Attitude and policies regarding Jews Italian Fascism

in years fascist leader, while mussolini harboured negative stereotypes of jews did not hold firm stance on jews , official stances oscillated , shifted meet political demands of various factions of fascist movement, rather having concrete stance. mussolini had held antisemitic beliefs prior becoming fascist, such in 1908 essay on topic of nietzsche s Übermensch, in mussolini condemned pallid judeans wrecking roman empire; , in 1913 editor of italian socialist party s (psi) avanti! newspaper again wrote jews having caused havoc in ancient rome. although mussolini held these negative attitudes, aware italian jews integrated , small community in italy , large perceived favourably in italy fighting valiantly italy in world war i. of 117 original members of fasci italiani di combattimento founded on 23 march 1919, 5 jewish. since movement s years, there small number of prominent openly antisemitic fascists such roberto farinacci. there prominent fascists rejected antisemitism, such italo balbo lived in ferrara had substantial jewish community accepted , antisemitic incidents rare in city.

in response observation of large numbers of jews amongst bolsheviks , claims (that later confirmed true) bolsheviks , germany (that italy fighting in world war i) politically connected, mussolini said antisemitic statements involving bolshevik-german connection being unholy alliance between hindenburg , synagogue . mussolini came believe rumours bolshevik leader vladimir lenin of jewish descent. in article in il popolo d italia in june 1919, mussolini wrote highly antisemitic analysis on situation in europe involving bolshevism following october revolution, russian civil war , war in hungary involving hungarian soviet republic.

if petrograd (pietrograd) not yet fall, if [general] denikin not moving forward, great jewish bankers of london , new york have decreed. these bankers bound ties of blood jews in moscow in budapest taking revenge on aryan race has condemned them dispersion many centuries. in russia, 80 percent of managers of soviets jews, in budapest 17 out of 22 people s commissars jews. might not bolshevism vendetta of judaism against christianity?? worth pondering. entirely possible bolshevism drown in blood of pogrom of catastrophic proportions. world finance in hands of jews. whoever owns strongboxes of peoples in control of political systems. behind puppets (making peace) in paris, there rothschilds, warburgs, schiffs, guggenheims of same blood conquering petrograd , budapest. race not betray race....bolshevism defense of international plutocracy. basic truth of matter. international plutocracy dominated , controlled jews has supreme interest in of russian life accelerating process of disintegration point of paroxysm. russia paralyzed, disorganized, starved, place tomorrow bourgeoisie, yes bourgeoisie, o proletarians celebrate spectacular feast of plenty.

this statement mussolini on jewish-bolshevik-plutocratic connection , conspiracy met opposition in fascist movement, resulting in mussolini responding opposition amongst supporters abandoning stance shortly afterwards in 1919. upon abandoning stance due opposition it, mussolini no longer said previous assertion bolshevism jewish, warned due large numbers of jews in bolshevik movement rise of bolshevism in russia result in ferocious wave of antisemitism in russia. claimed antisemitism foreign italian people , warned zionists should careful not stir antisemitism in country has not existed .

margherita sarfatti influential jewish member of pnf whom mussolini had known since , had been members of psi , had been mistress , helped write dux (1926), biography of mussolini. 1 of jewish financial supporters of fascist movement toeplitz, whom mussolini had earlier accused of being traitor during world war i. prominent jewish italian fascist ettore ovazza, staunch italian nationalist , opponent of zionism in italy. 230 italian jews took part in fascists march on rome in 1922. in 1920s, mussolini cautious on topics of italian jewish financiers arose time time antisemitic elements in fascist movement, while regarded them untrustworthy believed draw them side. in 1932, mussolini made private attitude jews known austrian ambassador when discussing issue saying: have no love jews, have great influence everywhere. better leave them alone. hitler s antisemitism has brought him more enemies necessary .

on eve of march on rome, leadership of pnf declared jewish question not exist in our country , let hope there never shall one, @ least not until zionism poses italian jews dilemma of choosing between italian homeland , homeland . relations between regime , jews in practicing religion of judaism affected fascists accommodation of catholic church beginning in 1920s in sought remove previous provisions of equality of faiths , impose state support of supremacy of catholicism.

