Jews of Italy Under Fascist & Nazi Rule

This book brings to light the Italian-Jewish experience from the start of Mussolini's Prime Ministership through the end of the Second World War. Challenging the myth of Italian benevolence during the fascist period, authors investigate the treatment of Jews by Italians during the Holocaust, and the native versus foreign roots of Italian fascist anti-Semitism. Essays collected in this volume each illustrate a different aspect of Italian Jewry under fascist and Nazi rule. Areas of inquiry include the role of the Catholic Church with special reference to Pope Pius XII, Mussolini's attitude and anti-Jewish policies leading to the onset of the 1938 Italian racial laws, and the Italian popular reactions to anti-Jewish persecution. Included also is an examination of cover images and articles from the Italian racist newspaper La Difesa della Razza intended to lay bare the influence of the Italian media on the general Italian public. • Makes use of new sources and documents to refute many assumptions in existing Italian Jewish historiography • First volume of its kind in English exploring Italian Jewry under fascism • Explores the role of the Catholic Church and Pope Pius XII with regard to anti-Semitism