Benito Mussolini, the former leader of Fascist Italy, and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were executed by Walter Audisio, an Italian partisan leader, as they attempted to escape Italy in late April 1945. The couple was intercepted near Giulino di Mezzegra in Northern Italy, amidst the backdrop of World War II and Italy's liberation from Nazi occupation. Mussolini, who had led Italy into war in 1940 and was a key figure in the Fascist regime, had been captured earlier while trying to flee to Switzerland. His death was seen as a direct consequence of the collapsing Fascist state and the growing strength of the resistance movement. Following their capture, Mussolini and Petacci were quickly executed without trial, reflecting the urgency and fervor of the partisans' quest for retribution against fascism. Shortly after their deaths, their bodies were transported to Milan, where they were displayed publicly in Piazzale Loreto. This grim exhibition was aimed at signaling the end of Mussolini's dictatorship and the collective suffering endured by the Italian people under fascism. The images of their bodies hanging upside down became iconic, symbolizing the fall of fascism and igniting debates about justice and vengeance in post-war Italy.