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In the context of the Fascist racial press campaign (1937–43), one of the regime's most intense efforts took the form of the publication and distribution of a new illustrated magazine devoted entirely to the pursuit of a new racial consciousness among the Italian populace. La Difesa della Razza, published biweekly from August 5, 1938, to June 20, 1943, had a very large print run and was distributed extensively throughout Italy. Its foundation was closely linked with the publication of the so-called Manifesto of Racist Scientists, the chief goal of which was to establish a biological approach – as opposed to a political approach – to the “Jewish question” in Italy. The text of the Manifesto appeared for the first time in an unsigned article (“Fascism and the Race Problems”) in Il Giornale d'Italia on July 15, 1938, and was subsequently cited or reprinted by all the national newspapers. Ten days later, a Comunicato (Communiqué) of the National Fascist Party dated July 25, 1938, provided a version of how it had come about and listed the names of its supposed authors: ten scientists, for the most part young assistant lecturers. Both the version supplied in the Comunicato and the reconstruction attempted by De Felice, however, should now be revised because of information provided by a document that has since surfaced about which De Felice knew nothing.
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