Images from the Footprint of Mussolini

[Johnharry]

A example of Fascist futurist architecture within Asmara, common throughout all Eritrea and Somalia.

(I didn't include Libya as the Fascists reportedly didn't desire a lot of rebuilding there as they regarded them as "civilized." They did have grand plans for Italian east africa so this would be more widespread in all honesty than OTL considering the time.)

High rises development on the Coast of Italian Somalia, these recent modern tourist areas have been developed across Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia for strong tourism among Italy and its allies.

Libyans in traditional attire, though native libyans are a minority now, the Italian government in recent years has encouraged a culturally revival to attract more tourists, interested in Libyans unique "phoenician" culture.

 

[Lalli]

One of last photos about Qattara Depression before it was floored in 1963.

Mussolini Sea in 2018. It is one of most popular tourist destination in Italy. There visit hundreds of thousands tourists annually which of course help greatly local economy. The sea is too important source of electricity for most of Libyans and Northern Egyptians. The lake is too famous from some sport events like motor boat race around the sea.

 

[Waltzing Brunhilda]

King Ahmad Shah Khan of Afghanistan reigning from 2007 when his father the popular and long reigning Mohammed Zahir Shah died. He did not inherit his father's title of Father of the Nation his reign has seen the nation flourish as a way point between the west and China with Kabul showing the hope and progress of mankind. His popularity has been slowly dropping with the conservative rural population as their hard line Islam distances them from the progressive capital. Still Afghanistan strides forward into the future with hope in the air and truth upon their sides.

King Juan Carlos I of Spain seen here in 2014 his reign has seen the death of Fascism both in Spain and abroad. He ascended to the throne when Francisco Franco passed away and the Kingdom of Spain was reborn. He has seen some controversy with his support to keep the African territories. His heir Alfonso prince of Asturias has made comments supporting joining the CIS which has seen some distaste from the Spanish population. Yet as many in Spain proclaim with hop for the future 'Plus Ultra' further beyond.

Pope Benedict XVI his papacy has been a uneventful one compared to his predecessor. His relations with the Holy Lusitanian Kingdom has led to massive controversy as the radically conservative nation has been accused of human right abuses. Despite this it seems that the Catholic Church will continue as a major influence as religion has been used by many fascists as part of their ideology.

Next time on Crowned Heads of the World: Siam, Japan and Norway

 

[Kotka]

Margherita Sarfatti, Mussolini's lover for more than 40 years. Many historians agree that she and Isaac Carpi were the major influences on Mussolini's philosemitism.
Her death in 1961 devastated Mussolini who would die just 2 years later

 

[Lalli]

Argentinan soldiers during Beagle War in 1978.

Chilean soldiers during Beagle War in 1978.

Demobnstration front of presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 1979.

Isabel Perón became president after death of her husband Juan Perón in 1974. Her hasn't much of power herself and most power had in hands of military leadership. She anyway approved many human rights violations and war against Chile in 1978. After the war Argentina saw many anti-government riots and demonstrations and she tried escape to Paraguay but Paraguayn new regime handed her back to Argentina where she was trialed about misuse of power, human right violations and illegal war agains another nation. She was sentenced 20 years to prison but was released already in 1994. After her sentence Perón moved to Tripoli, Italy where she is still living. Argentinan government has declared her persona non grata. In 2003 Italian police arrested her from tax evasion and she was fined.

Isabel Allende, daugher of former president Salvador Allende, is current president of Chile. She is first female president of the country. During her presidency in Chile has made some social reforms. Allende even managed despite opposition of Catholic Church legalise LGBT marriages and abortion if pregnancy/birthing is threatening mother's health or life, rape case and incest cases.

 

[Waltzing Brunhilda]

King Rama X of Siam ascending to the throne in 2016 one of the more powerful monarchs in the world there were fears that he might give into the playboy tendencies he was showing as a child. Then when he was 22 he was forced to join the army and loved it. His reign has seen him pour money into the military which has seen some controversy from his neighbors and China. Despite this Siam is looking to stride into the future with hope and glory from the shadows of Fascism and foreign domination.

Emperor Akihito of Japan seen here in 2018 he ascended to the throne when his father abdicated in 1945 his reign has seen the Cold War, the Cool War and the falls of Communism and Fascism alongside the reunification of Japan. There have been some requests for him to abdicate yet he has refused and looks to the future with hope and honor for the Land of the Rising Sun.

King Harald V of Norway he ascended to the throne following the death of his father King Olav V. His reign has been peaceful especially compared to his Grandfather Haakon VII who oversaw the First and Second World Wars and the Arabian Wars. As Norway looks to the future with hope in their hearts and light in the air and as his father and grandfather said 'alt for Norge'.

 

[Lalli]

Prime minister of Sweden Olof Palme condemning nuking of Addis Abeba during demonstration front of Italian embassy. Palme outrightely calls Balbo as war criminal and nuking of Addis Abeba just being as evil act as nukin of Warsaw was. This ruins relationships of Italy and Sweden for almost whole 1970's.

Haile Selassie's tomb in Holy Trinity's Cathedral in Addis Abeba. When Ethiopia finally gained independence his remnants were transferred to new capital Bahir Dar where he rested over 20 years. His casket were re-interned to re-built Addis Abeba in 1999. Nowadays most of Ethiopians see him as martyr of Ethiopian cause and he is seen as national hero due his strong support for anti-Italian struggle.

 

[Kotka]

The police arresting a man in Helsinki for spreading communist pamphlets. Even if the country has had an incredible recovery, Finland still has the national trauma of communist oppression extremely present. It is a crime to found or be a member of some communist organization, to distribute communist propaganda or to possess Marxist books except in the case of academic studies. Being a communist in Finland means being a social pariah and someone despised by the entire population.

