Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic (Italian: Repubblica Sociale Italiana, pronounced [reˈpubblika soˈtʃaːle itaˈljaːna]; RSI), known prior to December 1943 as the National Republican State of Italy (Italian: Stato Nazionale Repubblicano d'Italia; SNRI), but more popularly known as the Republic of Salò (Italian: Repubblica di Salò [reˈpubblika di saˈlɔ]), was a Nazi-German puppet state with limited diplomatic recognition that was created during the latter part of World War II, which existed from the beginning of the German occupation of Italy in September 1943 until the surrender of German troops in Italy in May 1945. The German occupation triggered widespread national resistance against it and the Italian Social Republic, leading to the Italian Civil War.
Italian Social Republic | |||||||||
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| 1943–1945 | |||||||||
| Motto: Per l'onore d'Italia "For the honour of Italy" | |||||||||
Anthem:
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Location of the Italian Social Republic within Europe in 1943 Territory nominally administered by the RSI German Operational Zones (OZAV, OZAK)
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Administrative divisions of the Italian Social Republic | |||||||||
| Status | Puppet state of Nazi Germany | ||||||||
| Capital |
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| Largest city | Rome | ||||||||
| Common languages |
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| Religion | Catholic Church | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary fascist one-party presidential republic under a totalitarian dictatorship | ||||||||
| Duce | |||||||||
• 1943–1945 | Benito Mussolini | ||||||||
| Plenipotentiary | |||||||||
• 1943–1945 | Rudolf Rahn | ||||||||
| Historical era |
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• Operation Achse | 8-19 September 1943 | ||||||||
| 23 September 1943 | |||||||||
• Partisan uprising | 25 April 1945 | ||||||||
| 28 April 1945 | |||||||||
• Surrender of RSI forces | 2 May 1945 | ||||||||
| Currency | Italian lira | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Italy | ||||||||
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The Italian Social Republic was the second and last incarnation of the Italian Fascist state, led by the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his reformed anti-monarchist Republican Fascist Party. The newly founded state declared Rome its capital but was de facto Salò (hence its colloquial name), a small town on Lake Garda, near Brescia, where Mussolini and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were headquartered. The Italian Social Republic nominally exercised sovereignty in Northern and Central Italy, but was largely dependent on German troops to maintain control.
In July 1943, after the Allies had pushed Italy out of North Africa and subsequently invaded Sicily, the Grand Council of Fascism—with the support of King Victor Emmanuel III—overthrew and arrested Mussolini. The new government began secret peace negotiations with the Allied powers but when the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September, Nazi Germany was prepared and quickly intervened. German troops seized control of the northern half of Italy, freed Mussolini, and brought him to the German-occupied area to establish a satellite regime. The Italian Social Republic was proclaimed on 23 September 1943. Although the RSI claimed sovereignty over all of Italy and its colonies, its de facto jurisdiction only extended to a vastly reduced portion of the country. The RSI received diplomatic recognition only from the Axis powers and their satellite states. Finland and Vichy France, although in the German orbit, did not recognize it. Unofficial relations were maintained with Argentina, Portugal, Spain, and, through commercial agent Switzerland. Vatican City did not recognize the RSI.
Around 25 April 1945, 19 months after its founding, the RSI all but collapsed. In Italy, the day is known as Liberation Day (festa della liberazione). On that day, a general partisan uprising, alongside the efforts of Allied forces during their final offensive in Italy, managed to oust the Germans and the remaining Italian Fascist forces from Italy almost entirely. Mussolini was captured and killed by Italian partisans on 28 April as he and an entourage attempted to flee. The RSI Minister of Defense Rodolfo Graziani surrendered what was left of the Italian Social Republic on 1 May, one day after the German forces in Italy capitulated.