| On July 25, 1943, King Vittorio Emanuele III officially removed Benito Mussolini from power after Mussolini’s own Grand Council voted to end his reign. A weary and disheveled Mussolini was then arrested. Mounting Italian losses in North Africa, Sicily and on the Eastern Front emboldened the Italians to seek a change. The Germans were quick to react to this news and began preparations to occupy the country if Italy were to surrender. |
