Ettore Muti
| Ettore Muti | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Secretary of the National Fascist Party | |
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In office 31 October 1939 – 30 October 1940 |
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| President | Benito Mussolini |
| Preceded by | Achille Starace |
| Succeeded by | Adelchi Serena |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
2 May 1902 Ravenna, Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 24 August 1943 (aged 41) Rome, Kingdom of Italy |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Political party | National Fascist Party |
Ettore Muti (2 May 1902 – 24 August 1943) was an Italian aviator and Fascist politician. He was Party Secretary of the National Fascist Party (Partito Nazionale Fascista, or PNF) from October 1939 until shortly after the entry of Italy into World War II on June 10, 1940.
Born in Ravenna, Romagna, Muti was banned from any school in the country at age 13, after punching one of his teachers. The next year, he ran away from home in order to fight in World War I, but was recovered and returned by the Carabinieri. At 15, a new attempt was successful, and Muti joined the famed Arditi.
On the front, Muti distinguished himself through feats of audacity. His detachment of 800 men was ordered to establish a bridgehead under enemy fire: it managed to do so, but was only left with 23 members at the end of the day. Gabriele D'Annunzio benefitted from Muti's services during his seizing of Fiume (now Rijeka, Croatia) in September 1919-January 1921; he gave Muti the lasting moniker Gim dagli occhi verdi ("Green-Eyed Jim"). In fact, Muti was rarely involved in fighting over Fiume, being more likely to engage in flamboyant stunts. On this, D'Annunzio has told Muti: "You are the expression of Superhuman values, an impetus without weight, an offer without measure, a fistful of incense over ember, the scent of a pure soul".
During this time, Muti met Benito Mussolini, for whom he developed a lasting fascination. A Fascist as soon as the Fiume episode came to an end, he was arrested on several occasions. On October 29, 1922, he was head of the squad that occupied Ravenna City Hall during the March on Rome. After the taking over of the state, Ettore Muti made a career in the Blackshirts, organized as the "Voluntary State Security Militia" (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale, MVSN).
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