A Look at Anti-Semitism Within Italy Before WWII

 Michael Bruno, Verrazzano Class of 2023, completed major in History and minor in Psychology

As a student of history, the work that I completed for my capstone project has allowed me to extend my appreciation for this field. The attainment of historical knowledge is a necessary component in understanding the world that we inherit.

For me personally, my capstone project taught me to dedicate myself to the mastery of understanding such a minuscule aspect of history in regard to its limitless range of possible exploration. The area of research for my capstone focused on anti-Semitism within Italy before and during the events of the Second World War.

I have always had a liking for history since I was a child. What particularly interested me was the history behind the Second World War and how the landscape of that war truly laid out the foundations of today’s society. We were always taught that during World War II the axis powers included Italy, but this was usually the only time their involvement in the war was mentioned and it seemed as if their role in the war was left hidden in the background. I wanted to understand their involvement in this anti-Semitic sentiment that has plagued Europe for nearly two thousand years.

During my research I discovered that the Italian state had already developed anti-Semitic rhetoric within its political agenda before Nazism, which permitted Italy’s collaboration in the Holocaust. I also learned that previous waves of anti-Semitism throughout European history had permitted many Italians to be complacent with policies against their fellow Jewish neighbors.

From the standpoint of a researcher, I was burdened with the fact that there was a limited amount of Italian-Jewish primary sources that I was able to discover. My mentor Dr. Catherine Lavender directed me toward Primo Levi, an Italian Jew who had survived captivity in the notorious concentration camp, Auschwitz. It was comforting to know that although this capstone delved into the worse of human nature, beyond all of this hate is the story of perseverance and survival.

Once my work was completed I was satisfied with my conclusion that Italy should be held accountable for its crimes against humanity and its complacency towards this extreme wave of anti-Semitism.

If I was given the opportunity, I would have extended my research by further investigating the European phenomenon of anti-Semitism on a larger scale that led to the Holocaust. I could have also explored the role of the Catholic Church more closely in regard to them supporting a fascist and anti-Semitic state.

My capstone project allowed me to understand how much research and dedication is involved in creating a historical story. To those that have dedicated their lives to deciphering historical events and texts, I give you my respect and gratitude.