#fall of fascist italy

[memecucker]

While it might be surprising to some, the conference and its offensive guest list are not out of place within Zionist history. In fact, at the very dawn of Zionism itself, founder Theodor Herzl wrote in his diary that “the anti-Semites will become our most dependable friends, the anti-Semitic countries our allies.” And this is indeed how history played out. 

  Such alliances took place on various occasions throughout Zionist history, for various specific agendas. Such agendas included the “Transfer agreement” between the Zionist Yishuv (the Jewish polity in Palestine) in the years 1933-39, under which the 1937 Berlin meeting between Adolf Eichmann and the Jewish Zionist and Haganah agent Feivel Polkes took place. The meeting included a discussion of the possibility that the Nazis might supply weapons for the Zionist fight against the British Mandate in Palestine. The same year Eichmann visited Palestine, hosted by Polkes. 

Another example was when the Stern Gang (or LEHI, an offshoot of the Irgun, led by Yaakov Stern) attempted to forge an alliance with Nazi Germany in 1940-41. Their proposals to Hitler offered “active participation in the war on Germany’s side,” citing a “partnership of interests” between “the German worldview and the true national aspirations of the Jewish people.” They claimed that  “the establishment of the historical Jewish state on a totalitarian national basis, in an alliance relationship with the German Reich, is compatible with the preservation of German power.”

The Irgun and Stern Gang were both ideological descendants of Vladimir Jabotinsky and his “Iron Wall,” which is also the founding ideology of the Likud party. Leaders of these paramilitary groups, Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, went on to become prime ministers of Israel. Of course, the current prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is also an heir to this ideology. In the 1930s, Jabotinsky’s people trained in Italy under Mussolini, and his fascist government noted:   “In agreement of all the relevant authorities it has been confirmed that the views and the political and social inclinations of the Revisionists are known and that they are absolutely in accordance with the fascist doctrine. Therefore, as our students they will bring the Italian and fascist culture to Palestine.” Years later, alliances with far-right governments have only been strengthened by Netanyahu, who has thrown Jews and the history of Jewish persecution history under the bus. He did this when he whitewashed Hungarian President Victor Orban just as Orban praised Nazi collaborators and attacked George Soros with an antisemitic campaign, and when he helped Poland in its Holocaust-revisionist, ultra-nationalist attempt to whitewash its own Holocaust history. This history highlights how Zionists and antisemites have often found common political ground, precisely as Herzl had predicted. For the antisemites, the idea of the “Jewish State” represents something they can identify with – brute, ultra-nationalist power against a non-white oppressed population (dovetailing with their ultra-nationalist anti-immigrant policies), and Zionist approval has also been used to cleanse their own records – if the Jewish State blue-stamps them, they couldn’t be racist. 

[bitchymanlet]

Is Erwin Leftist or Fascist?

I'm basically expanding on what I've already posted on twitter about this.

The fandom seems to be pretty split on whether Erwin would be a Jaegerist or not—I've even seen fans going so far as to say he'd be a Trump supporter in the modern day. These could just be trolls or ignorant teenagers (both?) spewing this bs, but let's be clear,

Overthrowing the government does not indicate leftist or right-wing policy.

One of the most common rebuttals I see to the argument that Erwin is fascist is: "But he overthrew the government!" My guess is they think of revolutions by the people, such as the French and Russian ones, which were progressive, left-wing. But fascists do hostile takeovers too, such as the Blackshirts in Italy, and the January 6th Insurrection (the latter being a failed attempt at one).

Instead of using Erwin's staged coup as evidence that he is leftist, let's look into the reasons why he's Not Fascist.

He values intellectualism. We see in the text that Erwin supports and sees the value in Hange's titan research, and he believes the people deserve to know the truth, ie freedom of press—he was kept in the dark about the truth of their world, and he spent his whole life seeking the truth so that it could be shared with everyone. Fascists don't want thinkers, they want obedience.

Erwin allows those below his station to speak and think freely. We see how Levi, his subordinate, speaks to him informally and to other high-ranking military officials right in front of Erwin, but Erwin doesn't reprimand him or even punish him for his transgressions, because he respects him (an uneducated riffraff from the underground) as an equal. He allows 15 year old fresh out of the Cadet Corps Armin to speak up about his hunches, make suggestions, and he even let Armin give more experienced Scouts orders during their most pivotal battle in the history of the Survey Corps. He encourages his Scouts to question what they're fighting for and who their true enemies are rather than flat-out telling them. Unlike Fascists, he doesn't seem to enforce social hierarchy or genetic superiority of any kind.

He doesn't demonize The Other or motivate his soldiers with fear. He's doesn't rally his soldiers by proclaiming that humans are superior to titans and that they must crush them to assert humanity's dominance and superiority—he doesn't possess a hatred for titans like Eren does. He sees them more as obstacles to finding the truth. A core belief to fascists is proving that they are the chosen ones who will beat down the inhuman degenerates beneath them. He shows no sense of innate superiority.

