Why were the Nazis able to build a more effective cult of personality around Hitler than the Italian Fascists around Mussolini?

Out of the Foxholes Questions
1

Hi Indy and Crew! I hope you all are well.
It seems that the cult of personality built around Hitler was much more effective than what was attempted with Mussolini in Italy, despite Mussolini being in power almost a decade before the Nazis. Is this actually the case, and if so why were the Nazis more effective in deifying their leader?

4 Likes
2

I am not sure, possibly also because the German “obrigkeitshorigkeits” kultur of the time ( roughly translated follow the orders, law etcetera) has never been a typically Italian thing. (Which I kind of like). Also Italy fought in World War 1 on the Entente side and the average Italian wasn’t too happy to be sucked in a war playing the “second fiddle”. Sadly the Italians would suffer after 1943 for perceived “treason” as they chose not to follow the fuhrer untill into the streets of Berlin.

I really can’t imagine every Italian yelling Heil Duce.

2 Likes