The Close Relationship Between Hitler and Mussolini

Mussolini and Hitler were great friends and allies. Hitler had great admiration for Mussolini and Italy, he considered Italy one of the natural friends of his new Germany. He admired Italy’s art and even stated, “My dearest wish would be to be able to wander about Italy as an unknown painter.” (Qtd in Bosworth, 300) Mussolini had great respect for Hitler and was envious of the Germans success, he hoped to one day have as much power as Hitler. They had a very close relationship.

Italian Fascism and German Nazism were greatly alike. They both called for national regeneration, one all-powerful leader or dictator and a government based on terror or fear. Both Mussolini and Hitler hated liberalism. Mussolini once said “Representative systems belong rather to mechanical than to a moral system… No one can see where the people begins and where it ends. It a purely abstract entity… This in not and there never has been such a thing as government by consent… it can never existed and never will exist. The word sovereign as applied to the people is a tragic joke.” (Qtd in Catlin, 722) Other things that both Hitler and Mussolini had in common were their love of uniforms, parades, use of violence, and methods of mass communication to spread their message. Mussolini believed that he was the sole person that knew what the people of Italy wanted and what was best for them and Hitler believed that he was God.

Hitler and Mussolini encouraged cultural exchange. Art exhibits were created in both Italy and Germany showing art from the other country. Youth groups were also created and radios held combined transmission for schools, using the broadcasts to foster personal contacts between the children though pen-pal arrangements. One Italian boy listener was alleged to have written: “I am proud that my people and friendly with yours, because nowadays our two people are strong and decisive and are destined together to dominate the world.” (Qtd in Bosworth, 408)

Mussolini and Hitler began to regularly exchange letters and visit each other. Their first trip was in June 1934 when they went to Venice. The trip Mussolini took to Germany in 1937, despite him having to watch Göring, one of the leading members of the Nazi party play with his colossal toy train set, was proof of Hitler and Mussolini’s bond growing closer. Hitler and Mussolini often went to art museums together. By 1944 they would have already met up for the sixteenth time.

On May 32, 1939 Italy and Germany signed a treaty, Pact of Friendship and Alliance between Germany and Italy, which Mussolini referred to as “The Pact of Steel”. The pact declared continuing trust and cooperation between Italy and Germany. It also declared a joint military and economic policy. Germany and Italy were in “The Axis Powers” along with Japan. The Axis Powers were part of an alliance.

During World War II Mussolini attempted to invade Greece, this was unsuccessful so he asked Hitler for aid. Hitler agreed but in return wanted Mussolini to send Italians to help Hitler with labor work. Mussolini and Hitler each continued helping each other but it did not go as planned. Slowly the Italian people started to dislike both Germany and Mussolini, they wanted an end to the war and fighting. In 1943 Mussolini was kicked out of office. Hitler then tried to help Mussolini re-gain power, but it did not

work. In 1945, with the help of the Germans, Mussolini tried to escape from Italy. He was discovered by the Italian resistance and then executed. Hitler tried to help Mussolini but unfortunately ended up losing his friend and ally.

Both Mussolini and Hitler shared an obsessive nature, similar ideologies and approaches to consolidate and maintain total power. These two dictators took control of their respective countries’ political process, economies, military, and overall control of the population through fear and propaganda. They were both close allies and friends who assisted each other’s efforts and shared resources and military operations during the war. In the end, their total control did not last forever and their obsession with power and hatred for democracy drove them to craziness.

Work Cited:

Books:

Bosworth, R.J.B. Mussolini’s Italy: Life Under the Fascist Dictatorship, 1915-1945. New York: The Penguin Press, 2006.

Catlin, George. The Story of the Political Philosophers. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2005.

Todd, Allan. The European Dictatorships: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Website:

Gradua Networks. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini . CheatHouse. April 28, 2005. Thursday, 1 March 2007: 10:23 pm