We can't say for sure if he would be a Jaegerist because he died before all of that, but it is extremely unlikely given his aforementioned anti-fascist qualities. Why would he ever fall for Eren and Zeke's plot? Erwin is certainly smarter than Eren, but Zeke is a competent leader and strategist himself. However, what Zeke lacks that Erwin didn't is Hope. Erwin didn't give up on humanity like Zeke did, instead he valued and sought after knowledge. He saw failures and tragedies as learning opportunities and steps to a better outcome. Suffice it to say, he's not hateful or nihilistic enough to be on either of the Jaeger brothers' side, he'd think of a better solution than revenge or no babies.

So we can deduce that he is not a Fascist.

But is he a Leftist?

Back to the coup de'tat, Erwin staged it not to subjugate civilians, execute his opposers and instate military rule (what fascists do), but to live on to find the truth. That was it. Being a Scout granted him the freedom to venture outside of the walls and to learn more about their world and about the titans. If the Survey Corps dissolved and he got hanged, then the truth would possibly never come to light. The previous government would execute people for trying to leave and seek the truth. Erwin elevating Historia as the rightful monarch and, as a result, the people learning that the former monarch was a fake and that they have been lied to was just a nice bonus. Not why he did it.

There's little evidence for his personal political beliefs, as much of his character arc revolves around him Getting Closer To The Truth. If he were a leftist, he would show support for the common man's struggle and a disdain for the ruling class (like woke class-conscious king Levi). If his coup were politically motivated (in a progressive way), he would have started a revolution to free the people from the king's tyranny, he might have even called for the eradication of the crown altogether and touted democracy and the redistribution of wealth. Instead, he showed uncertainty and remorse for his coup, not confidence that he'd done the right thing for humanity's sake.

Again, Erwin was only saving his own skin so that he could find out what was in Eren's basement. He didn't feel strongly about dismantling the system and creating a more equitable government, which would be leftist. Rather, he feels more comfortable with upholding the status quo while also maintaining individual liberty.

Ergo, based on canon events, I don't think Erwin is a leftist or a fascist, I think he's a liberal.

[mesetacadre]

apologies if this isn't really your area of interest, but how would you describe the relationship between fascism and (anti-) imperialism? (asking because my far-right father just watched a video about Kamala Harris right next to me which had very similar points to what I've seen on Tumblr; specifically how liberals/democrats will even ally with their "enemies" if it means they can keep the war machine going)

One way to understand fascism that's very common in the imperial periphery has been to conceptualize it as colonialism/imperialism turned inwards, it ramps up exploitation by any means necessary. This does two things, it curbs worker organization by exerting more violence, and it increases capitalist profits. This last thing is also related to the tendency of the rate of profit to fall, since fascists in power tend to be destructive towards capital, especially to human capital, and the rate of profit can only be increased considerably through the destruction of capital. As for the more specific aspects of fascism in power; forced labor, concentration camps, the trampling of any kind of liberties, mass political repression, etc. were already established in the colonized world well before any fascist you can think of was even born.

Take a look at this map:

This is a propaganda piece [the title says "Portugal is not a small country"] from 1934 during Portugal's Salazar dictatorship, one of the forgotten fascist states of Europe during this time, along with Austria and Spain. When fascists do have colonies and would be considered an empire, they do not really differ from non-fascist imperialism. This integralist notion shown by the poster really isn't that far from the integration attempted by France on Algeria, and Italy had similar rhetoric when it came to Libya and East Africa. What I mean to say is that fascists do not have that special a relationship when it comes to "normal" imperialism (apart from that internal imperialism I mentioned), and it therefore does not have that special a relationship with anti-imperialism. Nazi-fascists did not inherit any colonies from the Weimar Republic, but their ambitions in the east (look up generalplan-ost) and for the Balkans were also extremely similar to most colonial projects you can find for Africa and Asia in the 19th and early 20th century.

Fascism is an imperialist ideology, not because of any inherent quality, but because it is the most destructive and exploitative elements of liberal democracy emphasized and expanded. It was, after all, birthed by the moribund corpse of European imperialism, as it entered a general crisis that spelled its end (in the form imperialism took at this time, of course imperialism mutated and transformed to a system that doesn't require a direct administrative control of colonies), and this crisis was only delayed by WW2.

Fascists nowadays protect imperialism insofar as they protect capitalism. Fascists are only really enemies with liberalism when it comes to parliamentarism and its socially progressive elements, but we can't forget that any liberal party, whether it's republican or democrat or third party, ultimately only serves to manage capitalism in the country they administer. I'm not really sure what's the point that that video was making, but I don't think it's this. Fascists are not the enemies of a capitalist state, imperialist or otherwise, they're the most extreme, violent and repressive expression of what's already present in liberal democracy. If usamerican fascists take the position of a "great america" and support the continuation of its interference worldwide, and the democrats or republicans also do, this is a case of fascism reflecting liberalism, not the other way around. Fascism is not an evil entity one candidate chooses to ally with or not. It always represent the most extreme needs of capital, and in every case that it has taken power, it has happened once those necessities were widespread enough and they recieved ample support from those capitalists.

[helpmeimblorboing]

The fact that Nico never got to choose anything in his life - not his parentage, not his sexuality, not being dragged out of his time , not even being established as an ambassador to Camp Jupiter and certainly not being dragged through Tartarus- except who he fell in love with

The fact that Nico has been rejected from the very beginning - for being gay (he came from Fascist Italy, something tells me they weren’t very supportive of him), for being the son of Hades, for being darker and broodier than most people like - except by this one person, this one person willing to shoulder the weight of the world to stop it from falling on his shoulders, who sees Nico as his responsibility, unlike everyone else who simply sees him as an annoyance at best and a liability at worst.

