ciaheyhimm

[ciaheyhimm]

Italo Balbo, the Aviator.

[ciaheyhimm]

Dear members of Reichblr...

Hello there, I wanted to make this post to inform you of my server. It was mostly created for Italians to discuss about WWII history, but I wanted to open it to anyone who's interested.

It's a toxic-free, healthy and enjoyable group with people who are willing to share their interests that also go beyond history! Please, join us.

[ciaheyhimm]

Blackshirt Italo Balbo from the March on Rome of 1922? There you have him.

(Sketch Inspired by a Pose on Pinterest)

Follow me on Instagram for more sketch posts: @ trixie.arrt7

[ciaheyhimm]

Scusa, in realtà siamo in 4, ma tu sei l'unic* che è interessat* all'Italia della WW2, tutti gli altri alla Germania, compresa me

Sarebbe bello fare un gruppo tutti assieme dove parlare e discutere. In realtà ne ho già uno su Discord, in caso fossi interessata scrivimi pure in privato!

[ciaheyhimm]

terzo italiano di reichblr trovato, buonsalve, compatriota 🇮🇹‼️

Buonsalve a te! Siamo in così pochi? Ahaha

[ciaheyhimm]

Yoo wdyt about starace?

Ciao Anon!

Well, I don't know much about Starace, only that he was really into sports. I don't have a clear opinion on him, but thankfully I bought a book about him that I'll soon read.

The only thing I remember was that many complained about Starace's dumbness and blind loyalty to the Duce. He wasn't quite the most genius hierarch of them all, but Mussolini preferred to have people around him who didn't understand much about politics so he could put them to their place.

[ciaheyhimm]

Count & Minister Galeazzo Ciano.

[ciaheyhimm]

Introduction to the Reichblr community! (Remake)

A year later...

Buonasera, Buongiorno or Buon pomeriggio (depending on the time of the day you're reading this post)!

It's nice to meet you all. My name is Beatrice, but I would prefer to be called Trixie or Tracy. I'm a 17 year old student whom has great expectations for the future as I would like to become a historian or a history teacher.

⬇️ Here are some informations about me ⬇️

[🤍] Yes, I'm Italian. I come from a very small town in the North of Italy.

[🖤] I'm a High School Student: I study languages and currently I know 4 of them which are Italian, English, Spanish and German. However, in the future, I would like to learn others as well.

[🤍] History is my cup of tea: it all started when I was a child thanks to my grandfather's books and my grandmother's stories. I began with a hyperfixation over the Ancient Roman period before I started getting curious over the WWII one during Middle School. I made my very first presentation to the class about some historical figures and then I graduated from Middle School by discussing about the Totalitarian Systems.

[🖤] Growing up, I bought books, many books (I love reading and it's one of my hobbies alongside drawing and writing). My studies were all focused on the Third Reich and it still is. I love learning about new intriguing facts, discussing about certain topics with my friends and make my own ideas. Despite my interest for Germany around that period, I don't agree with any of the ideologies of that time.

[🤍] The historical figures of the Third Reich whom I most give my attention to are: Reinhard Heydrich and Heinrich Himmler, but not only! I know it's a big common thing to see around here, but I'm really studying these two figures with particular interest because I need it to complete a book that I'm currently writing.

[🖤] Around late 2023 I began learning about the history of my country as well during WWII because I barely knew anything about it. In some ways, it's too much underrated and probably picked on without a clear motive. That's why I'm also here: I want to spread information about Fascist Italy and its most important figures.

[🤍] My favourite historical figures of Fascist Italy are: Italo Balbo, Galeazzo Ciano, Dino Grandi. These three are the complete opposites to one another but so interesting because their interactions are amazing, as they almost come out from a drama fiction (not kidding).

[🖤] I'm a roleplayer and this helped me a lot with the intention of writing a book as I feel much more confidence to gather my ideas and create something unique not only for me, but also for you.

[🤍] I'm a huge soccer/football fan: my favourite team is Juventus (idk, I thought it was a funny thing to add).

♤♤♤♤

I think that was all for now, if I have something more to add I'll make sure to modify this post.

My DMs are always open if you want to get to know me a little bit more. Otherwise, send me a friend request on Discord: vlahovicciana

If you have a question to ask me, make sure to send them anonymously or simply comment this post! 🤍🖤

Also, he's my Roleplay Ad in case you're interested:

[ciaheyhimm]

Galeazzo Ciano & Frau Beetz: Love or Legend?

This love affair is clouded by mystery and a little bit of legend. We actually don't have many proofs to admit that there was actually something romantic going on between the two protagonists of this post. According to the Italian Historian Giordano Bruno Guerri, it's unlikely that there was love brewing between them, but it is certain that Frau Beetz had grown affectionate towards the Fascist Hierarch, causing her to change her initial plans. Even Edda Mussolini, when asked about what she knew and if she believed that they had had an affair, commented: "I don't know if it's true as I have never seen Frau Beetz again after I ran away, but I really hope it happened."

