Specifically, I'm interested in Mussolini/Italian fascist view of communism before Hitler became prominent. Was it one of their basic tenets too? Did they care at all before becoming friendly with Nazi? Did they hate Soviets more than other European countries?
Hi!
So, if you're up for some "light" reading, I'd suggest Mussolini, as Revealed in His Political Speeches by Barone Bernardo Quaranta di San Severino, 1923. It's 422 pages long and about Mussolini's political views from 1914-1923, before Hitler. He basically states, in the book, that Mussolini abandoned his "socialist" sentiments because he saw the communist reactionaries riot and protest against the government post-WWI, which had left Italy in considerable debt. He saw this as them attacking the state when all the state wanted was to help them, and this helped foster his anti-communist ideas. He found that the worker's revolt went against socialism's goals of abandoning classes and furthered the divide and "la lotta di classe," or "class struggle."
If you're interested in some later readings, I'd also suggest The Doctrine of Fascism (1932). It really shows how Hitler and Mussolini kind of influenced each other in regards to opinions on communism. Quote: "The Fascist conception of the State is all-embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. Thus understood, Fascism is totalitarian, and the Fascist State—a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values—interprets, develops, and potentiates the whole life of a people. (p. 14) Fascism is therefore opposed to Socialism to which unity within the State (which amalgamates classes into a single economic and ethical reality) is unknown, and which sees in history nothing but the class struggle. Fascism is likewise opposed to trade unionism as a class weapon, but when brought within the orbit of the State, Fascism recognises the real needs which gave rise to socialism and trade-unionism, giving them due weight in the guild or corporative system in which divergent interests are coordinated and harmonised in the unity of the State. (p.15)"
Also, here's a link to some of Mussolini's speeches, most during war time.
A quote from a speech to the Chamber of Fasci and Corporations by Mussolini on Dec 2nd, 1941 speaks volumes, figuratively and literally: "a moving picture of a Bolshevik parade (held) in the Kremlin Square, in Moscow, which I had shown for me in slow motion to examine it better, convinced me that to the East a powerful State, strictly militaristic, had now been created, and which had given up the idea of international revolution achieved through individual national revolutions, aiming instead at extending the revolution on the continent, and in the world, through the power of its bayonets.
It was therefore, in my opinion, necessary for the Axis to secure its rear; and it is my profound conviction that the time was chosen with clear discernment. If we had delayed further, events might have taken quite a different course.
We are objective enough to recognize that the Russian soldier has fought well; but the German soldier fought even better and defeated the Russian soldier. It must be recognized that only an army like the German Army and only the Italian expeditionary force, which has now become the ARMIR, would have been able to survive the trial of a winter that had had no equal for 140 years.
Today Russia has lost its most fertile lands, the richest in prime raw materials, has lost from 80,000,000 to 90,000,000 of inhabitants. Those lands permit us to view the future, from the standpoint of raw materials and from the standpoint of food, with greater confidence. I can state that, so far, Anglo-American assistance has been very meagre."
He's, in essence, stating that the Soviets had given up on their intent to establish a socialist state, and instead undermine that dream by extending political power and exerting force on other nations. Which I think is highly ironic, but hey.
Hope this helped!
Fascism is the negation of communism. Mussolini says it's a complete rejection of a materialist conception of history. They're anti-Marxist.
There's plenty of other components but that's it's relation to communism.
The Doctrine of Fascism (1932) is what you'd want to read.
The Axis Alliance grew out of the Anti-Comintern Pact (Comintern is short for the Communist Internationale) which was signed between Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan in November, 1936. Fascist Italy and others would later join.