Will is great and all, and y’all already know that Solangelo is my jam, but there’s something so sweet about Percico. Real “Like Real People Do” vibes

[your-local-depressed-fangirl]

dearest followers

feast your eyes on some old solangelo fanfiction i’m re writing for valentines

Will had dragged Nico out of his dark cabin into the sunny strawberry fields of Camp Half-Blood. 

They were picking strawberries as a favor for Mr. D.

Nico wouldn't admit it but he was actually enjoying Spending time out in the sun with his boyfriend. They'd been dating for 1.5 months but Nico still hadn't told Will he loved him or kissed him on the lips. Nico was still trying to get over his internal homophobia he gained from his childhood in fascist Italy. What better way to finally be free from his past then to finally accept himself and the fact he is attracted to men by admitting to Will Solace that he was in love with him? Nico swallowed and spoke...

"Hey Will...?" Nico prompted.

"Mhm? Yes Nico?" Will asked smiling and wiping sweat off of his brow.

"Ti amo..." Nico whispered a slight light blush brushing his face. Y'know what? Nico thought to himself close enough.

Will smiled a little brighter and chuckled. "What does it mean? 'Ti amo'?" Will asked.

Nico blushed a little bit more. "Ehmmmm... um... Nothing Will." Nico said getting cold feet and not wanting to repeat himself.

Will looked down and continued picking strawberries. "Nico darlin'?" Will asked.

"Mhm Sunshine...?" Nico asked blushing at Will calling him 'Darlin''. 

Will smiled still picking strawberries and not making eye contact with Nico. "Ti amo anch'io." Will said looking up with dilated blue eyes, filled with love, at Nico.

Nico's knees buckled suddenly becoming weak almost causing Nico to fall over. Nico's face became as red as a Roma tomato with blush. "Parli italiano...?" Nico questioned.

"Si amore..." Will said, setting down the partially full basket of strawberries on the ground and grabbing a hold of Nico's hand, the BIGGEST smile on his face. 

Will gently pulled Nico into his embrace and Nico simply melted into Will's arms.

The two boys were basking in each other's embrace when suddenly Will seemed a bit sad.

"What's wrong Will." Nico asked.

"You said I love you first... I wanted to say it..." Will murmured.

Nico smiled a faint smile. "Well..." Nico swallowed and grabbed Will by the collar of his shirt yanking Will down to his level and kissing him to make Will feel a bit better.

Will melted into the kiss for a few seconds before they pulled apart, "Okay don't get me wrong I love you but I wanted to give the first kiss..." 

"Sounds like a you problem..."  Nico said smirking.

Will bent down and grabbed a strawberry and threw it a Nico's face and smushed a strawberry on Nico's mouth.

"What the hell?!" Nico questioned his lips now covered in strawberry juice.

"Sounds like a you problem..." Will said smirking. 

Nico glared at an unfazed Will.

Will kissed the strawberry juice off Nico's lips, "Yum." Will said casually before continuing to pick strawberries.

*END FIC*

I think I could make it fluffier…

And longer as well

[aficionadoenthusiast]

will showing nico camp's library because his boy is sad and needs a hobby

nico figuring out he can actually read books in greek when he couldn't get through italian or english as a kid

nico falling in love with 20th century lit and using it as a coping mechanism for his time displacement

i really think he'd love the catcher in the rye and the great gatsby

nico and will visiting naomi in texas and nico learning about modern book bans

nico being horrified because he literally lived through ww2 and fascist italy

nico getting really into the 'i read banned books' movement

nico spreading it to camp. camp gets it's own banned books club

nico wearing readstricted and I read banned books pins to pride with his gay flag because he still remembers exactly what books the nazis burned

nico going for a literature degree on a whim while will is in medical school

nico realizing he can use his love of books to help kids like him who are lonely and lost (maybe he saw dps. I don't make the rules)

nico becoming a literature teacher

his students trying really hard to figure out their strange lit teacher that keeps making them read these old books and has a weird grudge against anything from ancient greece

they somehow figure out he's from the 30s

banned books week being a whole ass celebration in the solangelo house

nico spreads his love of banned books to his students and accidentally starts a movement

idk where to go from here

i need to write this

i just really love the idea of nico getting into english lit and banned books

[kvetchlandia]

So...

