"Mussolini, his removal from power, Hitler's rescue, his cruel death" by Robin Smith was the Zoom lecture given from Howick, KZN on 14 December 2023.
The lecture covers Benito Mussolini's rise to power as he developed Fascism with the help of the Black Shirts and took over the government of Italy, while deliberately demolishing the safeguards of democracy in that country, until the King had no choice but to appoint him as de facto solo political ruler. He formed a pact with Hitler but was not yet ready to join in any fighting when Germany invaded Poland in 1939. His ambitions to expand the Italian Empire, emulating the Romans, fell flat in Ethiopia and North Africa such that Hitler had to rescue his armies when Mussolini's invasion of Greece proved unsuccessful.
By 1943 his loss of popularity in Italy led to his removal from power by the King and his imprisonment. The lecture covers the negotiations with the Allies about the surrender of Italy and the failure at the last minute which resulted in the Germans taking over the northern sections of Italy. It covers his audacious rescue by German troopers from his prison in the Gran Sasso resort in the Appenines and his reinstatement as a puppet governor in the northern provinces of Italy which were still occupied by German forces.
He tried to get to Switzerland but was captured near Lake Como by partisans and shot along with his mistress Clara Pettaci and many of his political associates. Their bodies were displayed publically to much humiliation and derogation before he was buried in a small town cemetery. Long after the war his body was exhumed and hidden by Fascist sympathisers before finally being entombed in a memorial in his home town.
An excellent talk putting together the big picture, Robin finished with a bibliography.
The recording of the Zoominars is on the website in the Video Library.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS - ZOOMINARS
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 8th January 2024 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker: Mac Alexander is to tell us about Chilean Commando training.
Johannesburg Branch
Thursday 18th January 2024 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Andriza Liebenberg
Subject: "Fritz Haber"
This German chemist received a controversial Nobel Prize in 1918 for developing the
Haber-Bosch process which produces ammonia for use in explosives and in fertilizer.
This helped food production world wide, but his military contribution was far more
sinister - the poison gases of WW1's Western Front...
SAMHSEC RPC
The RPC Zoominar will be held on Monday 29th January at 19h30 and then 20h15.
Members of all Branches are always Welcome to Attend all ZOOM Meetings
Let scribe@samilitaryhistory.org know in order to be sent an invitation to the next ZOOMinar
Time to join the Zoominars
For those members still anxious about Zoom lectures, please give them a try! Go onto the internet and find www.zoom.us then download the program. If using a cellphone visit the app store. Once you have it on your device - computer or cellphone - choose to join a meeting. Either use the link which is provided in the invitation or type in the meeting code and then the password, also from the invitation, as requested.
You do NOT need to have a camera - unless you are the speaker or a chairman- although it is always interesting to match faces to voices. As in the auditorium, you do not HAVE to ask the speaker any questions, but there are ways in which you can draw the chair's attention so you can do so.
KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meetings
NOTICE OF JANUARY 2024 MEETING
The first meeting of 2024 will take place on the THIRD Saturday (20th Jan 2024).
To open 2024, we will have a main talk by our Pacific War specialist, Roy Bowman who will give an illustrated presentation on:
Halsey's two Typhoons or how Japan nearly beat the US Navy - A reminder that extreme weather conditions have been with us always!
The starting time is 1.30 for 2.00pm. The venue remains the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments available for cash from The Vicar's Alms.
Enquiries: Prof Phil Everitt Chairman
Cell: 084-437-1636 E-mail: everitt@iafrica.com
or
Charles Whiteing Vice-Chair
Cell: 082-555-4689 Email: charlesw2@absamail.co.za
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2024
Invoices have been e-mailed to all existing members except Life and Honorary categories.
Single R300
Family R320
Family being two members with a single postal address but can have dual e-mail addresses
Overseas subs US$37 via PayPal
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
Eastern Cape details contact Malcolm Kinghorn 041-373-4469 culturev@lantic.net
Gauteng details contact Joan Marsh 010-237-0676 joan@rfidradar.com
KwaZulu-Natal details contact Prof Phil Everitt 084-437-1636 everitt@iafrica.com
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