Read Online Icon of Evil: Hitler's Mufti and the Rise of Radical Islam by David G. Dalin, John F. Rothmann - Free Book Online
Authors: David G. Dalin, John F. Rothmann
Tags: Historical, History, World War II, Military, 20th Century, Biographies & Memoirs, middle east, World, Leaders & Notable People, Israel & Palestine
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being taken to prevent his [the mufti’s] getting away. Will you please do whatever is possible.” 19 With the British in hot pursuit, al-Husseini had to flee once again, this time from Iran, to Turkey, and then to Italy. In the dead of night on October 11, 1941, traveling incognito with his beard shaven, hair dyed, and a counterfeit Italian passport, 20 the mufti was flown to Italy on an Italian air force plane sent by Benito Mussolini.
Upon his arrival in Rome, the red carpet was rolled out by the Italian authorities. Mussolini’s Fascist government was generous in its hospitality to its new ally, putting at the mufti’s disposal a luxuriously spacious villa in Rome, a full staff of servants and bodyguards, and an official car and escort of policemen on motorcycles. At Mussolini’s instruction, all of al-Husseini’s living expenses were covered by the government, as were those of his entourage who followed him to Rome. 21
The highlight of the mufti’s Rome visit was a private audience with Mussolini, which took place on October 27, 1941, at Il Duce’s office on the first floor of the Palazzo Venetia, the exquisitely ornate Renaissance palace built by Pope Paul II in the fifteenth century and the seat of Mussolini’s Fascist government since 1928. It was in this same office, at the Palazzo Venetia, that Mussolini had met with Adolf Hitler during the führer’s much heralded state visit to Rome in 1937. As his chauffeured car passed the Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon en route to his destination, the mufti could not help but be impressed by the city’s grandeur. The stories about the historic Palazzo Venetia, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s government administration had held court at the beginning of the nineteenth century, were legendary. Since Mussolini’s assumption of power, lights at the palazzo were left on all night to give the impression that Mussolini and his Fascist regime worked without pause. From the balcony of the Palazzo Venetia, just above his private office, that overlooked the public square below, Mussolini drew huge crowds in his widely publicized speeches to the people of Rome, who were invariably mesmerized by his spellbinding oratory.
Il Duce received al-Husseini warmly, immediately endorsing his claim for an independent Arab government in Palestine and offering the mufti military support to fight the British. 22 Al-Husseini and Mussolini shared a devotion to fascism as well as a passionate hatred for both the British and the Jews. In welcoming his Arab guest, Mussolini affirmed al-Husseini’s belief that the Jews had no historical right to establish a state in Palestine. 23 Il Duce shared the mufti’s virulent opposition to Zionism. If the Jews want their own state, Mussolini told his delighted guest, “they should establish Tel Aviv in America.” 24 He also shared the mufti’s hope for the eventual extermination of the Jews. “We have here, in Italy, 45,000 Jews, but none will be left,” Mussolini told al-Husseini. “They are our enemies, and there will be no place for them in Europe.” 25
The mufti parted from Mussolini beaming. That night he noted in his diary: “I was very satisfied with my meeting with Mussolini and his statements about Jews and Zionism.” 26 When the mufti departed from Rome on November 6, 1941, he had the firm support of one key member of the Axis leadership. Now he was determined to proceed to the next step in his grand design.
Hitler and the Mufti
Upon his arrival in Berlin on November 6, 1941, the mufti was welcomed warmly by the leaders of the Third Reich. As in Italy, he was greeted as a head of state in exile and deferred to as an important ally and political supporter. The mufti’s reputation as a high liver, with a taste for fine food and luxurious living, had preceded him. The Nazi government spared no expense in offering him their hospitality, providing al-Husseini with a luxurious home on Berlin’s fashionable Klopstock Street, a
Upon his arrival in Rome, the red carpet was rolled out by the Italian authorities. Mussolini’s Fascist government was generous in its hospitality to its new ally, putting at the mufti’s disposal a luxuriously spacious villa in Rome, a full staff of servants and bodyguards, and an official car and escort of policemen on motorcycles. At Mussolini’s instruction, all of al-Husseini’s living expenses were covered by the government, as were those of his entourage who followed him to Rome. 21
The highlight of the mufti’s Rome visit was a private audience with Mussolini, which took place on October 27, 1941, at Il Duce’s office on the first floor of the Palazzo Venetia, the exquisitely ornate Renaissance palace built by Pope Paul II in the fifteenth century and the seat of Mussolini’s Fascist government since 1928. It was in this same office, at the Palazzo Venetia, that Mussolini had met with Adolf Hitler during the führer’s much heralded state visit to Rome in 1937. As his chauffeured car passed the Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon en route to his destination, the mufti could not help but be impressed by the city’s grandeur. The stories about the historic Palazzo Venetia, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s government administration had held court at the beginning of the nineteenth century, were legendary. Since Mussolini’s assumption of power, lights at the palazzo were left on all night to give the impression that Mussolini and his Fascist regime worked without pause. From the balcony of the Palazzo Venetia, just above his private office, that overlooked the public square below, Mussolini drew huge crowds in his widely publicized speeches to the people of Rome, who were invariably mesmerized by his spellbinding oratory.
Il Duce received al-Husseini warmly, immediately endorsing his claim for an independent Arab government in Palestine and offering the mufti military support to fight the British. 22 Al-Husseini and Mussolini shared a devotion to fascism as well as a passionate hatred for both the British and the Jews. In welcoming his Arab guest, Mussolini affirmed al-Husseini’s belief that the Jews had no historical right to establish a state in Palestine. 23 Il Duce shared the mufti’s virulent opposition to Zionism. If the Jews want their own state, Mussolini told his delighted guest, “they should establish Tel Aviv in America.” 24 He also shared the mufti’s hope for the eventual extermination of the Jews. “We have here, in Italy, 45,000 Jews, but none will be left,” Mussolini told al-Husseini. “They are our enemies, and there will be no place for them in Europe.” 25
The mufti parted from Mussolini beaming. That night he noted in his diary: “I was very satisfied with my meeting with Mussolini and his statements about Jews and Zionism.” 26 When the mufti departed from Rome on November 6, 1941, he had the firm support of one key member of the Axis leadership. Now he was determined to proceed to the next step in his grand design.
Hitler and the Mufti
Upon his arrival in Berlin on November 6, 1941, the mufti was welcomed warmly by the leaders of the Third Reich. As in Italy, he was greeted as a head of state in exile and deferred to as an important ally and political supporter. The mufti’s reputation as a high liver, with a taste for fine food and luxurious living, had preceded him. The Nazi government spared no expense in offering him their hospitality, providing al-Husseini with a luxurious home on Berlin’s fashionable Klopstock Street, a
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