The racist, nationalist, Islamophobic and antisemitic National Front (or whatever stupid, slightly less terrifying name they're giving themselves this month) is set to be the largest single party in the French parliament after next week's final round of elections. Italy is already governed by a party that's the direct descendant of Mussolini's Fascists. The neo-fascist Alternative for Germany was the second largest block in the recent German elections to the European Parliament and is expected to grow significantly in next year's elections to the Bundestag. Geert Wilders's reactionary party in the Netherlands took nearly 50% of the Dutch seats in the European Parliament (6 of 14). In the 2023 national elections in the Netherlands, Wilders' party took a whopping 37 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives, making it the largest single party in the Dutch legislature. Fortunately for the Dutch, they don't have another national election scheduled until 2028, but one could be held earlier should the government fall. It's hard for me to grasp that these countries, each of which was either conquered and occupied by the nazis and betrayed by collaborators, or was directly governed by nazis and fascists, is now electing precisely those same nazis and collaborators. Of course, we here in the United States, are facing the bizarre choice in the two "official" parties of American capitalism, of one candidate who's clearly cognitively impaired and another who is a dictator wannabe; a man already convicted of numerous felony charges and facing many, many more; a racist and misogynist; a man millions of dollars in debt on account of the fines levied against him after he was found liable for the civil sexual abuse of a woman and then libeling his victim and a man who has made it clear that if/when he's re-elected he's going to go after his political opponents and that he's also going to dismantle what little bit of social safety net we have in the United States. It looks as though Mushroom Dick, as Stormy Daniels referred to this monster, with whom she shared a brief and forgettable sexual encounter, is going to win the election in this country. This world is rapidly becoming an even sicker and sadder place than it's long been. I guess we should take a teensy bit of hope that Britain is bucking the trend and that Labour is expected to trounce the Tories in the upcoming election. Of course, this doesn't reflect that Britain is immune to the tide of the racist fear of immigrants that's sweeping over the rest of Europe and the United States but rather, it reflects the fact that the tide hit Britain first and that the British people have been suffering under the effects of Brexit for several years already, and that the long-term rule by the Tories has devastated the British working class and sucked much of the life out of the National Health System, which used to be a model for the world until the Tories slashed its budget to the bone. I guess all I can say is we're really screwed. The world is entering an ugly time and things are going to get worse before they get better.

OK, now I've totally depressed myself. I'm gonna pour myself a stiff drink and then stick a pillow over my head and try to go to sleep. I'm not in the mood to engage in my usual late night Tumblr silliness. Maybe I'll get back to posting tomorrow?

[pixigels]

On your Romerica rambling post, you said that their situationship was off during the 30's and 40's, and that it deserved it's own post because of the complexities of the time period. I actually share this same hc!!

Tho I was wondering if u were ever gonna follow up on dat w another text post?

HIII ! actually I'm glad you asked! honestly I've spent a long time thinking about their dynamic so anyone asking is like "neuron activated" after months of college work and psychological torture. whoa that txt post is like a year and a half overdue since. So I'll use this ask as an excuse to elaborate on my thoughts

DISCLAIMER i do go down the historical route as a way to elaborate how events would impact their dynamic and then into how it shapes the two individuals as symbolic to their nations. My intention is not to water down historical events to ships. Also I've always been really into history as a personal hobby even before hetalia so I will geek out.

During the 30s envisioned them as having a natural falling out as a result of them no longer living together. Adding to that how they both had bigger issues to deal with in their own home countries. Up to then maybe some feelings of fondness for what was until there wasn't.

Now the 40s is very interesting to me because I rarely see people mention it but i think its important because of Operation Husky 1943 aka the anglo-american offense on southern Italy and Operation Underworld 1942 since it is related with espionage in ports that led up to Operation Husky.

To put it frankly I don't think any characters had a "truly healthy" relation with each other during ww2 even those that were allies of each other in general (but that's just my opinion). Now considering the first strong interaction they have after like a a decade of a falling out is being on "opposite" sides of a war, that's quite a lot already. I say ""opposite"" in air quotes simply because at the same time historically Italy is divided in civil war between the fascists and resistance. I personally see romano as symbolic to the resistance (idk if this even qualifies as a hc bcs i think its kind of implied in canon hetalia).

dynamic wise its bittersweet. i find that in terms of the characters its like reuniting with someone you spent time with a lot and maybe you do hold some fondness even after falling out. but like its under the worst circumstances. Where it is way more bitter than sweet as a result of conflicts where as a nation one is very weak at least compared to the other side. On romano's end i've hc that despite collaborating with the anglo-american forces against the axis. It wouldn't warrant full immediate trust. Because by all means they could be taking advantage of you. To an extent my hc is that he is partially right, at least in the way America could use their past bond as an advantage. I don't believe the transition was easy for either to get back to "trusting each other" like before. However, it makes sense for me that around the 50s it's different. (I would like to do another deepdive into their dynamic in this era as well)

I think its important to mention how the US' role in WW2 (historically) isn't simply that of the "hero." (yes unfortunately a lot of people in the hetalia fandom have a very usamerican washed version of history where ppl think they can just repeat the "america is just doing his best bcs he wants to be a hero " sentiment uncritically simply because they like the character (I already have my issues with this in canon at times). i might sound like I'm making this too deep but I find it to be an important disclaimer just in case to not conflate hetalia characters with the countries in a way that makes people uncritically look into a country's role in history.

In hetalia, interestingly enough the only mention of romano + america during ww2 in hetalia is in this specific moment. where romano is kinda terrified. which is veryyyy surface level bcs yk its hetalia. Still I feel like this decade is something that can offer a lot in terms of exploring their dynamics if you aren't bound by canon/

I'm always a 50/50 believer when it comes to the "hetalia characters as personifications of their government" vs the "hetalia characters represent their people" because governments impact people and nations relations and people impact government. So yes I did go very historical. If you know me, I'm pretty big into highlight the importance of at least having a grip of the history to understand why certain characters act the way they do in canon. (even though its fair to say fuck canon a good amount of the time)

I hope I was able to elaborate the complexities with the right amount enough nuance :) let me know if you would like me to clarify any hcs

[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.

