The History of the Twentieth Century

410 Stranded on Plum Pudding Island

8 snips
Jul 13, 2025
Discover the chaotic summer of 1943, where Mussolini's ousting ignited a public frenzy in Italy. Delve into the strange tale of Ezra Pound, a poet turned pro-fascist, alongside Mick Jagger's unexpected birth. Hear the harrowing survival account of Lieutenant Kennedy and his crew after the sinking of PT-109, while pivotal WWII events unfold, like the Red Army reclaiming Belgorod. Wrap up with the legacy of PT-109, exploring its influence on culture and politics, including John F. Kennedy's connection and the island's name change.
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INSIGHT

Italy's Shift from Fascism

  • Italy's public turned against Mussolini largely due to the disastrous war.
  • His imprisonment revealed how isolated he'd become among Italians despite his earlier fascist hold.
INSIGHT

Hitler's Italy Invasion Plan

  • Hitler planned to invade Italy immediately after Mussolini's ouster but delayed due to army readiness concerns.
  • He ordered Waffen-SS lead to control the operation, emphasizing political loyalty amid turmoil.
ANECDOTE

Ezra Pound's Fascist Propaganda

  • Poet Ezra Pound became a fascist propagandist broadcasting anti-Allied messages during WWII.
  • His endorsement of fascism led to a treason indictment by the US government.
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