Product Description

This is a detailed account of the Fascist regime in Italy after the hammer blows of Alamein, the landings in French North Africa, and Stalingrad, and of the stages leading to the dramatic downfall of Mussolini after the all-night session of the Fascist Grand Council in July, 1943. The narrative then traces Mussolini's return to power as head of a puppet satellite Nazi republic in the north after his abduction from internment by SS paratroopers in September, and then follows the dictator's fate through the Six Hundred Days of the final disintegration of Fascism. Using source materials ranging from summit conference records on the Axis side to private correspondence, police files and spy reports, the author throws fascinating light on how Mussolini ran his government, his relations with leaders, his handling of subordinates and above all his 'brutal friendship' with Hitler.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1318762 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 912 pages

About the Author
F.W. Deakin was born in 1913. He studied Modern history at Christ Church, Oxford. Through his long career he has a Fellow at Wadham College, and Warden at St Anthony's College, Oxford. In 1939 he joined up and was later seconded to special duties at the War Offfice. In 1943 he led the first British Military Lission to Tito, and in 1945 and 1946 was 1st Secretary at the Embassy in Belgrade. He holds the DSO, the Grosse Verdeinstkreuz, the Yugoslav Partisan Star (1st class), and is a member of the Russian Order of Valour and a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur.

Customer Reviews

the brutal friendship
Mr Deakin examines the odd relationship between two dictators, flawed genuises in their different ways, always objective and scholarly, fascinating reading, at times it reads like fiction or a Shakespeare tragedy, but grimly too true.