Clara Petacci


Clara Petacci, known as Claretta Petacci, was a mistress of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. She was killed during the execution of Benito Mussolini by Italian partisans, throwing herself on him in a vain attempt to protect him from the bullets.

Family

Clara Petacci's father was Francesco Petacci, primary physician of Pope Pius XI. Her sister was actress Miriam di San Servolo, also known as Miriam Petacci or Miriam Day. Petacci's brother, Marcello Petacci, was captured with Mussolini and Petacci. However, rather than being executed in Dongo, he was shot while trying to escape.
, 1945

Relationship with Mussolini

Petacci had a long-standing relationship with Mussolini while he was married to Rachele Mussolini. Petacci was 28 years younger than Mussolini.
Part of their correspondence is still the subject of a dispute with the National Archives, based on privacy.

Death

On 27 April 1945, Mussolini and Petacci were captured by partisans while traveling with a convoy of Italian Social Republic members.
On 28 April, she and Mussolini were taken to Mezzegra and executed. On the following day, the bodies of Mussolini and Petacci were taken to Piazzale Loreto in Milan and hung upside down in front of an Esso petrol station. The bodies were photographed as a crowd vented their rage upon them.

In popular culture