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particularly the army, the Fascist spirit of aggressive militarism had not succeeded in
predominating.
It must also be noted that historical and cultural differences and antipathies
made Mussolini's alliance with Germany unpopular. This constantly led to friction
and noncooperation between the Germans and Italians both in North Africa and Italy.
Another factor was that a segment of the Italian population remained friendly
to
France and England. Finally the entry of the US into the war convinced most Italians
of the inevitability of defeat.
The cumulative weight of these various factors rendered Fascist Italy's partici-
pation in the war ineffective, and brought about the collapse of the Fascist government
and the Italian armistice in 1943.
C.
General Scene after Collapse of Fascism.
The collapse of Fascism brought simultaneously a general disintegration of the
capacity of the Italians to think and act for themselves. Furthermore, for more than
a year Italy was split between the US-UK and German occupation. During this phase
the nation was in the throes of physical, social, and spiritual despair. Following the
cessation of hostilities, actual control and direction of Italian national and local life
were in the hands of the Allied Military Government and the Allied Control Commission
for Italy. Only gradually were governmental initiative and jurisdiction returned to the
Italians until the signing of the peace treaty 10 February 1947.
Italy's traditional regionalism and general split into two antagonistic halves
(Northern and Southern Italy) were revived by the collapse of Fascism and the effects
of the war. While agricultural Southern Italy was devastated, the rich industrial
Northern Italy suffered comparatively little. Politically there was a powerful resur-
gence of leftist and republican elements in the North, and of conservative royalist
groups in the South. In Sicily, moreover, the separatist movement sprang up again
(many even campaigned for incorporation in the United States). The confused
Italians after the war were further bewildered by US and UK policies, since UK was
apparently trying to keep the House of Savoy on the throne, while the US apparently
disapproved of King Victor Emmanuel and insisted on a popular referendum to decide
the form of the Italian government.
After an initial period of stunned apathy the Italians responded with a strong
will to work when the US, UK, and UNRRA poured in considerable materials to reacti-
vate Italian industries. The morale of the workers, however, has been adversely
affected by the widespread "black market" for almost all commodities of life, which has
made the cost of living excessively high for all except the wealthy. The "black market"
has also stimulated speculation and hoarding among many Italians, particularly the
farmer with his indispensable produce. (See Section II - Economic Situation.)
The power-conscious Italians have been strongly impressed with the military
exploits and strength of the USSR and with the strong Communist tide which has en-
gulfed Balkan countries and now washes their northeastern frontier. Moreover, the
average Italian today is concerned less with the form of government and more with a
leader or organization which will satisfy his family's physical needs. The average
I-3
SECRET
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"ocrText": "SECRET\nparticularly the army, the Fascist spirit of aggressive militarism had not succeeded in\npredominating.\nIt must also be noted that historical and cultural differences and antipathies\nmade Mussolini's alliance with Germany unpopular. This constantly led to friction\nand noncooperation between the Germans and Italians both in North Africa and Italy.\nAnother factor was that a segment of the Italian population remained friendly\nto\nFrance and England. Finally the entry of the US into the war convinced most Italians\nof the inevitability of defeat.\nThe cumulative weight of these various factors rendered Fascist Italy's partici-\npation in the war ineffective, and brought about the collapse of the Fascist government\nand the Italian armistice in 1943.\nC.\nGeneral Scene after Collapse of Fascism.\nThe collapse of Fascism brought simultaneously a general disintegration of the\ncapacity of the Italians to think and act for themselves. Furthermore, for more than\na year Italy was split between the US-UK and German occupation. During this phase\nthe nation was in the throes of physical, social, and spiritual despair. Following the\ncessation of hostilities, actual control and direction of Italian national and local life\nwere in the hands of the Allied Military Government and the Allied Control Commission\nfor Italy. Only gradually were governmental initiative and jurisdiction returned to the\nItalians until the signing of the peace treaty 10 February 1947.\nItaly's traditional regionalism and general split into two antagonistic halves\n(Northern and Southern Italy) were revived by the collapse of Fascism and the effects\nof the war. While agricultural Southern Italy was devastated, the rich industrial\nNorthern Italy suffered comparatively little. Politically there was a powerful resur-\ngence of leftist and republican elements in the North, and of conservative royalist\ngroups in the South. In Sicily, moreover, the separatist movement sprang up again\n(many even campaigned for incorporation in the United States). The confused\nItalians after the war were further bewildered by US and UK policies, since UK was\napparently trying to keep the House of Savoy on the throne, while the US apparently\ndisapproved of King Victor Emmanuel and insisted on a popular referendum to decide\nthe form of the Italian government.\nAfter an initial period of stunned apathy the Italians responded with a strong\nwill to work when the US, UK, and UNRRA poured in considerable materials to reacti-\nvate Italian industries. The morale of the workers, however, has been adversely\naffected by the widespread \"black market\" for almost all commodities of life, which has\nmade the cost of living excessively high for all except the wealthy. The \"black market\"\nhas also stimulated speculation and hoarding among many Italians, particularly the\nfarmer with his indispensable produce. (See Section II - Economic Situation.)\nThe power-conscious Italians have been strongly impressed with the military\nexploits and strength of the USSR and with the strong Communist tide which has en-\ngulfed Balkan countries and now washes their northeastern frontier. Moreover, the\naverage Italian today is concerned less with the form of government and more with a\nleader or organization which will satisfy his family's physical needs. The average\nI-3\nSECRET"
}