Sunday 4 March 2012

Speech in Rome, December 11, 1941

Declaration of War on the United States

By Benito Mussolini

This is another day of solemn decision in Italy’s history and of memorable events destined to give a new course to the history of continents. (Cheers).

The powers of the Pact of Steel, Fascist Italy and Nationalist Socialist Germany, ever closely linked, participate from today on the side of heroic Japan against the United States of America.

The Tripartite Pact becomes a military alliance which draws around its colors 250,000,000 men determined to do all in order to win. (The multitude enthusiastically cheers).

Neither the Axis nor Japan wanted an extension of the conflict.

One man, one man only, a real tyrannical democrat [Franklin D. Roosevelt], through a series of infinite provocations, betraying with a supreme fraud the population of his country, wanted the war and had prepared for it day by day with diabolical obstinacy.

The formidable blows that on the immense Pacific expanse have been already inflicted on American forces show how prepared are the soldiers of the Empire of the Rising Sun. (The crowd breaks out into new, prolonged applause and shouts: "Japan! Japan!").

I say to you, and you will understand, that it is a privilege to fight with them.

Today, the Tripartite Pact, with the plenitude of its forces and its moral and material resources, is a formidable instrument for the war and a certainty for victory.

Tomorrow, the Tripartite Pact will become an instrument of just peace between the peoples.

Italians! Once more arise and be worthy of this historical hour!

We shall win.