The Footprint of Mussolini - TL

I can see Italian cinema being big into historical films, mystery and even noir type films in partnership with other European film studios. Maciste could show up as a cult film classic in the US in the 70's and 80s (MST3K). Expect the RA to promote Mediterranean culture and travel in Europe and the US.
 
I can see Italian cinema being big into historical films, mystery and even noir type films in partnership with other European film studios. Maciste could show up as a cult film classic in the US in the 70's and 80s (MST3K). Expect the RA to promote Mediterranean culture and travel in Europe and the US.

Italian cinema is mostly divided into two films: Big expensive Historical Dramas/Epics about Roman times or the Unification (although the occasional World War Two drama creeps in), or cheap wham-bam-thank-you-mam action films set in the Colonies about faithful, masculine protectors saving their families and villages from either Mafia or Communist rebel desperados. Italian Neo-Realism never really gets off the ground bar a few classics, and the genre is more associated with Germany. Fascist Cinema is not open to wild new ideas - the Church and State are never disrespeted in film. Not many artsy-fartsy films coming out of Italy, at least for now.
 
Italian cinema is mostly divided into two films: Big expensive Historical Dramas/Epics about Roman times or the Unification (although the occasional World War Two drama creeps in), or cheap wham-bam-thank-you-mam action films set in the Colonies about faithful, masculine protectors saving their families and villages from either Mafia or Communist rebel desperados. Italian Neo-Realism never really gets off the ground bar a few classics, and the genre is more associated with Germany. Fascist Cinema is not open to wild new ideas - the Church and State are never disrespeted in film. Not many artsy-fartsy films coming out of Italy, at least for now.
Perhaps unlike modern day Hollywood, some Italian filmmakers might be able to insert politics in a subtle way.
Comedies for example. I could see some filmmakers trying to make comedies ostensibly mocking Communism, that just so happen to have a rather anti-authoritarianism tone in general.
Or action movies who's villains are Mafias, featuring Mafias who's organisational structure, methods and rhetoric might just have parallels to how one-party-states operate. Heck even generic action flicks with Mafia antagonists probably unintentionally showcase those parallels, even with perfectly loyal filmmakers at the helm. So easy for someone to go subtly further.
 
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New side post, something about movies but above all about 1940's sport age in Italy. Again with additions and revisions from Sorairo. Enjoy!

Mussolini’s Athletes: Italian Sport Under Fascism of Alessio Morisi​

Damn Ryu, you know that now i can't keep out from my mind the movie Attila...with Diego Abbattantuono as the lead
 
On another note it is true that in the future when fascism face some rough time people may start doubting them, but just like PRC they can also ensure that opposition are suppress as much as possible. They are not democratic nation they can simply ignore the will of the mass (for good or ill).

Tianmen 2.0 Italian edition

And from what I gather while it is indeed a horrible event PRC survive through it just fine and seem to be doing rather well after that.

Though if they have to pull it off they need to do it while ETO and USA still need them.
 
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Changing Of the Guard
Hey all, I'll be going to America on business soon - might be some time until the next update. I hope this will be enough to keep you pleased for a time.

Changing Of the Guard

The Dark Decade: America in the 40s by Wendy Walters

With the Martin Presidency underway, Democrats breathed a bizarre sigh of relief. It was bizarre in that, while their President had just been impeached and they faced utter obliteration in the elections that year, they were at last free from the Wallace burden. Alben Barkley was considered a sufficient sacrificial candidate to salvage some sense among the population that the Democrats were not all Wallace supporters. Barkley was hard-hit by the Wallace acolytes of the party, notably Vito Marcantonio (who still proudly waved the Pro-Wallace flag, living under day and night guard from lynch-mobs), as a Republican tool. However, as the DNC was coming soon on July 12th, the hierarchy of the Democratic Party was willing and ready to clear their names. That was when the news came in on July 5th that Barkley had received a heart attack due to the massive stress of brutal campaigning in his old age. While he would live, it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Democrats. There was now no serious candidate anywhere in the line-up for the Democrat nominee: Wallace was under investigation, as was anyone in his cabinet, Barkley was in hospital and everyone knew the chalice was poison to the touch.

