GERMAN SURRENDER AND MUSSOLINI’S DEATH Flashcards
popularity
Salo Republic organised large military force, but its overall popularity was never high
1944
1944: clear that Germans were losing, making RSI’s continued existence impossible
Majority of Italians did not join RSI or partisans, but just got on with life
Mussolini ill
Mussolini was seriously ill
had trouble eating and sleeping, verge of physical collapse (according to doctors)
16 December 1944: last speech in Milan, told packed theatre that it was king and conservative elite who betrayed country and led it to defeat
still drew massive crowds as he toured bombed out areas of Milan
April 1945
Allied forces beginning to capture major areas of northern Italy
18 April
Mussolini left Gargano and established capital in Milan.
Little point in this but it appears Mussolini hoped being on move would bring him in contact with those who could guarantee his safety
25 April
Mussolini met with partisan leaders to try organise surrender
Mussolini agreed, if he was allowed to retreat further north with 3,000 blackshirts
Mussolini ended talks after he discovered Germans were already negotiating surrender with Allies without informing him
Mussolini decided to escape towards Switzerland with evacuating German soldiers
27 April
partisans stopped convoy Mussolini was travelling in at town of Dongo; during inspection discovered Mussolini disguised as German soldier. Mussolini arrested along with other fascists who were trying to hide themselves, including his mistress Claretta Petacci
After debate, decision made to execute
28 April
Mussolini and mistress driven short distance to small town near Lake Como. Both executed by machine gun
12 more captured fascists executed in town square of Dongo
Petacci and others’ bodies driven to Milan and publicly displayed at Piazzale Loretto, where huge crowds attacked Mussolini’s body
Despite Mussolini’s death, fighting in north continued
29 April
German command signed surrender documents, agreed in ceasefire on 1 May
