Death Benito Mussolini
cross marking place in mezzegra mussolini shot american newsreel coverage of death of mussolini in 1945 on 25 april 1945, allied troops advancing northern italy , collapse of salò republic imminent. mussolini , mistress clara petacci set out switzerland, intending board plane , escape spain. 2 days later on 27 april, stopped near village of dongo (lake como) communist partisans valerio , bellini, , identified political commissar of partisans 52nd garibaldi brigade, urbano lazzaro. during time clara s brother posed spanish consul. after several unsuccessful attempts take them como brought mezzegra. spent last night in house of de maria family. the next day, mussolini , petacci both summarily shot, along of members of 15-man train, ministers , officials of italian social republic. shootings took place in small village of giulino di mezzegra , conducted partisan leader used nom de guerre of colonnello valerio. real identity unknown, conventionally thought have been walter audisio, claime