Tensions were astronomical in the Philadelphia Convention Hall from July 12th to 14th. Marcantonio’s faction (called ‘The Progressive Faction) still held significant sway, and had arrived with no intention of going into the night. At the same time, none of the Anti-Wallace candidates wanted anywhere near the candidate position. Many feared literal assassination – others feared that they would be dragged through the incoming waves of Federal investigations that were about to fall on the Democrat Party and didn’t want to endure that level of media scrutiny. The only people with credibility on Communism, the Dixiecrats, had left to establish their own party. The only person who really wanted the role was Marcantonio, who was told by the Mayor of Minneapolis Hubert Humphrey that ‘we would stop the Klan from assassinating you by strangling you with our bare hands first’. Finally, on July 14th, the Democrat hierarchy made their decision – and it was not a pretty picture. The candidate supported by the Democrat Party in the 1948 would be … General Patton.

The Democrat elite had decided that there was no chance in hell with the current situation. Also, given that they were suspected of being disloyal, the worst possible thing to do was run a campaign against a beloved war hero. The plan was to take the resources from the Presidential elections and put it all into preserving the Democrats in Congress (though donations had plummeted with the certain obliteration Democrats faced in November). They expected that the measure would be a tough-sell – they badly underestimated the reaction. At word of what had been agreed (behind closed doors), the Progressive Faction raised hell and stormed the stage, chanting ‘DNC, GOP, they both look the same to me!’ Fistfights between the Moderates and Progressives broke out inside and outside the hall. The police swarmed in and made the scenes even more chaotic. Soon the Progressives turned their ire on the police themselves, resulting in a full-blown riot. Ultimately, more than 500 people were arrested that night and in the next few days.

Marcantonio, however, was able to get out without being arrested. Many, including Patton, demanded to know how he had escaped cuffs, but that was soon an irrelevant question. On July 20th, Marcanotonio delivered the final death-blow to the moribund Democrat Party. He and multiple hard-left members of the Democrat Party had decided to split, refusing to listen to the demands of the DNC to support the Patton candidacy. He created the ‘Progressive Democrat Party’, often shortened to ‘The Progressives’. For the 1948 election, Marcantonio would be the Presidential Candidate, and Glen H. Taylor would be the Vice-Presidential candidate. They stood on a campaign of annulling the Wallace Administration of ‘all fabricated charges’, a treaty of friendship with the USSR, opposition to ‘Colonialism, Zionism and Fascism’, full Civil Rights, a maximum wage, nationalizations of the major industries and surrendering the entirety of America’s nuclear bombs. Harry Truman described it as ‘so stupid it could only be written in crayon’. One thing was for sure though. The Democrats quickly lost what little heartlands they still had left. The Democrat Right had left for the Freedom Party, her Centre had defected to the Republicans and now her Left too was under assault.

The 1948 Presidential Election could only be described as an event of Gotterdammerung proportions. The Progressives were the only major opposition to Patton, and they had almost nothing to work with. They were loathed by almost everyone in the country, especially in the crazed aftermath of Wallace (who had gone into hiding as senior Republicans pondered whether to go after him or not). The League of Columbus swore to smash any Progressive Parade where they discovered one – the Klan outright stated that members of the Progressive Party ‘would be shot as enemy combatants’. Thurmond outright argued that the Progressives should be banned, which Patton had to be talked out of agreeing with by Dewey. Faced with utter hatred from all quarters, it’s little wonder the results came in as they were. That November, General Patton repeated General Washington’s great feat: he had won every Electoral College point and every state in the election with a globe-shattering 90% of the vote. The Republicans held roughly 70% of the House and 60 seats in the Senate. The Freedom Party won every Senate and House seat in the old Confederacy outside a handful of Republican ones. The Progressives had scored less than the Democrats in the House elections, but it was more than enough to split the vote yet further. The Democrats were broken as a political party, only standing tall in a handful of Northern urban districts, where they fought with the Progressives for scraps. The thought that only four years ago this Party was once seen as the unbeatable leviathan of American politics would shock most people. Nevertheless, the destruction of the Democrats would pave the way for a new America. With the overwhelming endorsement of his people, with more than enough support in Congress to push through his will, George Patton became the most powerful man on Earth.


