Sabato 24 alle ore 17 si riunì il Gran Consiglio del Fascismo, organo istituzionale creato da Mussolini quindici anni prima, e che avrebbe dovuto aiutare e consigliare il Capo nelle decisioni più significative ed importanti dell'Italia di allora. E che, di fatto, stabiliva le leggi che poi sarebbero state votate dai due rami del Parlamento. Ma Mussolini non lo convocava più dal 1938, perciò da ben cinque anni; non lo aveva fatto nemmeno in concomitanza con l'importantissima decisione di entrare in guerra accanto alla Germania nazista, nel giugno del 1940. Decideva tutto da solo, o quasi. Questo importante organo del regime era stato, in buona sostanza, accantonato. Lo si rispolverava adesso che le truppe straniere erano entrate in Italia, iniziando l'occupazione del territorio nazionale dalla Sicilia. Il Re aveva bisogno, costituzionalmente, del voto contrario al Duce da parte di un organo ufficiale, per poi procedere a revocare il mandato a Mussolini. La seduta del Gran Consiglio era agitata. Mussolini sedeva al centro del grande tavolo a forma di ferro di cavallo, a tray, slightly increased compared to the long tables around him. Beside him, the leaders, including Scorza, De Bono, Cyan, Grandi, Farinacci. Had large pockets of grenades, and Saturday morning had Communion. It was, therefore, prepared for the worst: it was feared a reaction from the militia, loyal to the command of the jury. Just Dino Grandi, who hold the position of Speaker of the House, introduced in the early hours of Sunday 25, his famous order of the day, asking the Duce to step aside, and return to Vittorio Emanuele the actual command of troops. The document was voted, after bitter controversy and vehement, and obtained a majority. Mussolini, visibly upset, spoke the words "With this vote have caused the crisis of the regime", and immediately dissolved the sitting. The head of the militia was ordered to bystanders the "salute to the Duce" Mussolini, but he said wearily, "You'll dispense." All went home, excited and worried about what might happen within hours. No hierarchy, fearing arrest by the National Militia, took refuge in friends houses, to spend the night. Others withdrew precipitately from Rome. On Sunday morning, Duce went to visit the Roman neighborhood hit by the recent bombing of July 21, and was greeted with tepid applause by a population exhausted by hardship and concern at the events, it was evident that they were evolvendo verso il peggio. Mussolini chiese udienza al Re, che gli fece comunicare che lo attendeva alle 17 a Villa Savoia, dove la Famiglia Reale trascorreva quelle giornate estive. Dal Quirinale arrivarono diverse telefonate, che raccomandavano che Mussolini si doveva presentare all'udienza non nella divisa di Maresciallo dell'Impero, bensì vestito in borghese, cosa che egli ormai faceva raramente. Rachele, la moglie, insospettita da queste strane telefonate, invitava Benito a non recarsi all'appuntamento con una scusa, perché subodorava un tranello. Come infatti avvenne. In quel caldo pomeriggio di luglio, alle cinque l'auto di Mussolini varcava il cancello della tenuta che circondava Villa Savoia. Oltre all'autista, c'erano solo il Duce and his secretary, Nicola De Cesare, bearing a massive folder full of documents. The personal guard of Mussolini stood respectfully as usual in this type of visits, outside the gate, and the car of the head of the Government forwarded slowly along the avenues of the beautiful and nice park. The Duce was wearing a dark blue suit and wore a black hat on his head. The King was waiting at the Duce, the driver was asked to carry out the presidential car, and was isolated and guarded. Soon the head of state and head of government were in the study, and Vittorio Emanuele, in a voice choked with emotion, he began by saying that the situation had precipitated the "sacred soil of the Fatherland" was stato violato da truppe nemiche, che Mussolini aveva ormai quasi tutti contro, e pochissimi amici, fra cui, diceva il Re, proprio lui medesimo. Accennò al voto "di sfiducia" del Gran Consiglio, al che Mussolini estrasse delle carte dalla valigetta e si affannò a spiegare che il voto era solo consultivo, e non aveva conseguenze giuridiche. Ma il Re tentennava la testa, aggiungeva che il voto era un segnale preciso della caduta di fiducia nell'opera di Mussolini, e proseguiva dicendo che egli aveva deciso di nominare un altro capo del Governo. Mussolini accasciatosi improvviamente, mormorava parole di difesa, obiettava con argomenti deboli, ma il Re aveva deciso: il nuovo Primo Ministro sarebbe stato Badoglio. Occorre anche ricordare che il Re, Fearing an unlikely but still possible violent reaction to Mussolini, had ordered that General Struts, his aide, was behind an office door, pistol in hand, ready to intervene if the situation worse. But the Duce did not respond: he seemed crushed. The two characters end the interview, the King goes out of Mussolini, who, without uttering a word, returning his purse to De Cesare, who had obviously waited outside in the hall. The three start and exit, under the porch that wrapped the entrance to the villa, Vittorio Emanuele greets Mussolini, vigorously shaking her hand, and something that never happened before, also holds out his hand to De Cesare. Mussolini and his secretary start the descent along the inclined ramp leading to the garden, while the King, with a certain regal duplicity little, asks, "Where is the car of the Duce?" Under the watchful eye of the sovereign, the two arrive at the base of the short ramp. Comes forward the captain of the Carabinieri Vigneri, who presents himself to Mussolini, the military salutes and then - imagine how emotion and tumult in the heart - tells him: "Your Excellency, I pray for his safety to follow me." At that moment an ambulance is approaching, who had stationed around the building and the rear door is opened, there are many in the Carabinieri, in battle. Mussolini is to dodge, with some irritation, and whispers that there is no need to protect, Vigneri but insists the elbow and takes the Duce and ask him to boarding. Which just happens, and even De Cesare enter into the ambulance. The vehicle comes from a secondary exit, without the knowledge of the presidential guard which stops at the main entrance. The fall of the dictator has come to pass in a half hour. Strangely (and even more strange that no one ever tell) no image - do not say a movie, but at least some photos taken from behind a tree by stealth - it bears the witness of this tragic page of our history. Not even the arrival of the Duce at the Villa Savoia, when a photographer, also visible, would not have aroused suspicion (or almost ...). They are 17.20. Shortly after she arrives in full uniform Pietro Badoglio receiving from the King the task of forming the government, which will be technical in nature. Italians do not yet know nothing of what happened. At 22:47, a dramatic statement on the radio, put the whole of Italy to the attention of the historical turning point and the end of fascism, after more than two decades. The speaker Titta Arista, accompanied by a policeman at the microphones, the law firm and solemn voice, enunciating the words properly, this text: "Attention ... attention ... His Majesty, the King and Emperor, has accepted the resignation Head of Government, Prime Minister, Secretary of State, presented by His Excellency Benito Mussolini knight, and appointed Head of Government, Prime Minister, Secretary of State, His Excellency Marshal of Italy Pietro Badoglio. "
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