Nietzsche and the Duce

"The Führer's gift was the only pleasant surprise for Mussolini - an admirable edition of the works of Nietzsche - twenty-four tomes - that had a dedication by the hands of Hitler. True jewel of the German publishing art. Accompanying the gift was a letter from Marshal Kesselring, which read:

"Duce: on behalf of the Führer I refer you, with the blessing of S.E. Marshal of Italy Pietro Badoglio, the gift of the Führer on the day of your birthday. The Führer will be happy if this great work of German literature gives you, Duce, a little joy, and if you have to consider it as an expression of personal affection that the Führer professes to you. One to it my particular greeting." Feldmariscal Kesselring - General Headquarters, August 7, 1943. 

Mussolini had time to read the first four volumes containing the youthful poems of Nietzsche - most beautiful - and the first works of philology on Latin and Greek, languages that the German thinker possessed with the same perfection as his own.

Mussolini had time to read the first four volumes containing the youthful poems of Nietzsche - most beautiful - and the first works of philology on Latin and Greek, languages that the German thinker possessed with the same perfection as his own."

Benito Mussolini. My last year.
Pages: 100 - 101.