After Mussolini had refused to surrender unconditionally, he took the state treasure gold and together with several fascist officials fled to Switzerland. Mussolini and his entourage, including his lover Clara Petacci, were arrested and shot by Communist partisans in Dongo near Lake Como on April 27, 1945. Shortly after that they brought the bodies to Milan where they were hung by their feet at Piazzale Loreto.
