1945, Mussollini holes up

[Cryptic]

What if....

May 1945, Mussolini uses his head and realizes the open roads are vary hazardous to his health.

He then gathers about 150 fascist die hards and German SS men. Carefully selected buildings are hastily fortified, food and water is collected. The fascists get a lucky break. Unlike many of the local SS, Major Hienz Hardcoreritz is a Waffen combat veteran and ensures that the group's few weapons are well sited and the cornered fascists get the latest urban warfare tips.

Over the next few days, the small but determined group beats back increasingly half hearted communist asaults. Communist commanders quickly realize that their ranks include more than a few fair weather communists and nobody, not even the dedicated communists want to get killed in the last few days of the war. Mussolini's group then surrenders to U.S. forces.

What happens to Mussolini? Is he tried as a war criminal? (his wartime record is pretty clean by WWII standards). Do the U.S forces turn him over to the Italians for execution? Is he allowed to stay in power as an anti communist asset? Or does he retire to Argentina?

 

[Cuāuhtemōc]

He gets turned over to the Italians who most likely have him executed.

 

[Noravea]

Not sure, probably would get a trial then sentenced to 10-20 years in prison, if not, he is ousted.

The idea of him keeping power afterwards is an interesting idea, but not likely.

 

[Rebel]

Yup, I'd say a middling prison term at most. Could add an interesting historical prespective later.

 

[Cook]

He would have gone to the gallows.

 

[Trotsky]

He suffered long-term heart failure on April 28, so he would have been in no position to use his decision-making skills for a last stand.

 

[Cook]

Had he got away to Spain, would Franco have handed him over to the allies?

 

[lothaw]

Mussolini would go to trial, though about the only thing they could get him for is waging a war of aggression.

Italy for the most part had a clean war record. The only thing that could be considered a stain was the occupation of Yugoslavia and Greece, but hey... they were fightin a partisian war.

Leaving him in power? Maybe if he surrendered Italy himself instead of getting ousted -and- there was a threat of a communist take over. NATO did accept Franco after all, but short of that, no. He'd do his time in prison, then probably be exiled from Italy and spend the rest of his days in Spain or Argentina.

 

[cclittle]

War Crimes Trial

There could be war crimes tryals in Italy too. The leaders would be tryed and executed. Attention would be split between Nurenburg and Genoa were the Italing tryals are held. Books about the trials would start to appear.

 

[Cook]

NATO did accept Franco after all...

Franco died in 1975.

Spain joined NATO in 1982.

 

[Cook]

The leaders would be tryed and executed.

Love it!

“You’ll get a fair trial followed by a good hanging.”



But certainly there was more than enough evidence to find a conviction.

 

[Mr Qwerty]

Had he got away to Spain, would Franco have handed him over to the allies?

After the Allies achieve total victory? Of course. Franco was never a fool.

 

[Sachyriel]

He would have gone to the gas station.

Fixed it for you.

 

[von Adler]

He would be tried and found guilty as responsible for the Salo government atrocities against partisans and civilians in northern Italy.

 

[Cryptic]

There could be war crimes tryals in Italy too. The leaders would be tryed and executed. Attention would be split between Nurenburg and Genoa were the Italing tryals are held. Books about the trials would start to appear.

I think the key is how fast Mussollini was turned over to the Italians. Every month in U.S. custody increased the chances of the U.S. insisting that Mussolini be tried by an Italian court with the uhmmm....."right" attitude.

He would be tried and found guilty as responsible for the Salo government atrocities against partisans and civilians in northern Italy.

But those were against real and imagined leftists right? With the Soviets swallowing eastern Europe, atrocities against real or imagined leftists were going to carry less and less weight with western governments.

He'd do his time in prison, then probably be exiled from Italy and spend the rest of his days in Spain or Argentina.

I agree and if he chose Argentina, I bet the CIA would discreetly fund his body guards. Nobody would want leftists to gain any kind of propaganda victory by assasinating Mussolini.

 

[mailinutile2]

Had he got away to Spain, would Franco have handed him over to the allies?

After the Allies achieve total victory? Of course. Franco was never a fool.

Not at all.
M in Spain would be the optimal solution for the allies and they would not dream to really push Franco for extradiction.
M's public process would mean making the italian communist party gain votes, and this was not certainly on the allies' agenda.
And I am not even taking into consideration the load of diplomacy dirty laundry that he could make public.
Surely there would be a formal request for it, along with a very clear message that such a request should NOT be accomplished.
In addition to that, Franco felt some genuine gratitude toward M for his help during the civil war.

 

[Sean Mulligan]

What if....

May 1945, Mussolini uses his head and realizes the open roads are vary hazardous to his health.

He then gathers about 150 fascist die hards and German SS men. Carefully selected buildings are hastily fortified, food and water is collected. The fascists get a lucky break. Unlike many of the local SS, Major Hienz Hardcoreritz is a Waffen combat veteran and ensures that the group's few weapons are well sited and the cornered fascists get the latest urban warfare tips.

Over the next few days, the small but determined group beats back increasingly half hearted communist asaults. Communist commanders quickly realize that their ranks include more than a few fair weather communists and nobody, not even the dedicated communists want to get killed in the last few days of the war. Mussolini's group then surrenders to U.S. forces.

What happens to Mussolini? Is he tried as a war criminal? (his wartime record is pretty clean by WWII standards). Do the U.S forces turn him over to the Italians for execution? Is he allowed to stay in power as an anti communist asset? Or does he retire to Argentina?

The Italian Fascists commited plenty of atrocities in Spain and in Ethiopia. I think that the Italian Communists could still use Mussolini as propaganda if he isn't sentenced to at least life imprinsonment even if he's in Spain. Why would the Allies allow Mussolini to remain in power? Their was already an allied backed coalition government and the Allies would have no reason to want two Italy's.

 

[Cook]

Fixed it for you.

Huh?
Saying he should have filled up the car?

 

[Cook]

“Someone_asked”!?!

That’s a bit of fucking cheek Mailinutile!

 

[Urban fox]

Huh?
Saying he should have filled up the car?

Nah, where his body was hung up OTL. Well maybe not that gas station, but his corpse is put on display somewhere. The idea if captured that Benny the Moose will be a allowed to live let alone rule is ASB.

The best chance for him to escape is to basically, find a readable pilot, then jump in a plane a few months before the final German collapse and try to reach Spain. I actually think Franco would shelter him the Allies aren’t going to start a war just to grab Benny and Franco was somewhat grateful for Italy’s aid during the civil war. So Benny would get a quiet villa & kept out of sight.