Message to the Italians on the Fall of Rome, June 4, 1944

(Published in Corriere della Sera, June 5, 1944)

By Benito Mussolini

Italians!

The Anglo-American invaders—for whom the infamous monarchical traitors opened up the gates of the Fatherland in Sicily and Salerno—have entered Rome.

This news will deeply disturb you, just as it pains each of us.

We do not intend to resort to cheap propaganda by mitigating the scope of the event nor by highlighting the delay with which it was made in comparison to the insolent predictions of the enemy.

The soldiers of the Reich resisted inch by inch in every corner of Italian territory, with a heroism that will remain imperishable in the people's memory.

Out of respect for what Rome represents in history and in the civilization of the world, and in order not to inflict even more serious sufferings upon a population already very severely effected by the siege, the German Command has renounced its defense of the city.

We say to the Romans: do not give in morally to the invader, who now brings back to your city the men of the unconditional surrender and a Government dominated by an agent of Moscow.

To you brothers of southern Italy, who for several months have been suffering under cruel and abusive Anglo-American oppression, we say: do anything within your means to make the life of the invader increasingly difficult and precarious.

To the Italians of the provinces of the Italian Social Republic we launch this supreme warning: the fall of Rome does not weaken our energies, much less our determination to realize the conditions necessary for recovery.

All measures will be taken toward this end, which must imperiously dominate the conscience of every person in the fulfillment of duty, both in combat and in labour.

To our allies of the Tripartite Pact and especially to our German comrades, we reaffirm at this time our unwavering decision to continue the struggle, alongside you, until victory.

The objective of the Republic is quite different from that of the king, who is worried about the fate of the crown rather than the fate of the Fatherland.

Soldiers, to arms! Workers and farmers, to work!

The Republic is threatened by plutocracy and by the plutocrats' mercenaries of every race. Defend the country!

Long live Italy! Long live the Italian Social Republic!

MUSSOLINI