Italian Forces

Mussolini greets Majesty.

The Duce defers to King Vittorio Emmanuele III of Italy. The King was the constitutional lynchpin of the Italian State throughout Mussolini's period in power, and other members of the royal House of Savoy played significant parts in public affairs in the period. Unfortunately for Musso, he seems to have failed to appreciate the historical capacity of the House of Savoy for, shall we say, ruthless action when the situation appeared to call for it. The Duce was certainly correct in thinking that his eventual denunciation by the Fascist Grand Council had no more than "advisory" effect, at least as far as the law was concerned. This did not stop the King from ordering his arrest the following day on the occasion of a routine visit, paving the way for the Badoglio government and Italy's official defection to the Allies. Not that this preserved the Monarchy as events turned out - but His Majesty, after years of involuntary passivity, did his best ... Constitutionally and legally, I would find it very hard to sort out the proprieties of this coup d'état. The whole thing, from that viewpoint, was a mess from the start. Regards, JR.