Page 88 - Fascism: The Bloody Ideology Of Darwinsim

88 FASCISM: THE BLOODY IDEOLOGY OF DARWINISM

these, "The Duce is always right," became a slogan that was heard all over
Italy in the 1920s and 30s. 39 By 1935, membership of the fascist youth
organization, the Opera Nationale Balilla, became compulsory for all Italian
youth. Young Italians who became a member of Balilla swore to "...believe in
Rome the eternal... in the genius of Mussolini, in our Holy Father Fascism." 40
Another method employed to portray the fascist leader as sacred was
the putting up of his picture and statues all over the country. This had a
profound psychological effect on the
public, who constantly felt themselves
within the leader's power and under
his control, and even, that he was
always watching them. Mussolini's
official propaganda service used to
advise the press how, when and which
of his pictures was to be printed, on
which page, in what arrangement, and
in what size. In these photographs, "Il
Duce" appeared before his people in
pompous poses: brandishing a sword,
stressing economic development in a
harvest area, addressing young
fascists, as a tireless worker or
sportsman.
Hitler was portrayed as a
hero of the people. In each case, Mussolini was

One of the primary
purposes of ensuring that
Nazi propaganda posters
were visible all across the
country was to make
people feel that the leader
was everywhere and was
watching them.