In the Axis War on the side of Germany, Mussolini's Italy was responsible for serious war crimes, especially in Yugoslavia and Greece. This 'dark side' of the fascist war, however, is not present in the national memory built after 1945. To distinguish Italy from the former German ally and avoid a punitive peace, the monarchist and anti-fascist ruling classes elaborated a master narrative that highlighted the opposition of the Italian people to Mussolini's war and the humanitarian behavior of Italian soldiers, depicted as saviors of Jews. All responsibility for the crimes committed in the Axis war was placed on the shoulders of the Germans, who thus became a convenient alibi for the national conscience.
| ISBN: | 9781526157133 |
| Publication date: | 29th August 2023 |
| Author: | Filippo Focardi |
| Publisher: | Manchester University Press |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 328 pages |
| Series: | Cultural History of Modern War |
| Genres: |
Social and cultural history Second World War |
In the Axis War on the side of Germany, Mussolini's Italy was responsible for serious war crimes, especially in Yugoslavia and Greece. This 'dark side' of the fascist war, however, is not present in the national memory built after 1945. To distinguish Italy from the former German ally and avoid a punitive peace, the monarchist and anti-fascist ruling classes elaborated a master narrative that highlighted the opposition of the Italian people to Mussolini's war and the humanitarian behavior of Italian soldiers, depicted as saviors of Jews. All responsibility for the crimes committed in the Axis war was placed on the shoulders of the Germans, who thus became a convenient alibi for the national conscience.
The Bad German and the Good Italian features in the following genres: Social and cultural history, Second World War
The Bad German and the Good Italian is available in Hardback
The Bad German and the Good Italian was written by Filippo Focardi and published by Manchester University Press
The Bad German and the Good Italian has 328 pages
Yes it is part of Cultural History of Modern War series
£76.50