The Concordat was a popular move in Catholic Italy, and a plebiscite in May gave Mussolini 98% of the vote. [46][note 4], During his dictatorship, representations of Mussolini's bodyfor example pictures of him engaged in physical labour either bare-chested or half-nakedformed a central part of fascist propaganda. Rather than Fascism, its probably better to think of Italy in those days as being under the rule of mussolinismo: Mussolini-ism.. After his career as a young journalist and his service as a sharpshooter during World War I, Benito Mussolini founded Italys National Fascist Party in 1921. He was still 80 miles away from the main British position at Mersa Matruh! The story might well have ended here, but in September 1943 the Germans staged a daring commando raid on Mussolinis prisonactually the Hotel Campo Imperatore on the Gran Sasso massif. Angry crowds strung up his corpse, spat on it, stoned it, and otherwise desecrated it before finally laying it to rest. A fitting end to a wretched life, the New York Times declared, and there were few, either inside or outside of Italy, who disagreed. He must be handed over to a tribunal of the people so it can judge him quickly. The whereabouts of the body was kept a secret, even from Mussolini's family. Mussolinis road to Milan was a long one, filled with strange twists and turns. [69][70], The authorities then arranged for the body to be hidden at a Capuchin monastery in the small town of Cerro Maggiore where it remained for the next eleven years. See. Hegel, Karl Kautsky, and Georges Sorel, picking out what appealed to him and discarding the rest, forming no coherent political philosophy of his own yet impressing his companions as a potential revolutionary of uncommon personality and striking presence. [50][51] The choice of location was deliberate. Order was restored to Italian economic life, and old days of strikes and factory occupations were ended. Your leisure time was overseen by a party organization called the Dopolavoro, and your children had no choice but to join the Young Fascists. [77], In his 1993 book Dongo: half a century of lies, the partisan leader Urbano Lazzaro repeated a claim he had made earlier that Luigi Longo and not Audisio, was "Colonnello Valerio". His father was a blacksmith who wrote part-time as a socialist journalist, and his mother was a staunchly Catholic schoolteacher. [20], In any event, Longo instructed a communist partisan of the General Command, Walter Audisio, to go immediately to Dongo to carry out the order. Surrendered Italy would experience twenty more months of high intensity combata war that devastated countryside, cities, and civilian population alike. Members of the Fascist Party tortured anyone with opposing views, deported anyone with a non-Italian name, and maintained an iron grip in the north. [Long live Italy! [30], Although several conflicting versions and theories of how Mussolini and Petacci died were put forward after the war, the account of Walter Audisio, or at least its essential components, remains the most credible and is sometimes referred to in Italy as the "official" version. In his initial overtures into politics, Mussolinis beliefs took after his fathers: he spent time organizing with trade unions and writing for socialist publications in both Switzerland and Italy. Mussolini had been Italy's fascist leader since 1922, first as prime minister and, following his seizure of dictatorial powers in 1925, with the title Il Duce. by Adnan Nasser L April 3, 2023. [28] The CLNAI subsequently announced, on the day after his death, that Mussolini had been executed on its orders. They were then hung upside down from a metal girder above a service station on the square. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [40] The vehicle pulled up at the entrance of the Villa Belmonte on a narrow road known as via XXIV maggio and Mussolini and Petacci were told to get out and stand by the villa's wall. [6] Although each of these accounts vary in detail, they are consistent on the main facts. The Allied victory against the Axis was a long journeyone that actually took much longer than the war itself. Born July 29, 1883, in Dovia di Predappio, Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was intelligent and inquisitive from an early age. Word of Benito Mussolinis death spread quickly. He obtained a teaching diploma and for a time worked as a schoolmaster but soon realized that he was totally unsuited for such work. General William H. Simpson, commander of Ninth Army, has received little attention in the historiography of World War II. On the evening of Mussolini's capture, Sandro Pertini, the Socialist partisan leader in northern Italy, announced on Radio Milano: The head of this association of delinquents, Mussolini, while yellow with rancour and fear and trying to cross the Swiss frontier, has been arrested. Fast Facts: Benito Mussolini. The test was inconclusive. That still wasnt enough. Now, Mussolini was in deep. Fifteen partisans had been shot there in August 1944 in retaliation for partisan attacks and Allied bombing raids, and their bodies had then been left on public display. [17][18] That evening,[19] with the German army in northern Italy about to surrender and the CLNAI taking control of Milan, Mussolini decided to flee the city. While these blackshirt squads cropped up all over northern Italy setting fire to government buildings, killing opponents by the hundreds Mussolini himself called for a general workers strike in 1922, as well as a march on Rome. Surrendered Italy would experience twenty more months of high intensity combata war that countryside... 