Main content

Did Mussolini make the trains run on time?

Were reports of punctual trains in Mussolini鈥檚 Italy, the truth, lies, or something else?

鈥淪ay what you like about Mussolini but he did make the trains run on time.鈥 This phrase is the political equivalent of 鈥渆very cloud has a silver lining鈥 鈥 but does it have any factual basis?

Mussolini鈥檚 dictatorship in Italy was full of atrocities, brutal suppression and propaganda. Did it also create a more efficient railway network?

We speak to Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat about the truth of the claim and why the Mussolini regime wanted us to believe it.

Presenter: Lizzy McNeill
Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Researcher: Esme Winterbotham
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound Master: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison.

Image: Benito Mussolini in his train studying maps. (Photo by ullstein picture/ullstein picture via Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 23 Dec 2024 00:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 05:50GMT
  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 11:50GMT
  • Sat 21 Dec 2024 16:50GMT
  • Sun 22 Dec 2024 09:50GMT
  • Sun 22 Dec 2024 11:50GMT
  • Sun 22 Dec 2024 22:50GMT
  • Mon 23 Dec 2024 00:50GMT

Download this programme

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.