Figure 1.--.

Mussolini only imposed the first anti-Jewish regulations in 1938, after prompting from Hitler. Until this time there had been no actioms taken agaist Italian Jews and Mussolini even counted some Jews among his supoorters. Mussolini had indicated on severl occassions that a small group of Italian Jews had lived in Italy 'since the days of the Kings of Rome' (Bené Roma) and should 'remain undisturbed'. [Hollander] Mussolini with surprised most Italians by issuing The Manifesto of Race (Manifesto della razza) (July 1938). The document is also referred to as the Charter of Race or Racial Manifesto. It declared the Italians to be descendants of the Aryan race. A great deal of race research was done in German iniversities, nost of it pseudo scientists by academics adept at obtaining Goverment grants. We do not of any similar effort in Italy, but can not yet say itg definitivly did not occur. The Manifesto targeted races seen as inferior. The Jews were the most obvious targets, but Africans were also targetted. The Manifesto set the stage for set of laws stripping Jews of Italian citizenship and taking a long list of legal, social, and economic actions against them. The Manuifesto and subdequent laws are viewed by historians as increasing influence pf NAZI Führer Adolf Hitler over Mussolini and the beginning of Italy's status as junior partner even before the stunning German military victories. The new Fascist Racial Laws included the following provisions, among many others. Jews were expelled from high schools and institutes of higher education, but not primary schools. The difference is unexplained, but presumably reflects a reluctance to take actions against small children. Jews were dismissed from government offices, banks and municipal councils. They were also excluded from many professions (medical, legal, and education). Marriages between Italians and Jews were kegally annuled. Properties were subject to confiscation. Commercial joint ventures between Jews and Christian Italian were dissolved. Jewish soldiers and sailors were demoted. Official documents carried by Jews were stamped with 'Jew' to ensure that they could be easily identified. Foreign Jews wee barred from living in Italy and the colonies (including the Aegean Islands) and were expelled. To further ingratiate himself to Hitler, Mussolini subsequently issued a decree banning all Jews from public schools, including the younger primary children. We believe that Jews were expelled from the Fascist Party and the Fascist youth movement like the Balilla. We do not know yet to what extent racist doctrine was introduced as oart of school curiculum or the Blilla trainung program. We do not yet have details about enfocement of these laws. We believe that the anti-Semetic laws wwre implement less forcibly in the colonies, probably depending on the disgression of individual officials. Once the War began, however, the regulations began go be implied with greater severity.

Jews in Fascist Italy

Musoloini naned the Fascists seized power in Irly (1923). Until this time there had been no actioms taken agaist Italian Jews and Mussolini even counted some Jews among his supoorters. Anti-Semitism not been a part of rise to party. Mussolini had indicated on severl occassions that a small group of Italian Jews had lived in Italy 'since the days of the Kings of Rome' (Bené Roma) and should 'remain undisturbed'. [Hollander] Fascism as it devekoped in Europe had varying ideologies. It was the NAZIs in Germany that developed virulent anti-Semitism. It would grow in importance, however, as the NAZIs grew in nimnortabce within European Fascism.

NAZIs Seize Power (1933)

Hitler and the NAZIs seized power in Germany (1933). Anti-Semitism had been a major theme in their rise to power. Soon after seizing power attacks on Jews and legal decrees began restricting Jewish like in the Reich. Hitler as the head of a minor German political party looked up to Mussolini s the cfounfder of Fascism nd head of the first Fascist state. This gradually shifteted as the NAZIs seized power as Germany rose in power.

Surprise Action

Mussolini only imposed the first anti-Jewish regulations in 1938, after increasing demands from Hitler. Mussolini with surprised most Italians by issuing The Manifesto of Race (Manifesto della razza) (July 1938). The document is also referred to as the Charter of Race or Racial Manifesto. It declared the Italians to be descendants of the Aryan race. A great deal of race research was done in German universities, nost of it pseudo scientists by academics adept at obtaining Goverment grants. We do not of any similar effort in Italy, but can not yet say it definitivly had mot occurred. did not occur.

Race Assessments

The Manifesto targeted races seen as inferior. The Jews were the most obvious targets, but Africans were also targetted.

Legal Actions

The Manifesto set the stage for set of laws stripping Jews of Italian citizenship and taking a long list of legal, social, and economic actions against them. The new Fascist Racial Laws included the following provisions, among many others. Jews were expelled from high schools and institutes of higher education, but not primary schools. The difference is unexplained, but presumably reflects a reluctance to take actions against small children. Jews were dismissed from government offices, banks and municipal councils. They were also excluded from many professions (medical, legal, and education). Marriages between Italians and Jews were legally annuled. Properties were subject to confiscation. Commercial joint ventures between Jews and Christian Italian were dissolved. Jewish soldiers and sailors were demoted. Official documents carried by Jews cwere stamped with 'Jew' to ensure that they could be easily identified. Foreign Jews were barred from living in Italy and the colonies (including the Aegean Islands) and were prdered expelled. To further ingratiate himself to Hitler, Mussolini subsequently issued a decree banning all Jews from public schools, including the younger primary children. We believe that Jews were expelled from the Fascist Party and the Fascist youth movement like the Balilla. We do not know yet to what extent racist doctrine was introduced as oart of school curiculum or the Blilla trainung program. Import-export licenses in Libya were limited to Italians, Maltese, and Arabs. Jews were not allowed to participate in public bids for the needs of the army, prisons, or the police force. This field was traditionally in the hands of the Jews, but now they were to be exclude

Enforcement

We do not yet have details about enfocement of these laws. We believe that the anti-Semetic laws wwre implement less forcibly in the colonies, probably depending on the disgression of individual officials. Once the War began, however, the regulations began go be implied with greater severity.

Deportations

The Italian Fascist race laws were harsh, but they were not genocidal. Even after the War began, Italian Jews were no being deported to the ghettoes (1939) And eventually death camps (1942) set up on occipied Poland. The Italian Jewish population was so small, it barely made a difference in Hitler's desire to dstroy the Jews. But i appaently bothed that even this small number could be tolerated in an allied Fascist countries.

Declining Influenbce of Mussolini

The Manuifesto and subdequent laws are viewed by historians as increasing influence pf NAZI Führer Adolf Hitler over Mussolini and the beginning of Italy's status as junior partner even before the stunning German military victories. It would be the German NAZIs and bot the Italian thar woukd dominate European Fascism. Mussolini initilly opposed German ammextion of Austrua. As their relarionship grew, howeverm he stood with Hitker over the Anschluss of Austria (1938). And while Hitler by this time had energed as the senior partner power, Hitler never forgot Mussolini's support. Eventually he would edven resue him from a mountain top where he had vbee inceacerated -- the Gran Sasso raid (September 1943).

Sources

Hollander, Ethan J. Italian Fascism and the Jews (University of California).

Created: 4:51 AM 3/6/2013
Last updated: 9:21 PM 4/30/2022