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=Mussolini's Racial Policies=

Aims
Mussolini's fascism initially had very few racial overtones (Jews made up only 0.1% of the Italian population). He had a Jewish mistress for years and appointed a Jewish minister of finance in 1932. However, he later decided to adopt anti-semitic policies to please Hitler. In the words of James Gregor "Mussolini's anti-Jewish attitude was dictated not by theoretical but almost solely tactical, i.e., political, consideration".

Actions
In 1938, Mussolini suddenly passed "Manifesto of the Italian race" (1938) which prevented Jews from:
 * Marrying Aryans
 * Joining the PNF
 * Employing more than 100 people
 * Owning more than 50 hectares of land

Success / Failure
These policies were a massive blunder, much resented in the country, the party and the Church. They implied subservience to Hitler and a racial nastiness that offended many. Michelle Sarfati claims that Mussolini "took part voluntarily and knowingly in the Shoah".

However, other historians argue that Mussolini never rigorously enforced the laws, and this was a subject of tension whenever he met with Hitler. In the words of Mussolini's biographer, Nicholas Farell, Mussolini saved "thousands of Jewish lives — far more than Oskar Schindler ":

//"Just as none of the victorious powers went to war with Germany to save the Jews neither did Mussolini go to war with them to exterminate the Jews. Indeed, once the Holocaust was under way he and his fascists refused to deport Jews to the Nazi death camps thus saving thousands of Jewish lives — far more than Oskar Schindler ". Ironically, Italian Jews fared far worse once Mussolini had been overthrown and Hitler sent his own troops to conquer Northern Italy.//

Although it remains "politically incorrect" to make the point that the Fascist dictator protected Jews, it is interesting to note that when Italy's guilt over the holocaust is raised, it is the Pope, rather than Mussolini, who tends to be criticised.

Recommended Weblinks
[|Mussolini and the Jews] [|Don’t mention that Mussolini saved Jews: it is Politically Inconvenient to do so] (defends Mussolini) [|Mussolini sent Jews to die in Nazi camps] (anti-Mussolini)