Mussolini: The Last 600 Days Of Il Duce

Description

In his last days, Mussolini, the tyrant, was in the grip of anger, shame, and depression. The German armed forces that had sustained his puppet government since its creation in September 1943 were being inexorably driven out of Italy, the frontiers of his Fascist republic were shrinking daily and Mussolini was aware that German military leaders were negotiating with the Allies behind his back in neutral Switzerland. Moseley's well-researched and highly engaging tome throws light on the last twenty months of the despot's life and culminates with the dramatic capture and execution of Mussolini (and his mistress Claretta Petacci) by partisans of the Italian resistance on April 28, 1945. Contents Acknowledgments 1 The Last Spectator 2 After the Fall 3 Birth of the Salo Republic 4 The Fate of the Roman Jews 5 Mussolini and Claretta 6 A Most Unhappy Family 7 Galeazzo Ciano and Edda 8 Troubles on All Fronts 9 The Partisan War Develops 10 Il Duce and the Jews 11 The Liberation of Rome 12 A Terrible Summer 13 More Atrocities, Greater Despair 14 “I Have Ruined Italy” 15 The Secret Negotiations 16 In Search of a Way Out 17 Peace Hopes in the Balance 18 Looming Defeat and Paralysis 19 A Temporary Loss of Nerve 20 The Fall of Fascism 21 Flight and Capture 22 Mussolini Tamed: The Polite Prisoner 23 “I’ve Come to Shoot Them” 24 Execution of II Duce: Whodunnit? 25 Piazzale Loreto: A Shameful Denouement 26 The German Surrender 27 Lakeside Murders and the Dongo Treasure 28 The Mysterious Churchill File 29 The Dead Sprout Wings 30 Epilogue Dramatis Personae Notes Chapter 1: The Last Spectator Chapter 2: After the Fall Chapter 3: Birth of the Salö Republic Chapter 4: The Fate of the Roman Jews Chapter 5: Mussolini and Claretta Chapter 6: A Most Unhappy Family Chapter 7: Galeazzo Ciano and Edda Chapter 8: Troubles on All Fronts Chapter 9: The Partisan War Develops Chapter 10: Il Duce and the Jews Chapter 11: The Liberation of Rome Chapter 12: A Terrible Summer Chapter 13: More Atrocities, Greater Despair Chapter 14: “I Have Ruined Italy” Chapter 15: The Secret Negotiations Chapter 16: In Search of a Way Out Chapter 17: Peace Hopes in the Balance Chapter 18: Looming Defeat and Paralysis Chapter 19: A Temporary Loss of Nerve Chapter 20: The Fall of Fascism Chapter 21: Flight and Capture Chapter 22: Mussolini Tamed: The Polite Prisoner Chapter 23: “I’ve Come to Shoot Them” Chapter 24: Execution of II Duce: Whodunnit? Chapter 25: Piazzale Loreto: A Shameful Denouement Chapter 26: The German Surrender Chapter 27: Lakeside Murders and the Dongo Treasure Chapter 28: The Mysterious Churchill File Chapter 29: The Dead Sprout Wings Chapter 30: Epilogue Bibliography Index