MUSSOLINI FACES FIRING SQUAD
Milan, Italy (JFK+50) On April 28, 1945, Benito Mussolini*, Prime Minister of Italy and his mistress, Clara Petacci**, were shot dead by a firing squad after a failed attempt to escape to Switzerland.
Partisan border guards learned Mussolini's identity despite an attempt to disguise himself as a German airman. He and Clara were traveling with a convoy of Italian Social Republic members.
After they were shot dead, the couple's bodies were transported to a gas station here in Milan where they were hung upside down for public viewing and ridicule.
*Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (1883-1945) was born in Dovia di Predappio, the son of a revolutionary socialist. He lived in Switzerland in 1902 where he was active in the Italian socialist movement. BM attended the University of Lausanne in 1904. He was Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943.
**Clara Pettaci (1912-1945) was born in Rome. Her father was the primary physician of Pope Pius XI. CP had a long-time affair with the Italian dictator while he was married.
Benito Mussolini in 1944
Deutsches Bunds archiv