------------

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?

[chubbybunny25]

for the wip titles: soulmate percico (as I don't think I've heard you talk about that one before)

XD The reason why I don't talk ramble about this as much is because most of the ideas totally came from the amazing @rain-embrace-nymph ^^ The premise is so interesting, so I agreed to write it.

This is an AU where Percy and Nico are still demigods, but both are from 1940's Italy. Here, Poseidon falls in love with rain's OC, named Domenico Fedele, who is best friends with Maria di Angelo. Though, essentially, it's a percico fic, it will also explore the deep platonic bond between Maria (she's bi here) and Domenico (he's ace) and them navigating through fascist Italy where genders have their own roles to play in the society, and where women and men can't be "too close", without getting married. (also poseidon/domenico being sweet and soft and maria/hades being a bit of enemies to lovers XD)

The Great Prophecy happens and Zeus is his still usual as*hole self, so Poseidon and Hades need to protect each of their families, and hide their sons. Canon still happens, and Percy and Nico meet after decades, and ofc they feel the connection (they used to be childhood friends btw, along with bianca 😭). This fic explores how soulmates can be the best of friends or be lovers in the end ✨

[mariacallous]

BRUSSELS (AP) — Far-right parties made major gains in European Union parliamentary elections Sunday, dealing stunning defeats to two of the bloc’s most important leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen dominated the polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections. It was a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027.

Le Pen was delighted to accept the challenge. “We’re ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration,” she said, echoing the rallying cry of so many far-right leaders in other countries who were celebrating substantial wins.

Macron acknowledged the thud of defeat. “I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered,” he said, adding that calling a snap election only underscored his democratic credentials.

In Germany, the most populous nation in the 27-member bloc, projections indicated that the AfD overcame a string of scandals involving its top candidate to rise to 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019. In comparison, the combined result for the three parties in the German governing coalition barely topped 30%.

Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place. “After all the prophecies of doom, after the barrage of the last few weeks, we are the second strongest force,” a jubilant AfD leader Alice Weidel said.

The four-day polls in the 27 EU countries were the world’s second-biggest exercise in democracy, behind India’s recent election. At the end, the rise of the far right was even more stunning than many analysts predicted.

The French National Rally crystalized it as it stood at over 30% or about twice as much as Macron’s pro-European centrist Renew party that is projected to reach around 15%.

Overall across the EU, two mainstream and pro-European groups, the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, remained the dominant forces. The gains of the far right came at the expense of the Greens, who were expected to lose about 20 seats and fall back to sixth position in the legislature. Macron’s pro-business Renew group also lost big.

For decades, the European Union, which has its roots in the defeat of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, confined the hard right to the political fringes. With its strong showing in these elections, the far right could now become a major player in policies ranging from migration to security and climate.

Bucking the trend was former EU leader and current Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who overcame Law and Justice, the national conservative party that governed Poland from 2015-23 and drove it ever further to the right. A poll showed Tusk’s party won with 38%, compared to 34% for his bitter nemesis.

“Of these large, ambitious countries, of the EU leaders, Poland has shown that democracy, honesty and Europe triumph here,” Tusk told his supporters. “I am so moved.”

He declared, “We showed that we are a light of hope for Europe.”

Germany, traditionally a stronghold for environmentalists, exemplified the humbling of the Greens, who were predicted to fall from 20% to 12%. With further losses expected in France and elsewhere, the defeat of the Greens could well have an impact on the EU’s overall climate change policies, still the most progressive across the globe.

The center-right Christian Democratic bloc of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which already weakened its green credentials ahead of the polls, dominated in Germany with almost 30%, easily beating Scholz’s Social Democrats, who fell to 14%, even behind the AfD.

“What you have already set as a trend is all the better – strongest force, stable, in difficult times and by a distance,” von der Leyen told her German supporters by video link from Brussels.

As well as France, the hard right, which focused its campaign on migration and crime, was expected to make significant gains in Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni was tipped to consolidate her power.

Voting continued in Italy until late in the evening and many of the 27 member states have not yet released any projections. Nonetheless, data already published confirmed earlier predictions: the elections will shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future. That could make it harder for the EU to pass legislation, and decision-making could at times be paralyzed in the world’s biggest trading bloc.

EU lawmakers, who serve a five-year term in the 720-seat Parliament, have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. And they hold a veto over appointments to the powerful EU commission.

These elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fueled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests.

Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations — Hungary, Slovakia and Italy — and are part of ruling coalitions in others including Sweden, Finland and, soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy.

“Right is good,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who leads a stridently nationalist and anti-migrant government, told reporters after casting his ballot. “To go right is always good. Go right!”

[warningsine]

BRUSSELS (AP) — Far-right parties made such big gains at the European Union parliamentary elections that they dealt stunning defeats to two of the bloc’s most important leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen dominated the polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections, a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027.

In Germany, Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place.

Adding insult to injury, the National Rally’s lead candidate, Jordan Bardella, all of 28 years old, immediately took on a presidential tone with his victory speech in Paris, opening with “My dear compatriots” and adding “the French people have given their verdict, and it’s final.”