We Brave Few: Europe 1945-1949 by Abraham Ferguson

While the new interest in Kings had certainly been inspired by reactionary backlash against Communism, it was not exclusively for that reason that Monarchy returned to vogue in the Europe of the 1940s. One reason was that it was seen as a great way of ensuring the continued direction of the state. The example from America had shown how suddenly a Republic could radically shift gears. It was felt that a monarchy could serve as a backup to ensure a successor could not suddenly change a country overnight and dramatically upset the geopolitical picture. As the model of bringing back the Monarchy had worked well in establishing order back to Croatia and Hungary, the example soon spread to the neighboring states of Europe.

In Portugal, the Royals had been banished since the 1910 Revolution, but Salazar was interested in furthering Portugal’s international reputation as the ‘most presentable nation’ (in his own words, with reference to the West) of the Roman Alliance. He believed that if he brought back the Monarchy, it would defang some of the poison attached to Portugal’s reputation by not having the state entirely beholden to a single dictator (though it would remain in practice). It also fit in well with the Traditionalism he wanted to bring to the Portuguese Empire, not to mention his belief that a King would be a unifying symbol to the Portuguese settlers in Africa like the English had for their own. Duarte Nuno was the successor, who had successfully married Princess Maria Francisca, thus uniting warring branches of the Portugese Royalty – this would be an advantageous move. Ultimately, it was decided that the ailing President Carmona would step down in 1949. The National Assembly repealed the laws of exile, and in what was perhaps the most stamp of Salazar’s authority, he put the date of coronation on October 5th, the date of the 1910 revolution. Portugal was now a Constitutional Monarchy, under King Duarte (Edward) II.

After sixteen years without monarchy or kingdom, in 1947, Spain was made a Kingdom again by General Franco, who claimed to rule Spain as Head of state of the Kingdom of Spain through the Succession Law. However, without a king on the throne as the future Juan Carlos was considered too young, he ruled through a coalition of allied organizations from the Spanish Civil War including, but not limited to, his Falangist allies, the supporters of the Bourbon royal family, and the Carlists until his death.

In Germany, with the ascension of Martin to the US Presidency, the Western occupiers finally united West Germany under a single, consistent policy. With fear of the Soviets at fever-pitch, the belief was that Germany had to be rebuilt to deal with the threat. To that end, bad feeling from World War I aside, appointing a Kaiser was considered a great way to stop any one dictator from grabbing hold of power for themselves, thus keeping another madman from taking over Germany. Mussolini was fine with this, though the Soviets naturally lambasted it as if Hitler himself had been reappointed. Due to his friendliness to the West, connections in America and generally liberal demeanor, Louis Ferdinand was given the role. On November 3rd 1949, Aachen Cathedral greeted the Coronation of Ferdinand V, thus re-establishing the Hohenzollern Dynasty on the European Continent. This was an extremely controversial move in Britain and France, with the British Labour Party condemning the move outright and multiple WW1 veteran organisations in both countries protesting. Ultimately, Ferdinand's unrelenting commitment to Democracy and friendly relationship with Queen Elizabeth II would convince Western Europe of his good heart. To Germans worldwide, their only true homeland would be the Federal Kingdom of Germany.

Ironically, Mussolini fought against the trend. Upon the death of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy in December 1947, Italy entered waves of unprecedented mourning, with a gigantic state funeral sending off the King into the next world. At the same time, Mussolini was plotting to undermine Umberto (the son and successor) to get him out of the way and become the sole fountain of power in Italy. He was shocked and outraged when he woke up and discovered that the national newspapers had unanimously voiced their vocal support of Umberto. It turned out that Ciano had done the deed. He told his leader that it was necessary to keep the support of the army, who would be offended by any other decision than keeping the monarchy. Most of the Fascist Counsel agreed with Ciano, though it was felt that Ciano’s connections (through post and familial) would preserve him. They were right, in that Ciano was not publicly humiliated, though many believe the fact that Ciano was not chosen for Mussolini’s successor was due to this one act. Mussolini reluctantly abandoned his plans to abolish the Italian Monarchy, and Umberto II was crowned as King (with Mussolini infamously planning on skipping the ceremony until Balbo convinced him it would damage Italy's reputation).


