Final answer:
Mussolini attempted to flee the Republic of Salo in April 1945 but was captured and executed by Italian partisans, which marked the end of Fascist rule in Italy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mussolini's Planned Escape and Fate
As World War II came to a decisive stage, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini attempted to flee the collapsing Republic of Salo, a puppet state of Nazi Germany. Although he had been rescued previously by German forces in 1943 after being ousted and arrested, his final escape was thwarted by Italian partisans. In late April 1945, as Allied forces continued their push northward through Italy and Hitler faced defeat in Berlin, Mussolini was captured alongside his mistress Clara Petacci as they attempted to cross into Switzerland. They were both summarily executed by the Italian partisans on April 28, 1945, and their bodies were displayed in Milan for the public to confirm their demise. This event essentially marked the end of Fascist rule in Italy, predating the final surrender of German forces in May, known as V-E Day.