Silvio Berlusconi praises Mussolini at Holocaust remembrance

Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi delivers a speech during a campaign rally to present the list of the PDL candidates for the upcoming elections, in Rome on January 25, 2013. / Getty Images

ROME Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi praised Benito Mussolini for "having done good" despite the Fascist dictator's anti-Jewish laws, immediately sparking expressions of outrage as Europe on Sunday held Holocaust remembrances.

Berlusconi also defended Mussolini for allying himself with Hitler, saying he likely reasoned that it would be better to be on the winning side.

The media mogul, whose conservative forces are polling second in voter surveys ahead of next month's election, spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony in Milan to commemorate the Holocaust.

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In 1938, before the outbreak of World War II, Mussolini's regime passed the so-called "racial laws," barring Jews from Italy's universities and many professions, among other bans. When Germany's Nazi regime occupied Italy during the war, thousands from the tiny Italian Jewish community were deported to death camps.

"It is difficult now to put oneself in the shoes of who was making decisions back then," Berlusconi said of Mussolini's support for Hitler. "Certainly the (Italian) government then, fearing that German power would turn into a general victory, preferred to be allied with Hitler's Germany rather than oppose it."

Berlusconi added that "within this alliance came the imposition of the fight against, and extermination of, the Jews. Thus, the racial laws are the worst fault of Mussolini, who, in so many other aspects, did good."

More than 7,000 Jews were deported under Mussolini's regime, and nearly 6,000 of them were killed.

Outrage, along with a demand that Berlusconi be prosecuted for promoting Fascism, quickly followed his words.

Among those voicing condemnation were prominent Jewish figures abroad.

Mussolini `'modeled his anti-Jewish laws after the Nazi Nuremberg Laws barring Jews from civil service," Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said in a statement.

`'It is the height of revisionism to try to reinstate an Italian dictator who helped legitimize and prop up Hitler as a `reincarnated good guy,"' said the rabbi, whose organization monitors anti-Semitic incidents worldwide.

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[DF68]

Seems he's never heard the old saying, "When in Rome and you're Berlusconi, ****." ;0) LOL

[DF68]

Ok, how about, "... Shut the Fettuccine Up."? ;0)

[imnho]

This gup is a real wack job. Mussolini was an unmitgated disaster for Italy. Mussolini would have been better off not being hitler's lackey. Mussolini was also a dictator and uninterested in the welfare of the nation he led for twenty years.

[assomatto]

What kind of source you have! What are you talking about. Mussolini gave more right to the people. The ONMI is an example and there are many more. Next time in stead of "going with the flow" try to make some research on your own

[margroks]

What a pig.

[kcreligion]

Berlusconi , has been an over reaching for some time. Surprised that he hasn't caught more flack from the Italian papers but free speech has never been as important as in the US. We never appreciate our freedoms near enough till we look at losing them. Mussolini gave the Italians nothing but a badge of shame on their country.

[assomatto]

You should get a bit more educated about Italian history. What you read from US media isn't the example of freedom. You read what the media write. Media are writing what politics and corporations want you to read. For sure Mussolini has done a huge mistake on following Hitler, however he has also done a lot for Italy in that particular time.
Back on Berlusconi that's what he said "Ha fatto anche cose buone, la sua peggior colpa sono state le leggi razziali per timore della Germania di Hitler" which translated sounds like "He also did good things, his worst fault was the racial laws for fear of Hitler's Germany". As you can say totally different from the article.

[TheSeniorChief]

In life there are certain UGLY things in life that cannot simply be 'swept under the carpet' and this is one of them! Berlusconi must be 'groping for anything' to give him a chance to recapture his status as "Leader of Italy". Obviously this is really NOT a politically objective, but an EGO TRIP! I,for ONE, hope this 'nut case' is not qualified to run his own 'household" much less the TOP Office of the Italian Government of Italy! This super rich Italian Playboy is what I would call an clear example that money does not make you a smart person, but can, in fact, make you 'crazy for power', a total '*******', and someone who is totally NOT in touch with reality.

Don't you think that If Musolini were such a great leader, a great humanitarian, a person who valued the rights and the freedom of each and every Italian Citizen, that 'just somewhere along the line' by his actions while in power, he might have been recognized by the country of Italy and the World, as a hero! And wouldn't you be observing a TON of statues around the country proclaiming their 'love' of Italy?

Instead the Italian people understan that this is not true, and they understand that Mussolini's actions were such that he and his family were "hanged in the square" in 1945. Not a good showing for the "Good Guys, The Martyr's". Go Figure! Jack

[kbbpll]

"the racial laws are the worst fault of Mussolini, who, in so many other aspects, did good." - is there something else Berlusconi said that is so offensive to Jews, or is that about it? If I was an American politician, I could say something similar about Benedict Arnold - he built America's first navy, and defeated the British in two major battles that otherwise could have ended the Revolution. I wonder if there is anything more that Berlusconi said, or if this is just another excuse by CBS to spew propaganda.

[CarlHockney]

How about excusing an alliance with evil merely to be on the winning side? Or do you think that's not so objectionable? I wonder if you would as easily disregard someone excusing a serial killer's henchman for helping him dispose of the bodies? "...within this alliance came the imposition of the fight against, and extermination of, the Jews." Oh, is that all? Not such a bad thing,really....You're one sick Obama-hater.

[kbbpll]

Perhaps Berlusconi is also a disgusting fascist, but there is no context in this article. All I read is a lot of outrage over a quote, that while stupid for a politician to say, doesn't really rise to the level of the outrage. CBS writers tend to take this kind of stuff and push an agenda. Concluding that I'm a "sick Obama-hater" is pretty silly, since I voted for him.

[rwsmith29456]

Just like Hitler, Mussolini put his country to work and boosted the economy. At the expense of a good portion of the population.

[Wingsfan1983]

Seems just like the Platform of the GOP

[seatom]

Quick, send in the clowns!

[pitai]

Another proof that money & power don't buy brain. And by the way Mussolini really pick the winner!!!Luckily times have changed because Berlosconi might have ended up feet in the sky!!!

[Wingsfan1983]

He has had his share of women with their feet in the sky.

Someone in Italy may find to find a piano.

[CuriousServant]

Astonishing!