Macron acknowledged the thud of defeat. “I’ve heard your message, your concerns, and I won’t leave them unanswered,” he said, adding that calling a snap election only underscored his democratic credentials.

The four-day polls in the 27 EU countries were the world’s second-biggest exercise in democracy, behind India’s recent election. At the end, the rise of the far right was even more stunning than many analysts predicted. The French National Rally stood at just over 30% or about twice as much as Macron’s pro-European centrist Renew party that is projected to reach around 15%.

In Germany, the most populous nation in the 27-member bloc, projections indicated that the AfD overcame a string of scandals involving its top candidate to rise to 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019. In comparison, the combined result for the three parties in the German governing coalition barely topped 30%.

Overall across the EU, two mainstream and pro-European groups, the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, remained the dominant forces. The gains of the far right came at the expense of the Greens, who were expected to lose about 20 seats and fall back to sixth position in the legislature.

For decades, the European Union, which has its roots in the defeat of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, confined the hard right to the political fringes. With its strong showing in these elections, the far right could now become a major player in policies ranging from migration to security and climate.

The Greens were predicted to fall from 20% to 12% in Germany, a traditional bulwark for environmentalists, with more losses expected in France and several other EU nations. Their defeat could well have an impact on the EU’s overall climate change policies, still the most progressive across the globe.

The center-right Christian Democratic bloc of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which already weakened its green credentials ahead of the polls, dominated in Germany with almost 30%, easily beating Scholz’s Social Democrats, who fell to 14%, even behind the AfD.

“What you have already set as a trend is all the better – strongest force, stable, in difficult times and by a distance,” von der Leyen told her German supporters by video link from Brussels.

As well as France, the hard right, which focused its campaign on migration and crime, was expected to make significant gains in Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni was tipped to consolidate her power.

Voting will continue in Italy until late in the evening and many of the 27 member states have not yet released any projections. Nonetheless, data already released confirmed earlier predictions: the EU’s massive exercise in democracy is expected to shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future.

With the center losing seats to hard right parties, the EU could find it harder to pass legislation and decision-making could at times be paralyzed in the world’s biggest trading bloc.

EU lawmakers, who serve a five-year term in the 720-seat Parliament, have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. And they hold a veto over appointments to the powerful EU commission.

These elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fueled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests.

The voting marathon began in the Netherlands on Thursday, where an unofficial exit poll suggested that the anti-migrant hard right party of Geert Wilders would make important gains, even though a coalition of pro-European parties has probably pushed it into second place.

Casting his vote in the Flanders region, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency until the end of the month, warned that Europe was “more under pressure than ever.”

Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations — Hungary, Slovakia and Italy — and are part of ruling coalitions in others including Sweden, Finland and, soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy.

“Right is good,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who leads a stridently nationalist and anti-migrant government, told reporters after casting his ballot. “To go right is always good. Go right!”

After the election comes a period of horse-trading, as political parties reconsider in their places in the continent-wide alliances that run the European legislature.

The biggest political group — the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) — has moved further right during the present elections on issues like security, climate and migration.

Among the most watched questions is whether the Brothers of Italy — the governing party of populist Meloni, which has neo-fascist roots — stays in the more hard-line European Conservatives and Reformists group or becomes part of a new hard right group that could form the wake of the elections. Meloni also has the option to work with the EPP.

A more worrying scenario for pro-European parties would be if the ECR joins forces with Le Pen’s Identity and Democracy group to consolidate hard-right influence.

The second biggest group — the center-left Socialists and Democrats — and the Greens refuse to align themselves with the ECR.

Questions also remain over what group Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party might join. It was previously part of the EPP but was forced out in 2021 due to conflicts over its interests and values. The far-right Alternative for Germany was kicked out of the Identity and Democracy group following a string of scandals surrounding its two lead candidates for the European Parliament.

The election also ushers in a period of uncertainty as new leaders are chosen for the European institutions. While lawmakers are jostling over places in alliances, governments will be competing to secure top EU jobs for their national officials.

Chief among them is the presidency of the powerful executive branch, the European Commission, which proposes laws and watches to ensure they are respected. The commission also controls the EU’s purse strings, manages trade and is Europe’s competition watchdog.

Other plum posts are those of European Council president, who chairs summits of presidents and prime ministers, and EU foreign policy chief, the bloc’s top diplomat.

[amorjpg]

italy and portugal celebrate the fall of the fascist on the same day that is so beautiful <3

[mesetacadre]

your "no pasaran" posting reminded me of that DDR song about building the wall (the chorus has the phrase)

personally I think it fits in this case, but what do you think? (since the stakes were a bit different)

I haven't heard that song, but there are some key differences between the east/west germany split and the Spanish Civil War which must be pointed out.

As I said in the post, No Pasarán was originally popularized (not invented) for the purpose of the defense of Madrid. Early to mid autumn of 1936 was a very tense period, since the rebels still had the intertia and initiative from coming down from the northwest towards Madrid's east. The International Brigades, -specifically the 11th, 12th and 14th brigades [battalions Edgar André (German), Paris Commune (French and Belgian), Dabrowski (Polish, Hungarian, Yugoslav, Paraguayan), Garibaldi (Italian), and Thaelmann (German)]- played a crucial role in stopping the rebel advance on its tracks, in the early November battles in and around the Eastern Park and Central University Campus. In the outskirts of Madrid, the Brigades also had a decisive role in preventing the envelopment of the city via the south around the Jarama Valley, where the Dabrowski battalion took on most of the rebels' fight, including divisions of fascist Italy.