‘Miracle: The History of Israel’ by Joel Hagee

The first official elections in Israel would be held on January 25th 1949. The results cemented the pattern that had begun in recent years. The once overwhelmingly Socialist Israeli people had become a much more Right wing one. This was due to multiple factors, notably the influx of more affluent Jews from those saved by Mussolini, the feeling that Revisionist Zionism had been vindicated and the sympathy with which the general population held Fascist Italy (and increasingly loathed the USSR). That Italy had guaranteed to more than make up for the imminent loss of trade Israel would receive on top of the military protection, Israelis had no fear for the future. By contrast, the British were perceived as indifferent to the Jewish struggle, owing to their failure to open the gates to Palestine prior to the Holocaust, their imprisonment of Zvi Brenner and relatively low amounts of military aid during the conflict. The Socialists wanted stronger ties to the European democracies, but the Right wanted closer ties to the more ‘reliable’ Roman Alliance. Ultimately, Israelis seemed to prefer the Right’s choice.

The official results had Begin’s Herut Party on 33% of the vote to Ben-Gurion’s Mapai Party receiving only 20%. Begin went into coalition with multiple Right wing and religious parties, including the Lehi’s newfound ‘Homeland Party’, which commanded 7% of the vote, the General Zionists and the United Religious Front. The new government quickly banned the Communist Maki Party (at the Lehi’s instigation) and ruthlessly pursued the Settlement Program. Enterprise was encouraged (though the Lehi wanted it to be restricted and only in ways that Jews were empowered) while the Sabbath had multiple restrictions placed upon it. Ben-Gurion was horrified that the Lehi now had in power in the Knesset; fortunately, he had provided a back-up. He was able to hand-pick his choice for the first Israeli President, and it was a choice that shocked the world: Albert Einstein.

Einstein had initially turned down Ben-Gurion’s offer of the Israeli Presidency, feeling himself unsuited to politics. However, Ben-Gurion made Einstein realise that only he had the clout to be able to successfully stare down the Far-Right in Israel and keep them from turning the young state into a Fascist nightmare. With that, Einstein finally and reluctantly agreed. His ascendency silenced many left-wingers in Europe who had begun to turn on Israel as a result of its Right wing government. At the same time, the new climate and political hardship was not favourable to his disposition. As his then aide and later speech-writer Anne Frank would say, “Every day there would be some moment where he would sit in perfect stillness in his chair, eyes lost in thought with only a twinkle of horror to animate them. It was as if they said, ‘why did I ever decide to do this’? I pitied him that I could give no answer.” His meeting with Mussolini in 1949 during the Italian’s World Tour was notoriously icy, with Mussolini declaring that one day Italian scientists would find a way to travel faster than light speed, thus was the magnificence of Italian science. Einstein would joke to Frank, “There are only two things that are infinite: The Universe and that man’s ego, and I’m not sure about the universe.” Einstein’s humanism would have a great effect on Frank as she became a politician herself later in life

Importantly, Ben-Gurion’s choice proved good to his purpose. Einstein would regularly denounce racism in all circles, both from the Arabs and Soviets against Jews and the Lehi against basically everyone else. The Lehi’s young leader, Yitzhak Shamir, would regularly get involved in public spats with Einstein, which greatly embarrassed Begin. Ultimately, in 1953, Shamir provoked further outrage by following a speech by Einstein and Begin (who weren’t friends but knew how to work together). The two had jointly stated their wish for Polish freedom on the fifth anniversary of the nuclear destruction of Warsaw - the event convincing Einstein with great reluctance to continue the Israeli nuclear program. Shamir had responded by saying that he cared not for Poland, called them Nazi Collaborators (a great irony considering the Lehi’s past), and that “Poles drink Anti-Semitism from their mother’s breasts”. Begin had felt he had endured enough and kicked the Lehi out of the government, the only one they would ever be in. In the subsequent elections, the Socialists would come to power, ensuring a healthy balance of Left and Right in the future decades of Israel.
 
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¿Are we likely to see the Hungarian gold team? Without a Hungarian revolution in good theory, the group of Magyars could continue to shine on the football field.

Excuse my bad English, it's not my mother tongue
 
If Lehi got their way and join RA I doubt thing will be that well for both party. From what I gather thus far RA will have another croatia all over again.

Socialist victory in Israel is undesirable for RA, but as long as they don’t deal with USSR things should be fine.

