European theatre of World War II major German forces in the west were encircled and trapped in the Ruhr. On April 27, 1945, as Allied forces closed in on Milan, Mussolini was captured by Italian Partisans. He was trying to flee Italy to Switzerland and was traveling with a German anti-air battalion. On April 28, Mussolini and several of the other Fascists captured with him were taken to Dongo and executed by firing squad. The bodies were then taken to Milan and unceremoniously strung up in front of a filling station. Hitler, learning of Mussolini's death, realized that the end had finally come. He remained in
Ethiopian order of battle in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War Ethiopian order of battle in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War Ethiopian forces in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War besides the Central Army were mobilized from various provinces under their local leader. According to of the Ethiopian provinces and their forces on the eve of hostilities, the Ethiopians had an army of 350,000 men. Strengths where known are noted followed by their leader. Modernized forces in Bold. Addis Ababa Army of the Left - "Ras" Imru Haile Selassie ("Grazmach" = "General/Commander of the Left") Mahel Sefari (Army of the Center) (70,000 regulars) - "Ras" Mulugeta Yeggazu of Illubabor Army of the Right- "Ras"