Benito Mussolini January 1945 by Madeleine Mollier, a few months before he was captured and executed by Italian anti-fascist partisans, he stated flatly: "Seven years ago, I was an interesting person. Now, I am little more than a corpse." He continued: On 25 April 1945, allied troops were advancing into northern Italy, and the collapse of the Salò Republic was imminent. Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci set out for Switzerland, intending to board a plane and escape to Spain. Two days later on 27 April, they were stopped near the village of Dongo (Lake Como) by communist partisans Valerio and Bellini
Medal of Recognition 1940–1945 Medal of Recognition 1940–1945 The Medal of Recognition 1940–1945 (Dutch: "Erkentelijkheidsmedaille 1940–1945") was a medal of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that was established by Royal Decree on 9 February 1946. The decoration was of two classes, silver and bronze, and was awarded to those who aided the Dutch during the period of World War II, or afterwards helped relieve those who had suffered from the German occupation. The decoration was designed as a circular medal 29 millimetres in diameter and exists in two classes, silver and bronze. On the front Androcles is portrayed taking the thorn from the lion's