Who was Frau Beetz? How did she and Galeazzo Ciano meet?

Hildegard Burkhardt was a former German spy assigned by the Nazi regime to get hold of Count Galeazzo Ciano's diaries while he was in prison. According to legend, she turned from a spy into the lover of Mussolini's son-in-law, eventually helping Edda Ciano escape to Switzerland, where she managed to secure her husband's diaries. Going down in history as Frau Felizitas (or Felicitas) Beetz, she was secretary to Lieutenant Colonel Wilhelm Hottl, head of the German secret service in Italy. A controversial and mysterious character, endowed with excellent culture and a remarkable command of the Italian language (she had graduated from Leipzig University with a degree in Italian literature), she received, at the age of 22, the task of attempting to get Galeazzo Ciano to hand over her diaries, which were considered compromising to senior Nazi hierarchs (particularly Joachim von Ribbentrop and Heinrich Himmler) as well as Adolf Hitler.In order to achieve her goal, Frau Beetz assiduously frequented cell number 27 of the prison where Ciano, who was arrested because he was among the members of the Grand Council of Fascism that brought about the fall of the Fascist regime on July 25, 1943, was imprisoned. Instead of undertaking to find Ciano's diaries, Beetz eventually tried to save Count Galeazzo, husband of Edda, daughter of Benito Mussolini. Felicitas Beetz attended all the hearings of the Verona trial, returning every evening to the Scalzi prison to hearten Galeazzo. She assisted Ciano until the last moment, until the latter was transferred to the Porta Catena range for execution. After Ciano's execution (January 11, 1944), it was Frau Beetz who delivered Ciano's last belongings to his mother - Carolina - who was hospitalized, because she was heart ill, in the "La Quiete" health home in Varese. On the occasion of that meeting, Frau Beetz confided to Carolina Ciano: "I loved Galeazzo, Countess. And I still love him. He was the great love of my life." It seems that Edda Mussolini had seen in the German spy, more than a rival, an ally. This circumstance also appears to be confirmed in her memoirs, as Felicitas, together with Count Emilio Pucci, helped Edda escape with the children to Switzerland. The escape to Switzerland of Edda and her family allowed the explosive diaries of Galeazzo Ciano to be saved and consigned to history. After World War II, Hildegard Burkhardt left Utaly and returned to Germany.

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Author's Note: Hello everyone! Sorry about by abroupt absence, but I had very huge family issues that I still have to deal with. Since I missed making posts, I came back with a very interesting topic since I found this page of Galeazzo Ciano's life very interesting.

Tell me what you think! Should I make a post about the Verona Trial?

[ciaheyhimm]

Fictional Portrayals (2): Heinrich L. Himmler in "Munich: The Edge of War"

(Played by Martin Kiefer, 2021)

[ciaheyhimm]

Fictional Portrayals (1): Galeazzo Ciano in "La Lunga Notte" (The Long Night)

(Played by Marco Foschi, 2024)

[ciaheyhimm]

Hey, it's that anon again xD. Hope you're doing well! I was just wondering if I could add you on Discord (if that's okay !!) so we could continue our conversations there? :0 Especially about Ciano haha, I'd love to talk about him more with you! (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)

Anon, thank you for reaching out again! I'm doing pretty well, despite the difficulties in school. ^^

Please do! I'd love to talk on Discord about Ciano. You can add me there: vlahovicciana

[ciaheyhimm]

Hi! I'm that same anon who sent that ask about Ciano a while back (if you still remember). Coming back to your blog after a while just made my day omg I swear your posts about Ciano make me so happy hahaha. You're also really cool! I'd like to join Reichblr myself, if I'm being honest, but I'm very shy xD. I hope you have a great day! (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠❤

You make me so happy! <33 I'm glad you really like my posts about Ciano. I'm trying to let other members of reichblr know about some historical figures of Fascist Italy, as I think its history is pretty much casted out.

I was pretty shy as well to join reichblr (almost a year ago), so don't worry! If you ever decide to, I'll be your first follower ❤️

[ciaheyhimm]

The Two Ministers: Galeazzo Ciano and Joachim von Ribbentrop

Probably the one of the two most interesting figures. Since I make researches mostly on Fascist Italy, it was intriguing to read Galeazzo Ciano's perspective and thoughts on Joachim von Ribbentrop, his German colleague Minister. One thing is certain: both men didn't like each other. It was a huge despise from both parties. Ciano thought of Ribbentrop as a "too cynical and suck up" kind of man. Meanwhile, Ribbentrop considered Ciano as a "hiding traitor, playing the double-agent role for the democratic countries". Fun fact: Galeazzo Ciano's diaries were used by the Allies as a proof against Joachim von Ribbentrop in the Nuremberg Trials.