 

[Lalli]

Military commander of Finland C.G.E. Mannerheim during Continuation War (1941 - 1944). Soviets captured him soon after Finland had surrended. Mannerheim died in prison under unclear circumstances two years later. Soviet officials claimed that he was shot when he tried escape from prison. But almost no one believed that almost 80 years old man with weak health could manage do that. Soviets cremated Mannerheim and scattered his ash to nearby Helsinki so his actual cause of death couldn't be check. From archives of KGB hasn't found any evidence that Stalin would had ordered killing of Mannerheim. Nowadays historians mostly believe that some guards had personal grudge against Mannerheim and killed him. Nowadays Finns see him as national hero and martyr.

Mannerheim statue on Senate Square, Helsinki. There stood tsar Alexander II's statue several decades. In 1945 it was replaced by Stalin's statue. It was destroyed during riots in Helsinki in 1971. When Finland re-gained independence it was firstly planned to restore the tsar's statue but due strong anti-Russian feelings (even stronger than during inter-war years) the plan was abandoned and soon it was decided that there would be Mannerheim's statue. Statue was erected in 1978.

 

[Lalli]

Memorial site of Battle of Trieste during WW2. It was created in 1947 with moneytary fund of Italian government and many notable Jewish businessmen.

Trieste Synagogue. Beside memorial site of Battle of Trieste it is one of most famous landmarks in the city. The synagogue damaged badly during Battle of Trieste but it was reconstructed and finally re-opened in 1949. It has secured vibrant Jewish community in Trieste and surrounding villages. Trieste has largest Jewish community in Italy after Rome, Tripoli, Venice, Milan and Florence.

 

[Kotka]

Mogadishu, the largest city in Italian Somalia. The cathedral and mosque are frequently used as an example of the religious tolerance of the region, altough on a lesser degree than Libya.

Hargeisa, the capital of the British protectorate of Somaliland.

Djibouti, capital of the French department of the same name.

 

[Alpha-King98760]

Jewish fighters at the Battle of Trieste.

Jews firing at oncoming Waffen-SS soldiers.

Soldiers of the 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS or better known as the Dirlewanger Brigade at Trieste.

A battleship of the Regia Marina provides fire support for the defenders of Trieste.​

 

[Lalli]

Ruins of Buraydah, capital of Islamic State of Arabia. The city was totally abandoned after armies of Hejaz and Sabah liberated its residents from reign of cruel and mad mufti. Even still nowadays local bedouins believe that the city is cursed and haunted by ghosts of the mufti and his cronies so they avoid go to the city.

Ruins of Riyadh. Former capital of Saudi Arabia wasn't ever re-settled and even local bedouns avoid the city altough radiation due nuclear bomb has already decreased to safe level for humans.

One of several victim of "Mad Mufti" who controlled Islamic State of Arabia after Second Arab War. This is quiet common sight in the former state.

Hejazi tanks invading Islamic State of Arabia in 1969.

 

[Kotka]

The Via Degli Eroi (Heroes Street) in Trieste during Hannukah. Every year the street fountains are stained red in memory of the blood of the fighters who died defending Trieste from the Nazis. Hanukkah has become a holiday celebrated by the city inhabitants as their own freedom festival.

 

[Lalli]

Mapai leader David Ben-Gurion with president Albert Einstein front of his presidential residence nearby of Jerusalem in 1951.

 

[Lalli]

Belém Palace in Lisbon, Portugal. In February 1944 there was held conference. Americans and Soviets weren't invited so only Brits (represented by Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden and Orde Wingate, commander of Anglo-Jewish Army) and Italians (represented by Mussolini and Ciano). It was decided that they both try minimise influence of Soviet Union. At this point Churchill didn't trust anymore to Americans and it was decided let them out.

Later the palace was owned by Portuguese royal family. Nowadays it is official residence of president of Portugal.

Mariyinsky Palace in Kiev, Ukraine. There was held Kiev Conference on April 1944 participated by Stalin, FDR, Churchill and Mussolini. There was made some of post-war plans. Nowadays it is official residence of president of Ukraine.

Cecilienhof in Potsdam, Germany. Soon after defeat of Germany in 1944 there was held conference participated by president Wallace, Stalin, Churchill, De Gaulle and Mussolini. There was decided fate of post-war Germany and Wallace and Stalin made infamous plans to East Asia. During years of Cold War it was property of East German government. After re-unification of Germany in 1979 the palace became property of German royal family. Nowadays there is some residential rooms, offices and museum.

 

[Kotka]

The Helsinki Synagogue, rebuilt in 1995 after being demolished during the Soviet period. Most of the 2,000 Finnish Jews managed to flee to Sweden before the beginning of the Soviet Holocaust although about 50 were arrested and killed. Finland has some of the strictest laws against anti-Semitism in the world.

 

[Lalli]

Turkish army defending its positions against army of UAR during Second Arab War.

Turks entering to Aleppo at end of Second Arab War.

Refugees expelled by Turkish army 1956/1957.

Turkish army patrolling occupied Syrian town in 1962. Turkish army and Arab/Islamist militas have clashed multiple times since end of Second Arab War.

Ruins of Tadmur, Syria after air strike by Turkish Air Forces in August 2019. Turkish military operations are killing more and more people in Syria. Even Israel and Kurdistan have vocally condemned Turkish actions and even Iran is becoming critical. International community is demanding end of over 60 years lasted occupation of Syria and speciality end to military activities.

 

[Kotka]

A cafe in Saigon, one of the most distinguishable French inheritances in the country.

A typical Phnom Penh neighborhood with the distinctive French architecture of the buildings.

Entrance sign of a school in Laos. Of the three states in Indochina, Laos has kept the closest ties to France.

 

[Lalli]

US Presidential Election Map 1944

US Presidential Election 1948