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Article: THE DEAD DUCE.(Benito Mussolini's body)
- Article from:
- History Today
- Article date:
- August 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 History Today Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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John Foot tells the strange story of the death and posthumous life of Italy's Fascist dictator Mussolini -- and the continuing power of the cult of his body over the Italian imagination.
FROM THE VERY START ITALIAN FASCISM was inextricably linked to the personality and person of its founder and leader Benito Mussolini. The Duce's body, and stories concerning his alleged physical courage, virility and violence were a key part of the appeal of the movement. Mussolini's wounds sustained in the First World War sealed his credibility as a nationalist hero. After the war, Mussolini became involved in a series of real or threatened duels with opponents, again seemingly ...