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On May 22, 1939, the Kingdom of Italy and Nazi Germany entered into the Pact of Steel signed by their respective Foreign Ministers Galeazzo Ciano and Joachim von Ribbentrop. This agreement was greeted with great enthusiasm by the press: "unfailing friendship between our two peoples." Ciano wrote in his diary, a few days after his execution in January 1944: "The tragedy of Italy began in August 1939. On my own initiative, I went to Hitler's headquarters in Salzburg and was suddenly confronted with the cold and cynical Germanic determination to provoke the conflict. The alliance between Italy and Germany had been signed in May. I had opposed it, making every effort to delay such a step, or at least make it ineffective. There was no reason, on the other hand, in my opinion, to bind oneself for life and death to the fate of Nazi Germany. I had favored, it is true, a policy of cooperation, because of our geographic location, because we can and should detest, but not ignore that eighty million Germans brutally burden the heart of Europe. The decision to cement the alliance was made suddenly by Mussolini, while I was in Milan with Ribbentrop. Several American newspapers had published that the Lombard metropolis had welcomed the Reich Foreign Ministry with blatant hostility, and this was evidence of Mussolini's diminished personal prestige. He was in a state of rage. By telephone he ordered me to accept the German demands for an alliance, which I had held in abeyance for more than a year and hoped to send off again. Thus was born the "Pact of Steel." This decision, which was then to have such a disastrous influence on the life and future of the Italian people, was due solely to a spiteful reaction on the part of the dictator to certain rash and baseless statements in some foreign newspapers." Actually Mussolini is worried because subsequent to the Pact of Steel the Nazis assure him that they do not want to wage war for the time being, but he is beginning to be not so sure. Italy in 39' is completely depleted, exhausted by the Ethiopian War and the intervention in Spain on the side of Franco, later the winner of the civil war. Despite the positive outcome, wars cost huge sums of money and the Italian budget suffers greatly; entering a world war in this condition would be difficult to sustain. Galeazzo Ciano, Foreign Minister as well as Mussolini's son-in-law, writes in his diary in early August, "the time has come to see how things stand: the game is too big."

On August 11 Ciano flies to Germany, is sent to von Ribbentrop with instructions to explain to him that to wage war at that time would be madness. On the question of Poland, the Kingdom Minister asks his peer, "do you want Danzig?" von Ribbentrop replies, "not anymore, we want war." Later, during the reception, Ciano approaches one of his aides and says in his ear, "we are at blows." Ciano, worried, wonders if the Germans have considered the likely intervention of England and France and how they intend to deal with them. But Ribbentrop is sure, they will not dare to intervene, Germany will invade Poland and have a free field. It is a bet on the non-intervention of the Western powers, as in 1914, when Kaiser Wilhelm's Germany invaded Belgium sure of no consequences from England. This time they really make the bet: von Ribbentrop proposes to Ciano that if England and France stayed out then Italy would give Germany a Renaissance painting; if not, Germany would give Italy a collection of ancient German weapons. But Ribbentrop is sure: "We will wage war and it will not become a world war, because France and England will not dare to intervene."

Ciano returns to Rome, and it is now clear that the Nazis are about to invade Poland, as well as that Hitler expects Fascist Italy, as declared at the 1937 Berlin Assembly by Mussolini, to march with its ally all the way. But the Führer does not know that Italy is prepared to hold out to avoid imminent catastrophe given the weakness of the army. When the Duce finally comes forward and confesses his country's total unpreparedness, the Germans first turn up their noses, then they are fine with it as long as Italy's neutrality is not flaunted too much around. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland triggering the tremendous conflict that for six years displayed the greatest atrocities in human history. Italy would enter it about a year later when during the famous Piazza Venezia speech on June 10, 1940, Mussolini announced that "The declaration of war has already been delivered to the ambassadors of Great Britain and France." It was "the hour of irrevocable decisions" that led Mussolini and the Fascist regime to its fall.

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Sources: Alessandro Barbero, Galeazzo Ciano's Diaries.

QOD: What do you think about Galeazzo Ciano and Joachim von Ribbentrop?

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Photos:

[ciaheyhimm]

Ask me Anything!

Dear reichblr, the box of the questions is open. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! Could be related to the Third Reich, to Fascist Italy (if you want to know more about it) or even some fun facts about me!

Like, for example, what do you like/hate about a certain historical figure of the Third Reich? Do you have any questions regarding a particular historical figure of Fascist Italy?

[ciaheyhimm]

Ask me Anything!

Dear reichblr, the box of the questions is open. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! Could be related to the Third Reich, to Fascist Italy (if you want to know more about it) or even some fun facts about me!

Like, for example, what do you like/hate about a certain historical figure of the Third Reich? Do you have any questions regarding a particular historical figure of Fascist Italy?

[ciaheyhimm]

Some pictures of Italo Balbo and his family (wife, children and nephews)!

Italo Balbo (1896 - 1940);

Countess Margherita Emanuella Florio (1901 - 1980), Balbo's wife;

Giuliana Balbo (1926)

Valeria Balbo (1928)

Paolo Balbo (1930 - 2016)

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Plus, some other photos, including a 18 year old Balbo (first picture on the left)