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.adopted its constitution in 1919
had met at the city of Weimar.
Many Germans cannot accept
their country's defeat. The war
leaves them humiliated and disori–
ented. The Weimar R epubl ic is
plagued from the start by a host of
political, economic and social prob–
lem.s. Germans quickly discover that
it is easier to write a democratic con–
stitution than to make it work.
The constitution ensures the rep–
resentation of small minority par–
ties in parliament. Innumerable
separate parties are formed. As a
result , government majorities can
be formed only by coalition- tem–
porary all iances of part ies. The
fragile governments thus formed
are victims of continua! disunity
and bickering among "partners."
Small parties often hold the bal–
ance of power, stalling and blocking
legislation.
Meln Kampf
In 1921, the son of an obscure Aus–
trian customs official becomes
president of one of Germany's
many small parties-the National
Socialist German Workers' Party
(NSDAP). He is a frustrated artist
named Adolf Hitler.
As a co rpor al, Hitl er was
awarded the coveted l ron Cross for
personal bravery in World War
I.
Now he gathers a small following
of fellow veterans bent on overturn–
ing the humi liating T reaty of Ver–
sail les and restoring Germany's
honor. He is strongly influenced by
the career and philosophy of Benito
Mussolini.
Hitler is impatient. He plots to
seize power in a coup. In Novem–
ber 1923, he stages the Beer Hall
Putsch
at Munich, an attempt that
fails to overthrow the Bavarian gov–
ernment. He is arrested and impris–
oned for nine months at Landsberg,
where he authors an ignored vol–
ume titled
Mein Kampf
("My
Struggle").
lt
will later become the
bible of the Nazi movement.
" Divina Caesar"
Back in Italy, Mussolini is endeav–
oring to make Rome again the ceo–
ter of Western civilization.
11 Duce admires Julius Caesar
above all men. He perceives himself
a modern-day Caesar, a builder of
empires, a figure of destiny. He
12
shaves his head to make himself
look more Jike a Caesar.
Mussol ini has an intense sense of
historical mission. He is fascinated
by the history of Rome. He dreams
of a modero Roman Empire, of
repeating the great days of ancient
Rome.
The handshake is abolished and
the old Roman salute with raised
arm becomes the official greeting.
Mussolini's theat rical, gladiatorial
pose becomes known worldwide.
The strutting Duce is overwhelmed
by his dreams of Roman grandeur.
After Mussolini survives an
assassination attempt , the secretary
of the Fascist 'Party announces to
cheering crowds: "God has put his
finger on the Duce! He is Italy's
greatest son, the rightful heir of
Caesar!" Following the example of
ancient Rome, sorne of Mussolini's
Fascist supporters even call him
"divine Caesar."
Añcient images fill Mussolini's
mind- and urge him relentlessly
on toward his "destiny."
Secret Negotiations
ltalians are overwhelmingly Catho–
lic. Mussolini realizes that sorne
effort must be made toward set–
tling the long-standing " Roman
Quest ion."
Since 1870, the Popes have been
in self-imposed exi le in protest
against tbe usurpation of Papal ter–
ritory by the forces of King Víctor
Emmanuel 11. The impasse be–
tween Italy and the Vat ican per–
sists.
Il Duce knows enough history to
realize h e could n ot emerge
unscathed from a head-on confron–
tation with tbe Papacy. He sees
advantages to be gained in an
alliance with the Church.
Mussolini wants to be able to say
that his is the first Italian govern–
ment in modern history to be offi–
cially recognized by the Pope.
Accordingly, Il Duce seeks to
create the impression that he is a
devout Catholic, though since boy–
hood he has not been a churchgoer.
Privately he scorns the ri tes and
dogmas of the Church. An avowed
atheist in bis youth, he had once
written a pamphlet t itled
God Does
Not Exist!
For its par t, the Vatican is at
first sympathetic toward fascism.
Though Pope Pius XI ( 1922-1939)
is critica! of fascism's use of vio–
lence, he considers Mussolini as
preferable to aH al ternatives.
Secret negotiations now prepare
the way for a dramatic reconci lia–
tion.
Lateran Treaty
Italy's reconci liation with the Vati–
can comes on February 11, 1929.
Mussolini represents the king. Car–
dinal Gasparri represents Pope
Pius. In a solemn ceremony at noon
in the Lateran Palace in Rome,
three histo r ie documents a r e
signed:
The Lateran Treaty gives the
Pope fu ll sovereignty and temporal
power over the 11O-acre Vatican
C ity, now the newest and smallest
sovereign count ry in the world .
Diplomatic relations between the
newly created state and the king–
dom of Italy are establisbed.
A separate fi nancia! agreement
compensates the Vatican for its
surrender of claims to the old Papal
S tates.
A concordat defines the position
of the Church in the Fascist state.
lt
establishes Catholicism as the
official religion of Italy. Many hail
the reconciliation as one of the
most significant events in the mod–
ern history of the Church.
Even Mussolini considers it one
of the greatest d iplomatic triumphs
of his career. He derives immense
personal prestige worldwide.
But the agreements by no means
end the fri ct ion betwee n the
Church and the Ita lian govern–
ment. In 193 1, Pius XI will express
bis st rong disapproval of Fascist
methods in his encyclical
Non
abbiamo bisogno.
Chaos in Germany
Meanwhi le, the situation is deterio–
rating rapidly in the world econom–
ic arena.
W ith the collapse of the New
York stock market late in October
1929, the world enters a new period
of economic and political turmoil.
Germany is hit particularly hard.
This is just what Hitler needs.
The time for his fi nal drive for
power has arrived.
lncreasingly hard times fue) the
fires of political pandemonium.
Economic disasters · t rigger wide-
The PLAIN TRUTH