Dismissed and arrested Benito Mussolini

marshal pietro badoglio succeeded mussolini prime minister.

by 1942, italy s military position had become untenable. after defeat @ el alamein @ end of 1942, axis troops had retreat defeated in tunisia campaign in 1943. italy suffered major setbacks on eastern front well. allied invasion of sicily brought war nation s doorstep. italian home front in bad shape allied bombings taking toll. factories on italy brought virtual standstill because raw materials, such coal , oil, lacking. additionally, there chronic shortage of food, , food available being sold @ confiscatory prices. mussolini s once-ubiquitous propaganda machine lost grip on people; large number of italians turned vatican radio or radio london more accurate news coverage. discontent came head in march 1943 wave of labor strikes in industrial north—the first large-scale strikes since 1925. in march, of major factories in milan , turin stopped production secure evacuation allowances workers families. german presence in italy had sharply turned public opinion against mussolini; example, when allies invaded sicily, majority of public there welcomed them liberators.

earlier in april 1943, mussolini had begged hitler make separate peace stalin , send german troops west guard against expected allied invasion of italy. mussolini feared losses in tunisia , north africa, next logical step dwight eisenhower s armies come across mediterranean , attack italian peninsula. within few days of allied landings on sicily in july 1943, obvious mussolini s army on brink of collapse. led hitler summon mussolini meeting in feltre on 19 july 1943. time, mussolini shaken stress no longer stand hitler s boasting. mood darkened further when same day, allies bombed rome—the first time city had ever been target of enemy bombing.

by point, prominent members of mussolini s government had turned against him. among them grandi , ciano. several of colleagues close revolt, , mussolini forced summon grand council of fascism on 24 july 1943. first time body had met since start of war. when announced germans thinking of evacuating south, grandi launched blistering attack on him. grandi moved resolution asking king resume full constitutional powers was, in effect, vote of no confidence in mussolini. motion carried 19–8 margin. despite sharp rebuke, mussolini showed work next day usual. allegedly viewed grand council merely advisory body , did not think vote have substantive effect. afternoon, summoned royal palace king victor emmanuel iii, had been planning oust mussolini earlier. when mussolini tried tell king meeting, victor emmanuel cut him off , told him being replaced marshal pietro badoglio. after mussolini left palace, arrested carabinieri on king s orders.

mussolini rescued german troops prison in campo imperatore on 12 september 1943.

by time, discontent mussolini intense when news of downfall announced on radio, there no resistance of sort. people rejoiced because thought meant war over. in effort conceal location germans, mussolini moved around before being imprisoned @ campo imperatore, mountain resort in abruzzo isolated. badoglio announced war continue in alliance germany. badoglio keeping appearance of loyalty axis, dissolved fascist party 2 days after taking on , began negotiating armistice allies, signed on 3 september 1943. announcement 5 days later threw italy chaos; german troops rushed in take on italy in operation achse. germans approached rome, badoglio , king fled rome, leaving italian army without orders. after period of anarchy, italy declared war on nazi germany on 13 october 1943 malta; thousands of troops supplied fight against germans, others refused switch sides , had joined germans. badoglio government held political truce leftist partisans sake of italy , rid land of nazis.