The tumult of the Second World War ended in a decisive victory of the Allied Powers and Italy on the wrong side of the war. Despite suffering through a grueling civil war between the fascist Italian Social Republic headed by the disgraced and deceased Duce Benito Mussolini, and the Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale headed by Field Marshal Badoglio, Feruccio Parri and Ivanoe Bonomi amongst a broad anti fascist coalition supported by the Allies. Italy might be treated as a defeated power and forever hated by the international community for it’s role as the third Axis power, but Italy shall remember the sacrifice that was necessary to cleanse fascism from the Peninsula, being able to finally breathe free from totalitarian dictatorship and monarchist rule. The creation of the Italian Republic in 1946 marks a momentous occasion in our nation’s history, a fresh start in a rapidly changing world.

Nevertheless the political environment of Italy post 1946 referendum is still up in the air. The rapidly widening gap between East and West is creating rifts between the once allies of the Italian Left and the Christian Democrats. This discord amongst the partners of the Provisional Government led to an agreement to settle their differences in the upcoming 1948 Italian Elections which may decide the fate of the nation for decades to come. Key figures emerged to the limelight who stand poised to exercise their will to power and guide the ship of state.

-Alcide de Gasperi: The Iron willed Prime Minister and head of the Christian Democrats. Gasperi commands the most powerful political apparratus in Italy. A shrewed negotiator, staunch anti communist, devout Catholic and Great Compromiser, He is well known as a succesful power broker whom will steer the party towards a capitalist and conservative Italy aligned to the West.

-Palmiro Tolgatti: The charismatic General Secretary of the Communist Party of Italy, Tolgatti for his own part commands the second strongest political bloc able to challenge the supremacy of the Christian Democrats. The Comintern Veteran’s unorthodox party policies made him a extremely popular figure amongst Italians swelling up his base.

-Pietro Nenni: The humble and stalwart democratic socialist representing the PSI, Nenni’s power bloc stands as the third strongest in Italy. Representing those dissafected by the extremism of the PCI and the conservatism of the DC, the PSI stands as a powerful voting bloc which may prove king makers should they play their cards right.

Among many other key figures such as Giusseppe Garabat, Aldo Moro, Enrico Mattei, Randolfo Pacciardi, Alfredo Covelli, Roberto Lucifero, all with their own ambitions and motives to navigate the cuthroat nature of Italian politics.