Italian Social Republic (RSI)

The Italian Social Republic existed in northern Italy from 1943 to 1945, ruled by a puppet government of the Nazi regime. Its seat was in Salò on Lake Garda, which is why the name “Republic of Salò” is also common. After Benito Mussolini was deposed and arrested as Prime Minister of Italy by the Fascist Grand Council on July 24, 1943, Italy withdrew from the wartime alliance with Germany. German paratroopers freed Mussolini from captivity on September 12, 1943, and brought him to Munich. The Nazi regime then installed him as head of state and head of government of the RSI in a territory occupied by the German Armed Forces and saw to it that he refounded the fascist party and declared war on the Badoglio-led Kingdom of Italy in the south. The RSI now began mass deportations of Jews and, on the other hand, encountered resistance from more and more partisans. After the Allied advance to Lake Garda, the RSI collapsed at the end of April 1945, and Mussolini was captured and shot by locals.