Mussolini diaries
Encyclopedia
The Mussolini diaries are several forged diaries of Italy's former fascist leader Benito Mussolini
. The two best known cases of forged Mussolini diaries are those of 1957 and 2007, but other forgeries have also been discovered.
claimed that diaries, covering the years from 1935 to 1939 had been found. Moreover, he claimed in the newspaper Corriere della Sera
, these Mussolini diaries were with a lawyer at Bellinzona
, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland
. He said he examined the diaries and found that the "handwriting is clear and recognisably" that of Mussolini, though "a bit hurried". Dell'Utri stated that his claim was supported by an unknown handwriting expert. He said further that the diaries had been found in a suitcase the dictator was carrying when he was caught by partisans in Dongo, at Lake Como
, while he was fleeing to Switzerland in April 1945. The books had been hidden by one of the partisans who had died recently.
These diaries occasioned much interest among historians, as it appeared that Mussolini reluctantly brought Italy into World War II
and that he had tried to prevent the war. The diaries were also received with scepticism as they had not been authenticated independently. This scepticism was made more acute by memories of the 1957 forgery and the forged Hitler diaries
case in 1983.
Later in February two Italian historians Emilio Gentile
and Roberto Travaglini independently discovered that these diaries were indeed forged The historians claim that these diaries had been around for some time and that someone had tried to sell these diaries to journalists before offering them to Dell'Utri. According to Gentile, the diaries contain "historical errors" and that the authors "seem to have copied various articles from old newspapers", and according to Travaglini ""there were too many elements that did not match up"".
Marcello Dell'Utri is the owner of the diaries and still claims them to be authentic.
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
. The two best known cases of forged Mussolini diaries are those of 1957 and 2007, but other forgeries have also been discovered.
1957 claim
During 1957 a mother and daughter (Amalia and Rosa Panvini) produced thirty volumes of what they later claimed were Mussolini's diaries; these diaries apparently fooled the dictator's son and an expert. At first it was believed that the large number of volumes in themselves were evidence that they were not forgeries. Later, however, it was discovered that these diaries had in fact been forged.2007 claim
In February 2007, Italian senator Marcello Dell'UtriMarcello Dell'Utri
Marcello Dell'Utri is an influential Italian politician and senior advisor to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi...
claimed that diaries, covering the years from 1935 to 1939 had been found. Moreover, he claimed in the newspaper Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
, these Mussolini diaries were with a lawyer at Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He said he examined the diaries and found that the "handwriting is clear and recognisably" that of Mussolini, though "a bit hurried". Dell'Utri stated that his claim was supported by an unknown handwriting expert. He said further that the diaries had been found in a suitcase the dictator was carrying when he was caught by partisans in Dongo, at Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
, while he was fleeing to Switzerland in April 1945. The books had been hidden by one of the partisans who had died recently.
These diaries occasioned much interest among historians, as it appeared that Mussolini reluctantly brought Italy into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and that he had tried to prevent the war. The diaries were also received with scepticism as they had not been authenticated independently. This scepticism was made more acute by memories of the 1957 forgery and the forged Hitler diaries
Hitler Diaries
In April 1983, the West German news magazine Stern published excerpts from what purported to be the diaries of Adolf Hitler, known as the Hitler Diaries , which were subsequently revealed to be forgeries...
case in 1983.
Later in February two Italian historians Emilio Gentile
Emilio Gentile
Emilio Gentile is an Italian historian specializing in the ideology and culture of fascism. Gentile is considered one of Italy's foremost cultural historians of fascist ideology. He is a student of Renzo De Felice....
and Roberto Travaglini independently discovered that these diaries were indeed forged The historians claim that these diaries had been around for some time and that someone had tried to sell these diaries to journalists before offering them to Dell'Utri. According to Gentile, the diaries contain "historical errors" and that the authors "seem to have copied various articles from old newspapers", and according to Travaglini ""there were too many elements that did not match up"".
Marcello Dell'Utri is the owner of the diaries and still claims them to be authentic.