Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Benito Mussolini die in 1945?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
fascism
Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini addressing a rally.
As the Allied forces advanced and German defenses in Italy collapsed in April 1945, Benito Mussolini attempted to flee to Switzerland disguised as a German soldier.12
He was discovered by Communist partisans near Lake Como and was executed by them on April 28, 1945, alongside his mistress, Claretta Petacci. Following his death, his body—along with those of other executed Fascist leaders—was transported to Milan and hung by the feet in the Piazza Loreto for public display. This event marked the final collapse of his regime and the end of his dictatorship in Italy.12