Benito Mussolini was the prime minister and dictator of Italy from 1922 until 1943. During the Second World War he allied himself with Germany in 1940, shortly before the fall of France. After the allied landing in Italy in 1943 Mussolini was imprisoned but was soon resqued by German soldiers. After Germany occupied the north of Italy Mussolini was put in charge of the puppet government. On 28 April Mussolini and his mistress Clara Patacci, who were attempting to flee to Switzerland, were captured and executed.
