Figure 1.--All young men in Italy until 2004 were required to serve in the armed forces for a period of time. At the beginning of the 20th century, the required service was 2 years; then, it gradually decreased to 10 months. The year before reaching the age of majority, all young men had to undergo a medical examination at the military district. If there were no health impediments or reasons for postponement, they were enlisted the following year. This photo was taken in Cornate d'Adda, north of Milan. It shows young men born in 1925 who underwent the military medical examination. In villages and small towns, it was customary for young men of the same age to celebrate together before being called up for militaryservice. Since they were born in 1925, the photo was probably taken in 1943. It also could be 1944. But the young men look way to nthisiastic for it to have been taken in 944. During the war years, military service was brought forward to ages 18 or 19. In this case, they served in Mussolini's Social Republic. The royal coat of arms on the flag has been replaced by a heart. There are also some women and children in the photo. One of the young men is barefoot, somthing comon among peasasnt farmers. It looks like someone has photoshopped the image, probably to black out Fascist imagery.

Mussolini after being rescued by the NAZIs was essentially a broken man. Hitler had to us considerable pressure to convince him to accept a continued political role keeping the Axis alive. Hitler installed him as the figurehead leader of a new Fascist state in the area of northern Italy not yet liberated (September 23). The Repubblica Sociale Italiana" (RSI) was curiously founded at Saló, a remote village on the Garda Lake. The new government was a 'Republic' because the King had fled with Badoglio. As a propaganda ploy to appeal to Italian workers, the new Government passed sweeping social reforms. Some authors maintain that in social and economic areas, the Government maintained considerable independence from the the NAZIs. Mussolini felt he was 'let down' by the Italian people. He ordered a revival of his military with a new Republic National Guard, police, and 10th Squadron naval commandos. Very little of the Italian Army exhibited any loyalty to Mussolini and the new Fascist Government. In fact, most of the Italian Army continued to be held by the NAZIs in slave-labor camps in the Reich until liberated by the Allies at the end of the War. Hee we see the 1925 induction year group. Whay we do not know is when he photograph was taken, nu lkely in 1943. We don't think that there wold have benn much enthusiam in 1944 (figure 1). It was the German Army that provided effective resistance to the Allied push north. The Fascist police was used to go after civilians and Jews. There was little overt resistance to Mussolini until the NAZI occupation (September 1943). The NAZI occupation, however, triggered a widespread national resistance movement leading to what might be called an Italian Civil War. The remaining Fascists stalwarts did attempt to fight fight th poorly armed Partisans. But this was only possible because they had backing from the German military. Salò became a de facto capital because Rome was liberated by the Allies (June 1944). It was by no means a national government. It consisted primarily of Mussolini and a rump Ministry of Foreign Affairs which took up residence in Saló. Only the backing of the German Army enable the Fascists to maintain control in the north. There was no real diplomatic recognition of the RSI. Only NAZI Germany and NAZI satellite states recognized the RSI. Even Vichy and Finland refused to recognize the RSI. He told Italians over the radio that the new state "... will be national and social in the fullest sense of the words. It will thus be Fascist in a way that takes us back to our origins."

Created: 3:05 AM 10/13/2025
Last updated: 3:05 AM 10/13/2025