Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.124.4
Object Name
Poster
Title
Italian anti-fascism poster: Almirante cartoon
People
Giorgio Almirante
Events
Years of lead
Date
1980
Description
White poster with red border. Cartoon caricature drawing of a man with a moustache; his face green and a top hat with the American Flag printed on, there is a bomb fuse that has been lit, and is burning down towards the bottom of the hat. Thhere is text in Italian underneath which reads "Almirante: The legalistic face. And in the hat, the bombs of the Mussoloni Action Squads. The make-up of uncle S.A.M." This caption suggests that the cartoon is of Giorgio Almirante - an Italian politician and leader of neo-fascist Italian Social Movement. The Italian Social Movement was a neo-fascist, nationalist and national-conservative political party in Italy. Its creation was inspired by former dictator Mussoloni. Almirante pursued aggressive policies against left-wing uprisings. The party and Almirante's reputation suffered due to its connection to right wing terrorism during the "years of lead." The 'years of lead' is a term used for a period in Italian history defined by social and political
turmoil, and far right and far-left terrorism. The Years of Lead are often considered to have begun with the Hot Autumn strikes starting in 1969; the death of the policeman Antonio Annarumma in November 1969; the Piazza Fontana bombing in December of that year, which killed 17 and was perpetrated by right-wing terrorists in Milan; and the subsequent death that same month of leftist anarchist worker Giuseppe Pinelli while in police custody under suspicion of a crime he did not commit. The caption on the cartoon suggests that Almirante had strong ties to America, and that Americ utilised Italian fascism for their own needs. It states that within the American flag hat, there are bombs connected to Mussoloni, and this is all makes up "uncle S.A.M", meaning America. This poster is in good condition.
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