Image:
The corpses of Mussolini, his mistress Claretta
Petacci, and his henchmen are hanged in Piazzale Loreto in Milan
on public display, April 29, 1945. They had been executed the
day before some 50 miles to the north in Mezzegra and were now
offered to the people who spat on the corpses and kicked them.
They were then hanged by the feet. In medieval Italy it was the
custom to hang crooks or embezzlers, by one foot. The fact that
Mussolini was hung by two feet suggests the deep level of rage
and betrayal felt by the people towards their once beloved "Duce".
(credit: National Archives, USA)
Music: The chorus "Rex tremendae"
from Requiem by Mozart.
--Load
time: ~38 sec.
"King of
majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us."
EXTRA!
Listen to an 1943 American news
report-Load time 10 sec.
Prepared
by: Linda Fisher & Maria Pia DiBella
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