History of the Italian Republic through a referendum. In April 1945, the Allies of World War II advanced in the Po plain supported by the Italian resistance movement, and defeated the fascist Italian Social Republic, a puppet state instituted by Nazi Germany and headed by Benito Mussolini. Mussolini was killed by resistance fighters in April 1945. Victor Emmanuel formally abdicated on 9 May 1946; his son became king as Umberto II of Italy. A Constitutional Referendum was held on 2 June 1946. Republicans won, and the monarchy was abolished. The Kingdom of Italy was no more. The House of Savoy, the Italian royal family, was
SS King Orry (1946) SS King Orry (1946) TSS (RMS) "King Orry" (IV) - the fourth vessel in the line's history to be so named - was the lead ship of the "King Orry Class" of passenger ferries and packet ships. More commonly referred to as "the six sisters", they were built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company between 1946 & 1955 primarily to replace war-time losses. The company's previous , was one of three company losses during Operation Dynamo - the evacuation of British and French troops from the port of Dunkirk during May 1940. The name King Orry is a