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https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benito-mussolini-executed?cmpid=email-hist-tdih-2022-0 [login to see] 2&om_rid=
On April 28, 1945, “Il Duce,” Benito Mussolini, and his mistress, Clara Petacci, are shot by Italian partisans who had captured the couple as they attempted to flee to Switzerland.
The 61-year-old deposed former dictator of Italy was established by his German allies as the figurehead of a puppet government in northern Italy during the German occupation toward the close of the war. As the Allies fought their way up the Italian peninsula, defeat of the Axis powers all but certain, Mussolini considered his options. Not wanting to fall into the hands of either the British or the Americans, and knowing that the communist partisans, who had been fighting the remnants of roving Italian fascist soldiers and thugs in the north, would try him as a war criminal, he settled on escape to a neutral country.
On April 28, 1945, “Il Duce,” Benito Mussolini, and his mistress, Clara Petacci, are shot by Italian partisans who had captured the couple as they attempted to flee to Switzerland.
The 61-year-old deposed former dictator of Italy was established by his German allies as the figurehead of a puppet government in northern Italy during the German occupation toward the close of the war. As the Allies fought their way up the Italian peninsula, defeat of the Axis powers all but certain, Mussolini considered his options. Not wanting to fall into the hands of either the British or the Americans, and knowing that the communist partisans, who had been fighting the remnants of roving Italian fascist soldiers and thugs in the north, would try him as a war criminal, he settled on escape to a neutral country.
Benito Mussolini executed
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WWII World War Two
Death
Italy
World History
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
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My heroes of the 10th Mountain Division were among those troops fighting their way north. As a kid, growing up skiing, those guys were my legend. I had surplus ski and mountaineering gear, my parka was white camo. When back packing with the scouts, we had WWII ruck sacks, mountain tents and sleeping bags. My prize was a reversible ski parka with fur around the hood, a gift of a 10th Mt. ski trooper who worked for my Dad. Almost 60 years later, I was able to return the parka to Ed van Romer and his family.
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