Word: duce
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...prestige he once held among those who thought he was un jurbo (an astute fellow), or among the trusting who believed that, regardless of his Party's corruption, Mussolini had the best interests of his people at heart. One story indicated the Italian's cynicism: The Duce was not satisfied with the reports he was getting on his last speech and decided to make a personal checkup. He put on a beard and wandered in the streets until he met a likely looking citizen. "Buon giorno," said the Duce, "and how did you like the Duce...
Recently there were signs that others were not so impressed with the Duce's doings. Editors, including the intellectual apologist Giuseppe Bottai, stayed in office despite criticisms of the Fascist regime unheard of before the war. Bottai used an oblique technique of presenting "demands from the soul of Italy," for which he personally would take no responsibility. One of these demands was for "competent political government, inspired as far as possible by a sincere desire to serve," another for "more vigorous progress toward social justice...
Rebellious Albania might be the least of Il Duce's worries, but it was the most chronic. A people whose "nationalism does not whisper because their country is small," the Albanians had never accepted the Fascist conquest of 1939. Now patriot resistance, fanned by new hope, was mounting. It could be measured by Rome's frantic hunt for a popular puppet leader. For Prime Minister in Tirana Mussolini chose tricky, turncoat Ekrem Libohova, once ex-King Zog's Foreign Minister. This was Albania's fourth "government...
...military conquest of Italy may be no easy task. After the Duce finished his week's activities, political warfare against Italy looked just as difficult, and it was hard to find an alternative to Mussolini for peace or postwar negotiations...
...Dorlans. The Duce began by ticking off King Vittorio Emanuele, presumably as insurance against the unlikely prospect that the sour-faced little monarch decides either to abdicate or convert his House of Savoy into a bargain basement for peace terms. Mussolini pointedly recalled a decree of May 10, 1936, which elevated him to rank jointly with the King as "first marshal of Italy." Thus the King (constitutionally Commander in Chief of all armed forces) can legally make overtures to the Allies only with the consent and participation of the Duce...