Centenary of Matteotti Murder Marked with Display of ‘Smoking Gun’

For the first time, a century after his brutal assassination by a fascist militia on June 10, 1924, the pivotal evidence of Giacomo Matteotti’s murder is being exhibited in Rome at the Palazzo Braschi. This crucial piece of evidence is a letter penned by Amerigo Dumini, the leader of the fascist squad responsible for the murder, to Benito Mussolini from his prison cell. The letter reveals that Dumini carried out the murder following Mussolini’s orders. The socialist parliamentarian Matteotti’s body was not discovered until August 16, 1924. This letter, a testament of immense historical value, is only one of the items on display in the exhibition titled ‘Giacomo Matteotti. Life and Death of a Father of Democracy at the Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi. The exhibition will be open to the public from March 1, 2024 to June 16, 2024.

The exhibition, curated by Mauro Canali and overseen and coordinated by Alessandro Nicosia, offers a comprehensive look at the life of the socialist leader, deputy, and secretary of the Socialist Unitary Party (PSU). It follows his journey from his early years to his rise to national prominence, his fight for democracy, and his opposition to fascism. Matteotti was one of the first to recognize the totalitarian nature of fascism, which ultimately led to his violent murder by the Mussolini regime. His unyielding opposition to fascism, coupled with his deep sense of dignity and civic duty during a tragic time in history, has made Matteotti a symbol of resistance against fascism. His legacy, guided by a strong moral compass and civic duty, continues to shape and influence the political and cultural life of the country.

Professor Canali, a well-known biographer of Matteotti, revealed that for the first time, the exhibition will showcase investigative documents collected by two highly esteemed magistrates, Mauro Del Giudice and Guglielmo Tancredi. These documents conclusively answer the long-standing question of whether Mussolini was aware of the murder. In addition, the exhibition will display letters written by Dumini to Mussolini, in which he confessed to following Mussolini’s orders and pleaded for his release from prison.

According to Professor Canali, these documents prove that Mussolini not only knew about the murder, but also ordered it. The motive for the murder is believed to be a speech delivered by Matteotti in Parliament on May 30, 1924, in which he criticized the fascist government for corruption and for illegally profiting from oil. This led Mussolini to view Matteotti as a threat, and he ordered Dumini to kill Matteotti to prevent him from further exposing the government’s corruption.

The exhibition’s presentation was attended by the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, as well as the Municipality of Rome’s Culture Councilor, Miguel Gotor. The exhibition is part of a series of initiatives planned to commemorate the centenary of Matteotti’s murder and to celebrate his legacy as a socialist leader and staunch opponent of fascism.

Mayor Gualtieri noted that the exhibition is necessary to remember and honor Matteotti, not just as a martyr of the fascist regime, but also as an influential socialist politician. Claudio Martelli, a former secretary of the PSI and current president of the Nenni Foundation, referred to Matteotti as a “hero” for his fearless opposition to the fascist regime.

The main sponsor of the exhibition is Banca Ifis. Its president, Ernesto Furstenberg Fassio, highlighted the bank’s commitment to cultural sustainability and emphasized that the exhibition on Matteotti reaffirms this commitment. He concluded by saying that culture is a driver of growth and sustainable development, and a means of building more aware, resilient, and inclusive communities.