Even if the SCW was a war fought between the Spanish, the proletarian internationalism and zeal displayed by the brigades in the defense of Madrid gave No Pasarán an undeniable internationalist element. The fall of Madrid was prevented by the inexperienced but decided effort of tens of nationalities, risking not only their lives but their own safety in their home countries, since many punished the brigadiers who managed to return. Those brigadiers were overwhelmingly mere workers who understood the SCW was an opportunity to beat fascism, especially the German and Italian workers who saw in the attempted coup of July 18th what they had experienced in 1922 and 1933, these brigadiers understood that not letting the fascists pass was the first step in defeating them wholly. And they carried on their anti-fascism after Spain fell, providing resistance and guerillas across Europe with the experienced acquired in Spain.

The anti-fascist defense wall, as it was called within the DDR, also had the purpose of preventing the advance of fascist, reactionary or otherwise sabotaging forces within a divided country. But it did lack that element of internationalism, at least at the same level that the defense of Madrid had. I still think the slogan is appropriate in this context, but they aren't identical situations even if the general purpose rhymes with the defense of Madrid. It's not that the stakes were that different, as you say, since a failure to keep those reactionary elements would have ended in disaster, like it ended up happening, it was simply less explicit and a little bit less pressing of an issue in the DDR as it was in the SCW.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

the bunker :: @FinancialReview

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

February 16, 2025

Heather Cox Richardson

Feb 17, 2025

The sixty-first Munich Security Conference, the world’s leading forum for talking about international security policy, took place from February 14 to February 16 this year. Begun in 1963, it was designed to be an independent venue for experts and policymakers to discuss the most pressing security issues around the globe.

At the conference on Friday, February 14, Vice President J.D. Vance launched what The Guardian’s Patrick Wintour called “a brutal ideological assault” against Europe, attacking the values the United States used to share with Europe but which Vance and the other members of the Trump administration are now working to destroy.

Vance and MAGA Christian nationalists reject the principles of secular democracy and instead align with leaders like Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. They claim that the equal rights central to democracy undermine nations by treating women and racial, religious, and gender minorities as equal to white Christian men. They want to see an end to the immigration that they believe weakens a nation's people, and for government to reinforce traditional religious and patriarchal values.

Vance attacked current European values and warned that the crisis for the region was not external actors like Russia or China, but rather “the threat from within.” He accused Europe of censoring free speech, but it was clear—especially coming from the representative of a regime that has erased great swaths of public knowledge because it objects to words like “gender”—that what he really objected to was restrictions on the speech of far-right ideologues.

After the rise and fall of German dictator Adolf Hitler, Germany banned Nazi propaganda and set limits on hate speech, banning attacks on people based on racial, national, religious, or ethnic background, as these forms of speech are central to fascism and similar ideologies. That hampers the ability of Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, to recruit before upcoming elections on February 23.

After calling for Europe to “change course and take our shared civilization in a new direction,” Vance threw his weight behind AfD. He broke protocol to refuse a meeting with current German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and instead broke a taboo in German politics by meeting with the leader of AfD Trump called Vance’s speech “very brilliant.”

Bill Kristol of The Bulwark posted: “It's heartening that today the leaders of the two major parties in Germany are unequivocally anti-Nazi and anti-fascist. It's horrifying that today the president and vice-president of the United States of America are not.” German defense minister Boris Pistorius called Vance’s speech “unacceptable,” and on Saturday, Scholz said: “Never again fascism, never again, racism, never again aggressive war…. [T]oday’s democracies in Germany and Europe are founded on the historic awareness and realization that democracies can be destroyed by radical anti-democrats.”

Vance and the Trump administration have the support of billionaire Elon Musk in their attempt to shift the globe toward the rejection of democracy in favor of far-right authoritarianism. David Ingram and Bruna Horvath of NBC News reported today that Musk has “encouraged right-wing political movements, policies and administrations in at least 18 countries in a global push to slash immigration and curtail regulation of business.”

Musk, who cast apparent Nazi salutes before crowds on the day of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, wrote an op-ed in favor of AfD and recently spoke by video at an AfD rally, calling it “the best hope for Germany.” In addition to his support for Germany’s AfD, Ingram and Horvath identified Musk’s support for far-right movements in Brazil, Ireland, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, and other countries. Last month, before Trump took office, French president Emmanuel Macron accused Musk of backing a global reactionary movement and of intervening directly in elections, including Germany’s.

Musk’s involvement in international politics appears to have coincided with his purchase of Twitter in 2022. And indeed, social media has been key to the project of undermining democracy. Russian operatives are now pushing the rise of the far-right in Europe through social media as they did in the United States. Russian president Vladimir Putin has long sought to weaken the democratic alliances of the United States and Europe to enable Russia to take at least parts of Ukraine and possibly other neighboring countries without the formidable resistance that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would present.