in 1928, frustration arose in regime on zionism in mussolini responded italian zionist congress publicly declaring question italy s jews on self-identity: religion or nation? . zionist , anti-zionist jews responded, anti-zionist jews professed religious jews part of italian nation, while zionist jews declared there no dispute between zionism , said italian jews held patriotic respect italy. upon these responses arriving, mussolini declared these revealed jewish problem existed in terms of jewish identity in italy result of conflicting national loyalties amongst zionist jews saying:

my intention seek clarification among italian jews , open eyes of christian italians. [...] goal has been achieved. problem exists, , no longer confined shadowy sphere had been constituted astutely former, ingeniously latter.

the fascists @ time not wholly opposed zionism, took instrumental approach hostile when caused conflict in italy country s catholic community , when such zionists seen associated british interests, though favourable zionists opposed british , sought italy s support protector. in 1930s, mussolini held discussions zionist leadership figures on proposals encourage emigration of italian jews mandate of palestine, mussolini hoped presence of pro-italian jews in region weaken pro-british sentiment , potentially overturn british mandate.

at 1934 montreux fascist conference chaired italian-led comitati d azione per l universalita di roma (caur) sought found fascist international, issue of antisemitism debated amongst various fascist parties, more favourable , others less favourable. 2 final compromises adopted, creating official stance of fascist international:

[t]he jewish question cannot converted universal campaign of hatred against jews [...] considering in many places groups of jews installed in conquered countries, exercising in open , occult manner influence injurious material , moral interests of country harbors them, constituting sort of state within state, profiting benefits , refusing duties, considering have furnished , inclined furnish, elements conducive international revolution destructive idea of patriotism , christian civilization, conference denounces nefarious action of these elements , ready combat them.

in discussion president of world zionist organization chaim weizmann on requests italy provide refuge jews fleeing nazi germany, mussolini agreed accept jewish refugees, warned weizmann consequences if such jews harmed italy saying:

i don t hide collusion of jewish world plutocracy , international left ever more evident, , our politico-military situation doesn t permit keep in our bosom eventual saboteurs of effort italian people making.

italian fascism s attitudes towards zionism , jews in general underwent shift in response second italo-ethiopian war. @ outset of war, mussolini sought gain favourable support italy s intervention in ethiopia , appealed zionists offering them solution jewish question, in italy set aside amount of territory conquered ethiopia homeland jews. mussolini claimed territory conquered ethiopia make ideal homeland jews, noting there large numbers of falasha living there identified jews. however, zionist leaders rejected proposal saying live in holy land in levant. mussolini viewed offensive snub , responded in frustration saying: if ethiopia enough italians why isn t enough jews? . afterwards, mussolini s relations zionist movement cooled , became aggravated observation many jews opposed italo-ethiopian war, responded:

world jewry doing bad business in aligning anti-fascist sanctions campaign against 1 european country which, @ least until now, has neither practiced nor preached anti-semitism

in 1936, fascist regime began promote racial antisemitism , mussolini claimed international jewry had sided britain against italy during italy s war ethiopia. historian renzo de felice believed fascist regime s pursuit of alliance nazi germany began in 1936 explains adoption of antisemitism pragmatic component of pursuit of alliance. de felice s interpretation has been challenged h. stuart hughes, has claimed direct nazi pressure adopt antisemitic policy had little or no impact on mussolini s decision. hughes notes fascist version of antisemitism based on spiritualist considerations while eschewing anthropological or biological arguments, unlike nazi version of antisemitism. italian fascism adopted antisemitism in late 1930s , mussolini returned invoke antisemitic statements had done earlier. fascist regime used antisemitic propaganda spanish civil war 1937 1938 emphasized italy supporting spain s nationalist forces against jewish international .

in 1938, fascist italy passed italian racial laws forbid jews citizenship , forbid sexual relations , marriages between italians , jews. adoption of such racial laws met opposition fascist members including balbo, regarded antisemitism having nothing fascism , staunchly opposed antisemitic laws.