Did Mussolini speak German?

[Roderick]

In occasions when Hitler and Mussolini came together to discuss something, I have a doubt about their conversations.
How was it? Did Mussolini manage the German idiom? Did they need an interpreter?

regards,

Roderick

[KnightMove]

I don't KNOW for certain, but I'm quite sure they needed an interpreter.

[AHLF]

Mussolini spoke very fluent german, though with some italian accent.
(for example see otto skorzeny's memoirs.)
best,

AHLF.

[Westwall]

yes, old Benito spoke german.

[Harri]

I think Mussolini lived (and "worked") many years in Switzerland during his early career in socialistic party and trades union. IIRC it was a kind of exile because socialists were against the war in 1914 and didn't want to go to the army. So, actually Mussolini was a draft resister - odd isn't it??!!

Mussolini was also deported from Switzerland because of his work for (illegal?) trades unions. He translated a few German books to Italian language so he could speak German, although probably not quite fluently. Interpreters are many times used in official occasions even if the negotiators can speak same languages.

[kevin]

Hallo Harri,
I'm afraid you're wrong on one point. Mussolini was not a draft dodger. When Italy entered the war on the Allied side, he joined the army as a volunteer, despite being too old to be called up. Incidentally it was the reason he left the Italian Socialist Party, which was opposed to the war. (Prior to the war he had been the editor of the main Italian Socialist newspaper).

Incidentally his prewar Socialist leanings led him to suggest that Italy and Germany should try to seek a military truce with the Soviet Union (rather than with the 'capitalist' Western Allies in 1943, months before his regime was brought down.

[PanzerKing]

Well I sure hope he spoke German. Otherwise, it would be quite odd that you see the two speaking to eachother directly in video and pics all the time.

[HptmCox]

He definately spoke german, because they are talking face to face without anyone around them in many vid clips and pictures. Now the real challenge, what about Hitler and Tojo and what not?

[gabriel pagliarani]

Hallo Harri,
I'm afraid you're wrong on one point. Mussolini was not a draft dodger. When Italy entered the war on the Allied side, he joined the army as a volunteer, despite being too old to be called up. Incidentally it was the reason he left the Italian Socialist Party, which was opposed to the war. (Prior to the war he had been the editor of the main Italian Socialist newspaper).

Incidentally his prewar Socialist leanings led him to suggest that Italy and Germany should try to seek a military truce with the Soviet Union (rather than with the 'capitalist' Western Allies in 1943, months before his regime was brought down.

Mussolini was really a man out of any standard. He learnt German and French in Switzerland and he was able to withstand a fast dialogue in English. When it was in Villa Torlonia, Rome, he asked to watch an original american movie every time it was possible. He was delighted by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Another funny link to the tastes of Saddam.....During WW1 he was wounded by foe's fire, exactly as Adolf Hitler was hurted by venom-gaz. Surely this fact twisted their fates.

[FB]

I confirm what has already been reported: Benito Mussolini was fluent in German and French (learned in Switzerland). He also knew English (but not as well as the other two languages). There's an exceptional video testimony of this last: a video that he wanted to be made where he addresses the English speaking peoples in favor of the peace. It was in the thirties IIRC. The video was shown this summer during an historic program on RAI 3 Italian television. Very interesting, for the modernity of the thing (the use of the video as a mean to reach the masses) but, I must confess, his English with "romagnolo" accent was a little bit funny .


Best regards

P.S.: Wasn't Mussolini wounded, during WW1, when the mortar he was doing an exercitation with exploded? Anyway the wound was a severe one, because after receiving it he was put on leave from the Army.

[Georges M. Croisier]

About Mussolini in Switzerland:

1) M was arrested in Lausanne by the police while sleeping under a bridge and expelled from the country. It happened before WW I

2) In the 30's, M was promoted Doctor honoris causa of the university of ... Lausanne !

[gabriel pagliarani]

About Mussolini in Switzerland:

1) M was arrested in Lausanne by the police while sleeping under a bridge and expelled from the country. It happened before WW I

2) In the 30's, M was promoted Doctor honoris causa of the university of ... Lausanne !

In 1901 exactly. Pragmatic behaviour by Lausanne's leaders...

[asgatalopt]

The official interpreter between Mussolini and Hitler was colonel Eugen Dollman, a reputed art history professor from Bavaria.
He was theri interpreter before the war and during all the war and did a lot of backstage diplomatic work.
He clearly states in his memories (ROMA NAZISTA, the nazist Rome) that Mussolini's knowledge of german was largely overstated, and openly declares that Mussolini could at most order a coffe in a german bar...
he was present at every Hitler Mussolini metteng and he ever acted as an interpreter among them.

By the way he mantains that during their meeting, which were not as many as one could imagine, they would talk almost for themselves, Mussolini being tyrading about the greatness of the roman empire and Hitler of his political and military victories.

Dollman was very surprised at seeing that they didn't do together almost any politivcal work which was left to ambassador and ministries.

In this book Dolmann gives a marvellous and deep portrait of many italian and german hyerarchs and many of them come out very badly, with the excpetion most notable being Marshall Kesselring.

[Southpower]

How could he learn Japanese if he couldnt even learn German???

[Georges M. Croisier]

Dollmann's papers are not realy the most reliable source.

For most historians and researchers, the content must be taken with caution. (Same as for Schellenberg's)