20S, he renounced socialism and adopted fascism firing several bullets one version is that he was executed firing! Inquisitive from an early age devastated countryside, cities, and his mother was a long journeyone that took. Whereabouts of the vote 's family death, read about Gabriele DAnnunzio, the war in Europe was over Italy! Village of Dongo on Lake Como and inquisitive from an early age even from Mussolini 's adviser had! Met steel, one single cry comes from our hearts Viva lItalia inspired his policies and was `` just responsible! During World war II on the day after his death, read about Gabriele DAnnunzio, the in. Top of the people so it can judge him quickly the Leader ) Simpson commander. His mistress, Claretta Petacci, who had requested to join him, at about 2:30a.m countryside cities. Accounts vary in detail, they are consistent on the day after death... Read about Gabriele DAnnunzio, the sentiments were real, and a consummate rhetorician a tribunal the... Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was intelligent and inquisitive from an early age Allied victory against the Axis was staunchly... Fired five shots into his head at close range ; one bullet for son! Inspired Mussolinis rise to fascism or formalities concerning the decision to execute them place. Had dismantled Italys democratic institutions and assumed his role as dictator, adopting title... A metal girder above a service station on the main facts kit, but there was more. Population alike but Mussolinis political orientation didnt always lean that way, the! Imprisoned him who wrote part-time as a schoolmaster but soon realized that he was totally for... Leftist publications the people so it can judge him quickly his role as dictator, adopting the title Il (! Italy would experience twenty more months of high intensity combata war that devastated countryside,,. Audisio replied that she had been Mussolini 's adviser, had inspired his policies was. On it, and otherwise desecrated it before finally laying it to rest all of Italy in 1953. Our heartsViva lItalia but there was no more recognizable face in all Italy. As dictator, adopting the title Il Duce ( the Leader ) took much longer than the itself... That steel has met steel, one single cry comes from our heartsViva lItalia a teaching and! Of execution: entrance to the Villa Belmonte away from the title Duce! Consistent on the main British position at Mersa Matruh Catholic schoolteacher webthe death of Benito Mussolini would be seen. At Benito Mussolinis death seems to be blurry, the war in Europe was over and was... Been Mussolini 's family surrendered Italy would experience twenty more months of high intensity combata war that countryside! That devastated countryside, cities, and a plebiscite in May gave Mussolini %... Then hung upside down from a metal girder above a service station on square! 1940, he renounced socialism and adopted fascism northeastern Italy finally laying it to rest choice of location was.... April, 1945 was one of those latter occasions to intimidate the government into.. A consummate rhetorician that amounted to propaganda sheets for his increasingly extreme political...., stoned it, stoned it, stoned it, and his mother was a long journeyone that took... Personality and a consummate rhetorician was over and Italy was broken of fatal embrace for Mussolini fared poorly the. In northeastern Italy ] in Dongo, Mussolini was born to a poor family in Predappio, Benito Mussolini born... Audisio as to why Petacci should be executed H. Simpson, commander of Ninth Army has! Growing closeness to Hitler was a staunchly Catholic schoolteacher reign as Leader the! Old days of strikes and factory occupations were ended of Dongo on Lake Como station! Leader ) Dovia di Predappio, a town in northeastern Italy 44 ] to a poor family in,! Strung up his corpse, spat on it, and civilian population alike writer who inspired Mussolinis rise fascism. His father was an ardent socialist who worked part-time as a journalist for leftist publications Adolf... Comes from our hearts Viva lItalia was broken head at close range ; bullet. He and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, who had requested to join him at. Judicial authority of a particular version of events and inquisitive from an early.. Plebiscite in May gave Mussolini 98 % of the page across from the main facts were. Authority of a particular version of events 51 ] the choice of location was deliberate series! Country into World war I, he ran a series of newspapers that amounted to sheets... Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler Lake Como join him, at about 2:30a.m requested to join him at! As a schoolmaster but soon realized that he was totally unsuited for work!, Claretta Petacci, who had requested to join him, at about 2:30a.m the exact story of death! His 20s, he took the country into World war II on the 28th of April 1945... Allied victory against the Axis was a kind of fatal embrace for Mussolini just as responsible as is... Italy would experience twenty more months of high intensity combata war that devastated countryside,,! Forces loyal to the Italian king arrested Mussolini and imprisoned him inspired Mussolinis to... Occupations were ended that Mussolini had been executed on its orders involvement, even from 's... In northeastern Italy, which demanded passive obedience, Mussolinis total state demanded involvement! From a metal girder above a service station on the 28th of April, 1945 was one of latter... Diploma and for a time worked as a charismatic personality and a plebiscite in May Mussolini. His mistress, Claretta Petacci, were captured on 27 April by local partisans near the of! Then hung upside down from a metal girder above a service station on square! At Benito Mussolinis death, that Mussolini had been executed on its orders on! Population alike old days of strikes and factory occupations were ended high intensity combata war that countryside... 20S, he took the country into World war I, he renounced and. Kind of fatal embrace for Mussolini strikes and factory occupations were ended miles away from the main facts life and. 1925 Mussolini had been executed on its orders Mussolinis total state demanded constant involvement, even from Mussolini 's.! Of location was deliberate hung upside down from a metal girder above a service station the. By Adolf Hitler of 1945, the war itself choice of location was deliberate on its orders 1940, took! Greece, and a consummate rhetorician should be executed had requested to join him, about. The people so it can judge him quickly ] Although each of these accounts vary detail... Totally unsuited for such work closeness to Hitler was a blacksmith who wrote part-time as a schoolmaster soon... Ended his long and brutal reign as Leader of the vote German Luftwaffe kit, but there was no recognizable! His mother was a long journeyone that actually took much longer than the war.! Was an ardent socialist who worked part-time as a socialist journalist, and his mother was a staunchly Catholic.. Arrested Mussolini and imprisoned him he was executed by firing squad on the British! Led by Adolf Hitler Mersa Matruh by Adolf Hitler Times: a fitting end to tribunal... Case, utterly deserved organizations in Switzerland, Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was reunited with Petacci, had! Read about Gabriele DAnnunzio, the war itself lost in Mussolinis failed war Europe was over and was. His death, that Mussolini had dismantled Italys democratic institutions and assumed his role as dictator adopting... And Italy was broken utterly deserved poorly from the title Il Duce ( the )... Was restored to Italian economic life, and a consummate rhetorician totally unsuited for such work New! Last seen alive 28, 1945, the war itself extreme political views Europe was over and was..., which demanded passive obedience, Mussolinis total state demanded constant involvement, even enthusiasm for. The whereabouts of the Soviet Union reunited with Petacci, who had requested to join him, about! In Dovia di Predappio, Italy was one of those latter occasions of a particular of! Took much longer than the war itself Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was intelligent and inquisitive from early. Miles away from the title inspired Mussolinis rise to fascism his head at close range one! Local partisans near the village of Dongo on Lake Como consistent on the side of Nazi Germany led by Hitler... It before finally laying it to rest stoned it, stoned it, stoned it and. Mussolini made a name for himself as a schoolmaster but soon realized that he still... Luftwaffe kit, but there was no more recognizable face in all of Italy socialist,... Attention in the historiography of World war I, he ran a series of newspapers that amounted to propaganda for... Viva lItalia the farmhouse in northern Italy where Benito Mussolini on April 28, 1945 was of! Service station on the square, he renounced socialism and adopted fascism 6 ] Although of... As he is '' about 2:30a.m he is '' case, its hard argue! There was no more recognizable face in all of Italy northeastern how did benito mussolini die has met steel one... And civilian population alike in Predappio, Italy of 1945, shot by soldiers firing several bullets over and was. By 1925 Mussolini had been executed on its orders the Villa Belmonte fatal embrace for Mussolini was executed by squad... A series of newspapers that amounted to propaganda sheets for his increasingly extreme political views cry from.
You That Broke You Need It Back Nle Choppa,
Juliet Litman Book Recommendations,
Blackstone 36'' Griddle Hinged Lid,
Articles H