Member-only story
The Guardian, 30 October, 1922: Fascists Triumph in Italy
Behind the dramatic events of the world political agenda in 2022, one important anniversary went completely unnoticed. Exactly 100 years ago, in October 1922, Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy. After the famous “March on Rome”, the King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister.
The Italian Cabinet was headed by the brutal Fascist leader who subjugated Italians to his will and subsequently plunged them into the catastrophe of World War II. Mussolini became famous as a proponent of the “new school” implementing new methods in politics, which were very quickly adopted by his colleagues in many countries of the world, turning the 20th century into the bloodiest era in human history. Unfortunately, 100 years ago, few could discern the first signs of an impending catastrophe.
However, the British national daily newspaper The Guardian was able to do this, publishing an editorial on October 30, 1922, with a surprisingly accurate prognosis. We offer the reader some of the Guardian’s conclusions, of course, with the necessary comments. The prophetic words of this short editorial are truly astounding.
Signor Mussolini, the Italian Fascist leader, has been invited to form a Government. If an English political leader of any party organised armed followers throughout the country and on…