Historian Finds Mussolini’s Autograph Letter on 1934 Soldier Amnesty
The Drs, Dipartimento Ricerche e Studi di Peschiera, a symposium of passionate historical investigation recently established in the town of Arilico, has made its first significant discovery: the finding of an exceptionally interesting historical document dated exactly September 11th, 67 years ago.
It is an autograph letter from the Duce, in which he reports to the King about a peculiar “grace” granted to an infantry officer. The event occurs at a historically significant moment. On September 10, 1934, the Subsecretariat for National Press was officially established, entrusted to Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law.
The following day, the Duce focused on another very particular matter: amnesty, in his capacity as Minister of War, for a reserve officer accused of selling medical substances without proper authorization. The peculiarity lies in the fact that Mussolini directly intervened to defend the soldier, effectively overturning a sanction previously decided by the Disciplinary Council.
Description of the Document and Historical Context
Traces of that forgotten page of history have resurfaced. The singular document, dated Rome, September 11, 1934, is written on letterhead of the Ministry of War “Discipline Division”, the department responsible for overseeing punitive actions.
The text is typewritten on a black ribbon and begins by addressing King Vittorio Emanuele with the traditional “Sire”. It continues: “The reserve Lieutenant in question, subjected to criminal proceedings for the sale of cocaine without the required license, has ultimately been acquitted of this charge due to amnesty.”
The Disciplinary Council convened in Palermo on July 7, 1934, and unanimously judged him undeserving of retaining his rank. However, elements within the text raise serious doubts about the officer’s guilt.
Furthermore, reputable and trustworthy testimonies state that he is an upright man and that the criminal proceedings against him are the result of mere slander. Excellent information regarding his conduct was provided by the Royal Carabinieri.
Finally, the federal secretary of the National Fascist Party announced that he had granted him the party membership card on October 29, 1932. Based on the above, I have decided to mitigate the adverse verdict of the Disciplinary Council, establishing his position with an ordinary disciplinary sanction and simultaneously revoking the previously imposed provisional suspension of rank.
In this sense, I am honored to submit to Your Majesty’s august judgment.” Signed Mussolini.
Method of Discovery and Final Remarks
The curious document was handed over to Peschiera scholars by a citizen who discovered it among some old, forgotten books of the time; a small but fascinating page of history added to the volume of events that occurred during the 20th century.
