A monument to the restoration of the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes, which was done during Italian occupation. It reads (punctuation added):

During the reign of His Majesty Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy and Albania, Emperor of Ethiopia represented by Leader of Fascism and Head of Government Benito Mussolini

Cesare Maria of Vecchi, Count of Val Cismon, Governor of the Italian Islands of the Aegean [occupied] this ancient castle. Built by the Knights of St. John atop earlier Roman ramparts it served as the seat of government and the citadel of the fortress—a bastion defending Western Civilisation, the rule of law, and the religion of Rome.

I remained and rebuilt, restoring power and splendor to its renewed history.

The year of our Lord 1940, 18th [year] of the Era of Fascism.

#rodes #ρόδος #history #wwii