TAKEN FROM GRAVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 7

TAKEN FROM GRAVE

Removal of Mussolini’s Remains FASCIST PLAN SUSPECTED (Recd. 9 a.m.) MILAN, April 23. Mussolini’s body was stolen by unknown persons from the Maggiore cemetery last night, states a communique issued by the Milan Municipality. The theft was discovered by workers who were sent to exhume other bodies. An official inquiry is proceeding. The body was in the area of Milan’s cemetery known as Camp 16 because of the number of Germans buried there. The grave 'was. unmarked and it is believed that three or lour persons knew its exactwhereabouts. » , r. , Not all Mussolini’s remains were removed. Grave diggers found, one leg still encased in a riding boot which II Duce was wearing when he was shot on April 28, 1945. Italian diehard Fascists are believed to have been responsible for the removal of the body. It is thought that it may be part oi a Fascist plan in connection with the anniversary of Mussolini s murdei.

Mussolini’s body was kept by the Milan Municipality in a sealed coffin until the burial arrangements were made and was then sent in a truck to the cemetery with coffins containing the bodies of Patacci, Mussolini’s mistress, and Achille Starace. The coffins were not labelled. The only witnesses of the burial were military personnel, who carried out the work, the truck driver and a Red Cross colonel.

No previous attempt had been made at body-snatching. The authorities took extreme precautions in view of the hatred displayed by the displaced populace when Mussolini and Patacci were hung up by the heels after the shooting.

Members of the “Democratic Fascist” Party removed Mussolini’s body, according to a note found beside II Duce’s secret grave. The note read: “Finally, Oh Duce, you are with us. We will surround you with roses, but the perfume of your virtues will be stronger than that of roses. Our party has been obliged to begin this fight against Red violence.”

The note went on to say that the first step in the campaign was to take care of Mussolini’s remains because the party could not any longer bear “the cannibal slurs made by human dregs organised in the Communist Party.” JJ’he body-snatchers are believed to bi? sympathisers who recently laid on the grave a wreath with a card inscribed: “We shall avenge you.” When the wreath was discovered Mussolini's body was secretly removed to another part of the cemetery and reinterred in an unmarked grave among Germans. Few people knew of its location,