When Second World War came the Italians in Great Britain had built a respected community for themselves. But the announcement of Benito Mussolini's decision to side with Adolf Hitler's Germany in 1940 had a devastating effect. By order of parliament all aliens were to be interned. Although there were few active fascists, the majority had lived in the country peacefully for many years, and had even fought side by side with British-born soldiers during the First World War. Some had married British women and even taken British citizenship.