Italian Leader Benito Mussolini
"Soldiers, sailors, and aviators! Blackshirts of the revolution and of the [Fascist] legions! Men and women of Italy, of the Empire, and of the kingdom of Albania! Pay heed! An hour appointed by destiny has struck in the heavens of our fatherland.
The declaration of war has already been delivered to the ambassadors of Great Britain and France. We go to battle against the plutocratic and reactionary democracies of the west who, at every moment have hindered the advance and have often endangered the very existence of the Italian people...
In a memorable meeting, that which took place in Berlin, I said that according to the laws of Fascist morality, when one has a friend, one marches with him to the end. This we have done with Germany, with its people, with its marvelous armed forces. On this eve of an event of century wide scope, we direct our thought to the majesty of the King and Emperor which as always has understood the soul of the fatherland. And we salute with our voices the Fuhrer, the head of great ally Germany. Proletarian and Fascist Italy stands up a third time, strong, proud, and united as never before...
People of Italy! Rush to arms and show your tenacity, your courage, your valor!"