Russian state television praised Vance’s speech. One headline read: “Humiliated Europe out for the count. Its American master flogged its old vassals.” Russian pundits recognized that Vance’s turn away from Europe meant a victory for Russia.

Vance’s speech came after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told other countries’ defense ministers on Wednesday, February 12, that he wanted to “directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.” Since 1949, the United States has stood firmly behind the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that said any attack on one of the signatories to that agreement would be an attack on all. Now, it appears, the U.S. is backing away.

In that speech, Hegseth seemed to move the U.S. toward the ideology of Russian president Vladimir Putin that larger countries can scoop up their smaller neighbors. He echoed Putin’s demands for ending its war against Ukraine, saying that “returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective” and that the U.S. will not support NATO membership for Ukraine, thus conceding to Russia two key issues without apparently getting anything in return. He also said that Europe must take over assistance for Ukraine as the U.S. focuses on its own borders.

On Wednesday, Trump spoke to Putin for nearly an hour and a half and came out echoing Putin’s rationale for his attack on Ukraine. Trump’s social media account posted that the call had been “highly productive,” and said the two leaders would visit each other’s countries, offering a White House visit to Putin, who has been isolated from other nations since his attacks on Ukraine.

Also on Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and offered U.S. support for Ukraine in exchange for half the country’s mineral resources, although it was unclear if the deal the U.S. offered meant future support or only payment for past support. The offer did not, apparently, contain guarantees for future support, and Zelensky rejected it.

On Saturday, while the Munich conference was still underway, the Trump administration announced it was sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia to begin peace talks with Russia. Ukrainian officials said they had not been informed and had no plans to attend. European negotiators have not been invited either. While the talks are being billed as “early-stage,” the United States is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security advisor Michael Waltz, suggesting haste.

After Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on Saturday, the Russian readout of the call suggested that Russia urgently needs relief from the economic sanctions that are crushing the Russian economy. It said the call had focused on “removing unilateral barriers inherited from the previous U.S. administration, aiming to restore mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation.” On Friday, Russia’s central bank warned that the economy is faltering, while Orbán, an ally of both Putin and Trump, assured Hungarian state radio on Friday that Russia will be “reintegrated” into the world economy and the European energy system as soon as “the U.S. president comes and creates peace.”

But the U.S. is not speaking with one voice. Republican leaders who support Ukraine are trying to smooth over Trump’s apparent coziness with Russia. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS) called out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “rookie mistake” when he offered that the U.S. would not support Ukraine’s membership in NATO and that it was “unrealistic” for Ukraine to demand a return to its borders before Russia invaded in 2014, essentially offering to let Russia keep Crimea. Wicker said he was “puzzled” and “disturbed” by Hegseth’s comments and added: “I don’t know who wrote the speech—it is the kind of thing Tucker Carlson could have written, and Carlson is a fool.” Carlson, a former Fox News Channel personality, has expressed admiration for Orbán and Putin.

“There are good guys and bad guys in this war, and the Russians are the bad guys,” Wicker said. “They invaded, contrary to almost every international law, and they should be defeated. And Ukraine is entitled to the promises that the world made to it.”

Today on Face the Nation, Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) said: “There is absolutely no way that Donald Trump will be seen—he will not let himself go down in history as having sold out to Putin. He will not let that happen.” Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark said: “I guess Republicans think this is how they manipulate Trump into doing the right thing. But Trump’s been selling out to Putin since Helsinki when he publicly sided with Putin over America’s intelligence community. And he hasn’t stopped selling out since. And the [Republican Party] lets him.”

European leaders reported being blindsided by Trump’s announcement. German leader Scholz on Friday asked Germany’s parliament to declare a state of emergency to support Ukraine, and on Sunday, European leaders met for an impromptu breakfast to discuss European security and Ukraine. Macron invited leaders to Paris on Monday to continue discussions. Representatives of Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark will attend, as will the secretary-general of NATO and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.

After the Munich conference, in Writing from London, British journalist Nick Cohen wrote that those Americans trying to find an excuse for the betrayal of Ukraine are deluding themselves. He wrote: “[t]he radical right in the US is not engaged in a grand geopolitical strategy. It is pursuing an ideological campaign against its true enemy, which is not China or Russia but liberalism. The US culture war has gone global. The Trump administration hates liberals at home and liberal democracies abroad.”

Proving his point, on Saturday after Vance’s speech, Trump’s social media account posted: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” This message, attributed to French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte, not only claims that the president is above all laws, but also signals to supporters that they should support Trump with violence. And that is how they took it. Right-wing activist Jack Posobiec responded, “America will be saved[.] What must be done will be done,” to which Elon Musk responded: “Yes[.]”

Political scientist Stathis Kalyvas posted: “There is now total clarity, no matter how unimaginable things might seem. And they amount to this: The U.S. government has been taken over by a clique of extremists who have embarked on a process of regime change in the world’s oldest democracy…. The arrogance on display is staggering. They think their actions will increase U.S. power, but they are in fact wrecking their own country and, in the process everyone else.”

He continued: “The only hope lies in the sheer enormity of the threat: it might awake us out of our slumber before it is too late.”

A year ago today, on February 16, 2024, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died at the hands of Russian authorities in the prison where he was being held on trumped-up charges.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON