World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseBorn to King Umberto I of Italy in the city of Naples, Vittorio Emanuele III became the King of Italy on 29 Jul 1900. His name was anglicized as Victor Emmanuel III. Although he devoted his early career as monarch to his own form of democracy, his 1922 appointment of Benito Mussolini to the position of prime minister sabotaged most of his own efforts. Mussolini transformed the Italian government to a totalitarian leadership. His supporters claimed that the king appointed the fascist to a position of power because it, at the time, was the best for the welfare of the Italian people. Considering the years of political instability in Italy, some argued that Vittorio Emanuele III was a favorable short-term alternative. The rise of Mussolini, however, also effectively ended the king's actual authority over his country, rendering Vittorio Emanuele III into a puppet figure.

ww2dbaseOn 5 May 1935, Mussolini succeeded in conquering the Empire of Abyssinia, and four days later he crowned his puppet king as the Emperor of Abyssinia, though not all nations in the world acknowledged this title. On 5 May 1941, Vittorio Emanuele III renounced this title after Abyssinia was liberated by British troops. Similarly, he was crowned King of Albania in 1939, but many governments challenged the legitimacy of the title. Despite Vittorio Emanuele III's popularity early during WW2, his popular support slowly waned as Italy's position in the war turned for the worse. His lack of opposition for Mussolini's anti-Semitic laws caused him to lose support among Jewish military officers and many citizens, while fleeing Rome in 1943 in the face of Allied advance marked the end of any kind of popular support for him.

ww2dbaseAfter the war ended for Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III was well aware of the lack of support for his reign; as a result, he yielded his authority to Crown Prince Umberto by granting him the title of Lieutenant General of the Realm. On 9 May 1946, he abdicated the throne, and crowned Prince Umberto as King Umberto II, who would become the last king of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III was widely criticized for Italian monarchists for his failure in the handling of the Fascist downfall.

ww2dbaseIn 1946, a referendum was held in Italy to decide whether the nation would continue being a monarchy or become a republic. Vittorio Emanuele III abdicated in favor of his son, who ascended to the throne as King Umberto II, who was viewed as more popular than Vittorio Emanuele III. The referendum nevertheless turned out in favor of the republican cause, and as the result Vittorio Emanuele III and all male members of the House of Savoy (Italian: Casa Savoia) was required to leave Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III took refuge in Egypt, where he was welcomed by King Farouk of Egypt. The former Italian king passed away due to pulmonary congestion in Alexandria, Egypt in 1947.

Photographs

Vittorio Emanuele III Timeline

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