Though of course I hope that Israel left know that if they decide to bite RA hand they will no longer have protection of their patron. ETO will not likely support them too much in war(unless defensive in nature), say whatever you will about RA but they are probably willing to help out in war (even if Israeli started it).

Also would president Einstein pursue nuclear program?
 
If Lehi got their way and join RA I doubt thing will be that well for both party. From what I gather thus far RA will have another croatia all over again.

Socialist victory in Israel is undesirable for RA, but as long as they don’t deal with USSR things should be fine.

Though of course I hope that Israel left know that if they decide to bite RA hand they will no longer have protection of their patron. ETO will not likely support them too much in war(unless defensive in nature), say whatever you will about RA but they are probably willing to help out in war (even if Israeli started it).

Also would president Einstein pursue nuclear program?

The Socialists aren't dumb; they know they have to work with the RA. The population is overwhelmingly friendly to Italy, and it is electorally impossible to do well on an Anti-Italy ticket. The main difference is just the degree to which the parties lean. Begin would champion the RA friendship while the Socialists would say that it is one among many.

No one supports the Soviets in Israel. That is no worry.

I'll add a clarifier about the Israeli nuclear program now.

I hope President Einstein, a new Kaiser and President Patton are enough to keep everyone interested for the next update when it comes around.
 
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A stopped clock is right twice a day.

Nevertheless, it is still a broken clock. And the ITTL civil rights leadership won't tie their boat to a broken clock.


Einstein had initially turned down Ben-Gurion’s offer of the Israeli Presidency, feeling himself unsuited to politics. However, Ben-Gurion made Einstein realise that only he had the clout to be able to successfully stare down the Far-Right in Israel and keep them from turning the young state into a Fascist nightmare. With that, Einstein finally and reluctantly agreed. His ascendency silenced many left-wingers in Europe who had begun to turn on Israel as a result of its Right wing government. At the same time, the new climate and political hardship was not favourable to his disposition. As his then aide and later speech-writer Anne Frank would say, “Every day there would be some moment where he would sit in perfect stillness in his chair, eyes lost in thought with only a twinkle of horror to animate them. It was as if they said, ‘why did I ever decide to do this’? I pitied him that I could give no answer.” His meeting with Mussolini in 1949 during the Italian’s World Tour was notoriously icy, with Mussolini declaring that one day Italian scientists would find a way to travel faster than light speed, thus was the magnificence of Italian science. Einstein would joke to Frank, “There are only two things that are infinite: The Universe and that man’s ego, and I’m not sure about the universe.” Einstein’s humanism would have a great effect on Frank as she became a politician herself later in life.

Mussolini and Einstein are possibly the oddest of bedfellows one could create.

I imagine Einstein, rather then feeling appreciative of Mussolini, feels let down that it was a strutting dictator who came to the rescue of the Jews, and not a more civilized leader, like FDR or Churchill.
 
I’m honestly wondering about the new political Party situation,I doubt the Progessives will be able to get any where politically but I have a hard time imaging that all the new Democratic defectors will intergrate especilly well into the Republican Party.
 
I’m honestly wondering about the new political Party situation,I doubt the Progessives will be able to get any where politically but I have a hard time imaging that all the new Democratic defectors will intergrate especilly well into the Republican Party.

I expect a break between the traditional republicans (pro business/small government), the social conservatives and the former Democrats in the 50s and 60s. Regarding Israel, they may criticize the Alliance but they are not going to break with them since they are surrounded on all sides by states that want to exterminate them.
 
I'm not sure if this was discussed much: What ultimately did become of Italian-occupied Ethiopia?

EDIT: Ethiopia has at the time a significant Jewish community (Beta Israel). Did this factor into Italian plans in any way? I wonder if any enlisted in the war: The Nazis would be absolutely livid at the sight of African Jews fighting them.
 
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Huh, while I am glad Lehu has been checked, I can't help but feel Einstein better serves humanity as a scientist than politician. And his life may end up shortened by having to deal with all of this crap.

What's the official name of West Germany post restoration.

And another bonus to the restorations in laces like Germany is that I might make some monarchists more amenable to democratic reforms seeing democracy restores royalty.

Heh, nice to see Mussolini thwarted in Umberto's ascension. Even now his will is not law, best he remember that.
 
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