The text describes the Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio's occupation of Fiume (now Rijeka) in 1919. D'Annunzio led a group of Italian nationalists who seized control of the city, which was then part of Austria-Hungary but had a majority Italian population. Mussolini portrays D'Annunzio as a charismatic leader who inspired loyalty and devotion among his followers. However, he also notes that D'Annunzio's actions were reckless and ultimately unsuccessful in achieving their goal of annexing Fiume to Italy. The text highlights the tensions between D'Annunzio's romantic nationalism and Mussolini's more pragmatic approach to politics. Mussolini sees D'Annunzio as a relic of the past, out of touch with the realities of modern politics. Throughout the text, Mussolini critiques D'Annunzio's leadership style, which he views as autocratic and divisive. He also notes that D'Annunzio's actions damaged Italy's international reputation and hindered its efforts to secure a treaty settlement after World War I. The text concludes by suggesting that D'Annunzio's failure in Fiume marked the end of an era, and that Mussolini's own brand of fascism was better suited to the challenges of modern politics.
By Benito Mussolini · First published 1920 · Genre: Political Speech, Historical Commentary, Nationalism