Mussolini helping with the wheat harvest, from 'Le Pelerin', 5th August 1934 (colour litho)

Mussolini launched several public construction programs and government initiatives throughout Italy to combat economic setbacks or unemployment levels. His earliest, and one of the best known, was the Battle for Wheat, 5,000 new farms were established and five new agricultural towns (among them Littoria and Sabaudia) on land reclaimed by draining the Pontine Marshes. Mussolini a voulu livrer la bataille du ble, en manches courtes et col ouvert, il prit part a la moisson et le Duce proclame 'premier paysan du royaume' toucha sa paye d'un jour comme un simple ouvrier agricole'. Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) Italian politician, leader of the National Fascist Party.