D’Annunzio what some call his "Woodstock 1919-1920". The Commandante of Fiume was not, as popularly believed, the "John the Baptist of Fascism". Read his Carta Del Carnaro written August 27, 1920, it's online. It was his Constitution for the Fiume Regency."Il Commandante" and "Il Duce” were D'Annunzio's titles in 1919.
Mussolini copy-catted everything D'Annunzio started. It was D’Annunzio who started: Black Shirts, Jolly Roger Emblems, even the song GIOVINEZZA (written in 1909 and, to me the "Times They Are A-Changin'" song of its day) became D'Annunzio's theme song. The "Roman Salute" D'Annunzio copied from seeing photos of American Public School kids doing the Pledge of Allegiance. A book by Michael Ledeem called "THE FIRST DUCE" tells all about his Fiume Expedition. You can see film footage of 1919-1920 Fiume on YouTube as well as film footage of D'Annunzio himself.
D'Annunzio didn't think highly of Mussolini. He felt Benito wasn’t too bright. Legend has it when Mussolini had D'Annunzio killed when, after the Axis was signed, D'Annunzio told Mussolini he was going to address the nation to topple Mussolini and tear up the Axis treaty. D'Annunzio was the ONLY person outside of Hitler Mussolini feared. When Mussolini announced his march on Rome HALF OF HIS TOP AIDES went to D'Annunzio to ask HIM to lead the march.
D'Annunzio's failure was his inability to carry through a plan to completion. D'Annunzio had Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder which does cripple one's ability to be consistent.
"Be willing To Dare!" was one of his mottos. Had D'Annunzio and NOT Mussolini marched on Rome; Italy's history would’ve been quite different prior to World War 2. It's possible, considering personalities; D'Annunzio would've been a non- communist "Fidel Castro-esque" Duce right in Europe. D’Annunzio Italy would've been a cross between fascism and the modern Netherlands. Culturally quite libertarian and yet a "corporate state". Some have called D'Annunzio a true "Anarcho-Nationalist". Maybe he was.
He was a quite complex man who can't really be politically categorized. He was...simply himself. And "yes", his Fiume battleship is still in his back yard at La Vitoriale, his estate. Mussolini towed it to him hoping to appease him. No kidding.
Mussolini copy-catted everything D'Annunzio started. It was D’Annunzio who started: Black Shirts, Jolly Roger Emblems, even the song GIOVINEZZA (written in 1909 and, to me the "Times They Are A-Changin'" song of its day) became D'Annunzio's theme song. The "Roman Salute" D'Annunzio copied from seeing photos of American Public School kids doing the Pledge of Allegiance. A book by Michael Ledeem called "THE FIRST DUCE" tells all about his Fiume Expedition. You can see film footage of 1919-1920 Fiume on YouTube as well as film footage of D'Annunzio himself.
D'Annunzio didn't think highly of Mussolini. He felt Benito wasn’t too bright. Legend has it when Mussolini had D'Annunzio killed when, after the Axis was signed, D'Annunzio told Mussolini he was going to address the nation to topple Mussolini and tear up the Axis treaty. D'Annunzio was the ONLY person outside of Hitler Mussolini feared. When Mussolini announced his march on Rome HALF OF HIS TOP AIDES went to D'Annunzio to ask HIM to lead the march.
D'Annunzio's failure was his inability to carry through a plan to completion. D'Annunzio had Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder which does cripple one's ability to be consistent.
"Be willing To Dare!" was one of his mottos. Had D'Annunzio and NOT Mussolini marched on Rome; Italy's history would’ve been quite different prior to World War 2. It's possible, considering personalities; D'Annunzio would've been a non- communist "Fidel Castro-esque" Duce right in Europe. D’Annunzio Italy would've been a cross between fascism and the modern Netherlands. Culturally quite libertarian and yet a "corporate state". Some have called D'Annunzio a true "Anarcho-Nationalist". Maybe he was.
He was a quite complex man who can't really be politically categorized. He was...simply himself. And "yes", his Fiume battleship is still in his back yard at La Vitoriale, his estate. Mussolini towed it to him hoping to appease him. No kidding.
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