King Victor Emmanuel III (11 Nov. 1869 - 28 Dec. 1947)
Victor Emmanuel III was King of Italy during the Second World War. When the Fascist government introduced new race laws persecuting Jews, he remained silent on the issue. He declared himself King of Albania in 1939. In 1941, he would survive an assassination attempt there.
Italy entered the war in June 1940 with Italian forces taking successive beatings by the Allies. By 1943, the King had decided to get rid of Mussolini, and promptly sacked him as Prime Minister in July 1943, the day after his dismissal by the Grand Council of Fascism. He then demanded Mussolini’s arrest, and renounced his claims to the thrones of the nations in the Italian Empire.
From then on he planned to join the Allied cause, which he did don in September 1943. He and his government then fled from Rome fearing a German offensive (it would later be revealed that Hitl;er had planned to arrest the King), Mussolini would establish the Italian Social Republic in the north but the King still technically ruled. He soon realised that his relationship with the Fascists would not play in his favour and he handed over most powers to his son, Crown Prince Umberto, In April of 1944. He kept the title of King, and handed further powers to his son when Rome was freed, making him Lieutenant General of the Realm. However, he still remained King.
For more information on Victor Emmanuel III:
“King Vittorio Emanuele III”, on http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/emanuele.htm [last accessed 23/04/2012].
Mack Smith, Denis. Italy: A Modern History (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press), 1959.
Italy entered the war in June 1940 with Italian forces taking successive beatings by the Allies. By 1943, the King had decided to get rid of Mussolini, and promptly sacked him as Prime Minister in July 1943, the day after his dismissal by the Grand Council of Fascism. He then demanded Mussolini’s arrest, and renounced his claims to the thrones of the nations in the Italian Empire.
From then on he planned to join the Allied cause, which he did don in September 1943. He and his government then fled from Rome fearing a German offensive (it would later be revealed that Hitl;er had planned to arrest the King), Mussolini would establish the Italian Social Republic in the north but the King still technically ruled. He soon realised that his relationship with the Fascists would not play in his favour and he handed over most powers to his son, Crown Prince Umberto, In April of 1944. He kept the title of King, and handed further powers to his son when Rome was freed, making him Lieutenant General of the Realm. However, he still remained King.
For more information on Victor Emmanuel III:
“King Vittorio Emanuele III”, on http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/emanuele.htm [last accessed 23/04/2012].
Mack Smith, Denis. Italy: A Modern History (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press), 1959.