Wyatt the Odd  | 15 Oct 2009 5:37 p.m. PST |
It would appear that Benito got his start on the payroll of MI5. link Wyatt |
| The Black Tower | 15 Oct 2009 6:09 p.m. PST |
That could explain why the Brits that wanted a deal with Hitler expected that Benito would broker it for them. |
 Murphy  | 15 Oct 2009 6:13 p.m. PST |
mmm….
I can see it now…. "The name is Mussolini….Benito Mussolini…I like my Chianti poured lightly from the bottle…not shaken or sloshed…I am in service to Her Majesty, and I make the trains run on time…" *insert 007 music here* |
| The Black Tower | 15 Oct 2009 6:37 p.m. PST |
That would explain the fondness for a Beretta! |
| 11th ACR | 15 Oct 2009 10:49 p.m. PST |
Note, he was being paid during WW-I when Italy was one of the Allied powers. ? |
| raducci | 15 Oct 2009 10:59 p.m. PST |
And I thought the British people had class. |
| Doug em4miniatures | 16 Oct 2009 1:57 a.m. PST |
What's it got to do with "the British people". Somehow, I doubt if they were asked for their opinion at the time… Doug |
| reddrabs | 16 Oct 2009 2:06 a.m. PST |
Mussolini was not a fascist at the time – his views changed later. |
| A Twiningham | 16 Oct 2009 6:23 a.m. PST |
Yeah, that's sort of like condemning people who had Adolph in to decorate in the '20s for supporting nazism. |
| reddrabs | 16 Oct 2009 11:36 a.m. PST |
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| Griefbringer | 16 Oct 2009 12:29 p.m. PST |
And I thought the British people had class. Ever heard of BUF? |
| raducci | 16 Oct 2009 7:56 p.m. PST |
Musso was a liar, braggart, coward.Not one of Italy's finest.
Cant think hed have been much use to anyone. |
| McSorley | 10 Nov 2009 12:39 p.m. PST |
"Musso was a liar, braggart, coward." But I never figured him for a traitor (until now). I wonder why the British didn't use this as leverage against him? |
| donnieitaly | 15 Nov 2009 6:46 a.m. PST |
And I thought the British people had class. That was a while ago :-( |
| Tango01 | 19 Jun 2021 9:58 p.m. PST |
The Abwehr and the RSHA against the NKVD, NKGB and ‘SMERSH'
link
Armand
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| donlowry | 20 Jun 2021 8:38 a.m. PST |
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| Blutarski | 20 Jun 2021 8:48 a.m. PST |
Mussolini, IIRC, was a socialist early in his political career. B |
 Legion 4   | 20 Jun 2021 9:20 a.m. PST |
11th ACR +1 Yes, Italy was part of the "Allies" in WWI, e.g. UK, France, etc.
Unless I missed something ? I see no problem/conflict of interest with UK intel paying him and using him as an "asset" during WWI. I think the article's title is a bit misleading and the picture is from after WWI not during … Just say'n … |
| Die Engelsman | 01 Sep 2022 4:06 a.m. PST |
There are a few things a little adrift with that article. For a start, Mussolini had been involved in politics since the early years of the 20th Century rising to editorship of the party newspaper. He was kicked out of the socialist party in 1914 founding his own newspaper in the same year with a much more nationalist leaning. He was already hanging around with nationalist politicians by that stage. |
 deadhead | 06 Sep 2022 1:10 a.m. PST |
It is indeed odd to read of MI5 operating abroad like this. Also, another common enough misunderstanding. Adolf is often derided as a "housepainter", but he did not slap paint on walls as a decorator. Instead he painted houses onto canvas and none too successfully. |
| 4th Cuirassier | 06 Sep 2022 5:07 a.m. PST |
I wonder if Hitler ever painted any miniatures? It's been said before that his preoccupation with tanks with huge guns, and his total lack of interest in trucks, shows he was was a wargamer. I suppose his "wargame" army was the Wehrmacht. |
