Fascist-saluting militants cradle their kids as they rally in Mussolini’s hometown to celebrate Italian dictator
Supporters of Benito Mussolini have marched through his hometown in Italy, unashamedly showing their backing with fascist salutes and flags
HUNDREDS of fascists who still support Italian dictator Benito Mussolini have gathered in his home town to mark his rise to power.
Far-right militants have gathered in Predappio to mark Il Duce’s rise to power with the March on Rome.
Around 30,000 blackshirts gathered in the Italian capital to demand the resignation of the then Prime Minister Luigi Facta on the night of October 27 to 28, 1922.
In the rally to mark this march, many can be seen giving the fascist salute, which is not outlawed in the country despite its past.
In one image a group of men give a right-arm salute while holding a banner of Mussolini.
Another picture shows a woman dressed in a baseball cap and t-shirt with the word “Auschwitzland” and an outline of the death camp on it.
In a third a man appears to be dressed in a black World War II-era military uniform.
The far right militants in Italy have been encouraged due to the country’s shift to the right with the rise of the populist, Eurosceptic and anti-immigration Five Star Movement and its blocking of a parliamentary bill which was aimed at banning fascist salutes and the sale of Mussolini memorabilia.
Earlier this year the party, lead by Luigi Di Maio, became the largest single party in the country's parliament.
It secured 32.7 percent of the vote and 227 seats, not enough to secure an overall majority though and the party is largely dependent on the Lega Nord for support.
Thousands travel to Mussolini’s birthplace every year and souvenir shops sell fascist-themed souvenirs like coffee mugs that have the slogans: Believe, Obey and Fight.
Who was Benito Mussolini?
Born on July 29, 1883, Mussolini was the leader of the country’s Partito Nazionale Fascista (National Fascist Party) – PNF.
He became Prime Minister in 1922 after the March on Rome and effectively became a dictator in 1925 and ruled until 1943.
Mussolini became known as Il Duce (The Leader).
Initially Mussolini had joined the Socialist Party (PSI) but was expelled for supporting military intervention in the First World War.
After the war his views focused on “revolutionary nationalism”.
Following the Abyssinia Crisis in 1935-36 he invaded Ethiopia which was widely condemned by the Western Powers but he got the backing of Germany’s leader Adolf Hitler.
Hitler and Mussolini formed what was called the Rome-Berlin Axis and signed a treaty of co-operation.
On June 10, 1940 Italy joined the Second World War, on the side of Germany.
In October that year Mussolini sent Italian forces into Greece although it was unsuccessful and the counter-offensive pushed the forces back to Albania.
Italy also suffered a humiliating defeat when it joined with Germany in launching an attack on the Soviet Union.
Mussolini also suffered a defeat when the Axis Powers were crushed in North Africa..
In July 1942 the Grand Council of Fascism passed a motion of no confidence in Mussolini and on July 25 the king dismissed him as head of the government.
He was held in custody until he was rescued by German troops.
Mussolini then tried to flee the country with his mistress Clara Petacci to Switzerland but both were captured by communist partisans and executed by firing squad.
His body was then taken to Milan was it was hung upside down at a petrol station to publicly confirm his death.
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The far-right Forza Nuova party had announced a march called the “March of Patriots” in Rome for October 28 but the Interior Minister Marco Minniti said any march would be illegal.
Speaking in parliament in September he said that any event like that “clearly recall[ed] the birth of the fascist regime" and would "clearly contrast with the legal order".
In response to the initial criticism, Forza Nuova's leader Roberto Fiore denied any "fascist or nostalgic" element to the march, and called it a "walk for security".