In 1924, Count Ignazio Thaon di Revel embarked on a journey from Italy to the United States with a mission to rally Italian-American supporters of Fascism under the banner of the Fascist League of North America (FLNA). It is important to note that the drive towards Fascism in America was led by Italian-Americans themselves, rather than being directed by the Fascist government in Rome, although it is likely that Mussolini approved of their efforts. Count di Revel assumed the role of President of the Fascist Council for the FLNA in late 1924, effectively taking central control. The FLNA aimed to counter radicalism, primarily fueled by the Bolsheviks and their sympathizers in America, many of whom were deeply entrenched in labor unions. A member of the FLNA succinctly summarized their mission as opposition to "atheism, internationalism, free-love, communism, and class hatred."

The official oath of the Fascist League of North America stated:

“I swear to my honor, to serve with fidelity and discipline the Fascist idea of society - based on religion, the Fatherland, and the family, and to respect the authority of the League and of the hierarchy and tradition of our race.

To love, serve, obey and exalt the United States of America and to render obedience and respect to its constitution and its laws.

To keep alive the cult with Italy as the Fatherland and eternal light of civilization and greatness.

To combat with all my might theories and ideas tending to subvert, corrupt, and disgrace religion, the Fatherland, or the family.

To do my best to improve my culture, my physique and my morals, to render me fit for the part I am to play in serving the nation in its hour of greatness.

To submit to the discipline of the hierarchy of the Fascist League of North America.”

— Fascist League of North America oath

A rare picture of Paolo Ignazio Thaon di Revel

The FLNA faced considerable criticism in the United States, with other Italian-American groups, including the Sons of Italy, condemning the organization. This created tensions between the U.S. and Italy, especially when influential politicians called for a Congressional investigation into the FLNA. To mitigate these difficulties, Count Revel announced the disbandment of the FLNA in 1929, which had approximately 12,500 members across 80 branches nationwide at that time. However, throughout the 1930s, various pro-Fascist Italian-language newspapers and radio broadcasts catered to the Italian-American population, attracting significant audiences. One prominent example was the Italian Library of Information in New York City, led by Ugo V. D'Annunzio, son of the renowned poet and nationalist. These outlets provided information on Fascist economics, the corporatist system, Italian history, and the contributions of Italians to the exploration, settlement, and progress of America.

During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War in 1935, most Americans sympathized with Ethiopia, in line with the liberal-democratic world. However, Italian-American opinion was more divided, especially since many African-Americans supported Ethiopia's cause. Consequently, many Italian-Americans naturally sided with Italy. Some even volunteered to fight for Italy in Abyssinia, joining the 221st "Italiani all'Estero Legion" of the MVSN Fascist militia, composed of Italian expatriates worldwide. In the United States, tensions occasionally escalated into violence between African and Italian-Americans, resulting in acts of vandalism against shops, among other incidents.

However, not all individuals aligned themselves with the expected sides. The renowned African-American entertainer Josephine Baker, who would later become a friend of Princess Grace of Monaco, expressed her shock at the sympathy of her fellow countrymen for a regime that continued to oppress their fellow Africans. In fact, she even expressed her desire to organize a volunteer corps of African-Americans to fight for Italy against Ethiopia.

Italian-American Blackshirts

Dr. Salvatore Caridi, one of the prominent Italian-American War Veterans

On the global stage, the Ethiopian war resulted in the League of Nations openly defying Italy and eventually led to the alliance between Italy and Germany in the "Pact of Steel." This shift was reflected in the United States as well, where Italian-American Blackshirts found common ground with German-American Brownshirts. The Lictor Federation, led by Joseph Santi and founded by Domenico Trombetta, was one such group. Another group, the pro-Fascist Italian War Veterans, was led by Dr. Salvatore Caridi. In 1937, Caridi and approximately 500 Blackshirt Italian-American war veterans appeared at a gathering in New Jersey organized by the German-American Bund, led by Fritz Kuhn.

During the gathering, Caridi addressed the crowd, encouraging them to stand up against their political enemies by stating, "...if they insult Mussolini or Hitler we can punch them in the nose!" These Italian-American Blackshirt groups also collaborated with the peculiar American organization known as the Silvershirts, led by William Dudley Pelley, for a joint meeting in support of the Nationalist faction in Spain. They denounced the Spanish republican government and communism as a whole.

The exact strength of these Italian-American Blackshirt groups is difficult to determine. Their sympathizers tended to exaggerate their numbers, while their opponents sought to downplay their membership size. Studies have shown that approximately 90% of Italian-language press in America generally favored Mussolini and his Fascist regime. However, it is important to note that there were also a significant number of anti-Fascist Italian-Americans, although they tended to be on the far left and often included communists and anarchists.

These groups would continue to exist as the international situation evolved. When World War II erupted in Europe, pro-Fascist Italian-Americans generally supported American neutrality, like others. Most recognized that the United States would never side with the Axis Powers and therefore advocated for the country to stay out of the conflict, considering it the most reasonable position to take.

Salvatore Caridi and Fritz Kuhn

Italians (in the Black shirts and white trousers) at a Bundist camp

Italian-American Fascists at Camp Siegfried

All of these dynamics came to a sudden halt with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Shortly after, Italy declared war on the United States, leading to a period where anyone who had voiced support for the Fascist cause, whether they were Italians or Italian-Americans, became targets of scrutiny and persecution. The government closed down numerous Italian-language media outlets, and individuals known to be Italian-American Fascists were arrested. Those residing on the west coast were forcibly relocated inland, and many had their homes and businesses confiscated. While not as widely known as the internment of Japanese-Americans, Italian-Americans and German-Americans were also subjected to arrests and internment in various camps after the U.S. entered the war. However, it is important to note that the majority of those interned were Italian nationals rather than Italian-Americans who were citizens or had lived in the United States for many years.

Prominent supporters of the Fascist regime, such as Joseph Ferri in California, Joseph Santi and Salvatore Caridi in New Jersey, John J. Olivo, Paul Lucenti, Joseph Bono, Ralph Ninfo, and Floyd Carridi in New York, Luigi Scala in Rhode Island, and Father Arthur W. Terminiello, among others, could expect close scrutiny from authorities during this period.

It is crucial to acknowledge that the vast majority of Italian-Americans wholeheartedly embraced the cause of the United States and served with distinction in significant numbers during World War II. However, similar to supporters of Germany, Japan, and even the Soviet Union, Fascist Italy did have its sympathizers in America. While their memory may have faded over time, there was a period when their presence caused considerable concern among those in power in Washington DC.