

Italian General - "Duce, we do not have enough bayonets for all of our soldiers!"

Mussolini - "What do we need bayonets for, the army is only for show!"

That is the one I was looking for

[DAVIDE]

Mussolini wasn't evil.

nah he wasnt. He was just usual to send his lovers to permanent sanitarium. But it's normal you know.

As for Italy war crimes, there were of course a few, but they were more similar to those done by other colonial powers, nothing like the holocaust and the mass killings of civilian or pow made by the german army, the japanese or the russians.

A few?