Clara Petacci
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clara Petacci (Claretta Petacci) (28 February 1912 – 28 April 1945) was a young Roman girl from an upper-class family who became Benito Mussolini's mistress. Her father had been the personal physician to the Pope. She was twenty-nine years younger than Mussolini.
When Mussolini was captured by Communist partisans in April 1945, it is said that Petacci was offered the opportunity to escape. But she firmly refused and, instead, tried to protect Mussolini with her body. On 28 April, she and Mussolini were taken to Dongo and the Duce was shot immediately after her. On the following day, 29 April, Mussolini and Petacci's bodies were taken to the Piazzale Loreto in Milan and hung upside down in front of an Esso gas station. The bodies were photographed as a crowd vented their rage upon them.
Many photographs show the bodies of Mussolini and Petacci hanging between four other bodies. Mussolini and Petacci are together in the middle with two bodies hanging to either side of the couple. However, this photograph taken from the rear shows three bodies hanging on Mussolini's side to the right of the couple as seen from the rear. This indicates that Mussolini and Petacci were hung upside down with five others at the gas station.
Petacci is apparently respectfully considered in Italy; without reference to politics, but only as a woman who did not abandon the man she loved in times of trouble.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Clara Petacci's sister was actress Miriam di San Servolo (February 28, 1923 – May 24, 1991) , also known as Miriam Petacci or Miriam Day.
Clara Petacci's brother, Marcello Petacci, was captured with Mussolini and Petacci. But, rather than being executed in Dongo, he was shot trying to escape.
The American musician Scott Walker recorded a song about Petacci called "Clara" on his 2006 album The Drift.
[edit] See also
- Margherita Sarfatti, one of Mussolini's earlier mistresses
[edit] Further reading
- Nicholas Farrell, Mussolini: A New Life (Phoenix Press, London, 2003) ISBN 1-84212-123-5
- Ray Moseley, Mussolini: The Last 600 Days of Il Duce (Taylor Trade Publishing, Dallas, 2004) ISBN 1-58979-095-2
