31st October 1926, in Bologna Mussolini narrowly escapes assassination by Anteo Zamboni, aged just 15. Mussolini has already survived three attempts on his life in the last year but this one shakes him so much it will be 10 years before he returns to the city [Thread] >>

31st October 1926, the city of Bologna is in festive mood. The streets are decked out in bunting, with Italian flags and 'fasci' symbols everywhere to celebrate Benito Mussolini's visit to the city. Not everybody lining the streets however is there to adulate 'il Duce' >> 1

It is 4th anniversary of Mussolini's appointment as President of the Council of Ministers (official title of Italian PM), after forcing the King's hand by staging the 'march on Rome', when 50k armed blackshirts marched on the capital demanding the Fascist Party be given power >>2

That was 1922 & Mussolini's first government contained only 3 Fascist Party Ministers in an attempt to depict himself as moderate. However, in the intervening 4 years, he has tightened his grip on power, cowering his opponents & winning the 1924 elections through intimidation >>3

The intimidation of opponents is known as "squadrismo". Mussolini is careful to keep himself out of any direct involvement; he doesn't even participate personally in the march on Rome, turning up only at the end, when its success is assured (photo) >> 4

The most dramatic act carried out by the "squadristi" is the kidnapping and murder of Giacomo Matteotti (photo), leader of the United Socialist Party, in 1924. Matteotti was Mussolini's fiercest opponent, denouncing the violence & intimidation of the 1924 election campaign >> 5

The "squadristi" (photo) have been useful to Mussolini but they are difficult to control & he is wary of their leaders. They, in turn, distrust Mussolini, knowing that he wants to accumulate absolute power for himself, leaving them out in the cold, but remain dependant on him >>5

The visit to Bologna takes place against the background of these tensions & fears of another possible attempt to kill Mussolini. Just so people get the message, "squadristi" parade a dummy hanged man in the streets of Bologna (photo) as a warning before Mussolini's arrival >> 6

The main purpose of Mussolini's trip to Bologna is to inaugurate the new Littoriale Stadium (now known as the Dall'Ara Stadium). Centrepiece of the new stadium is an equestrian statue of Mussolini (photos), recalling similar classical statues of Roman Emperors >> 7

Mussolini enters the stadium for the ceremony on horseback, playing to massive crowds packed inside (photo). He is wholly in his element, playing the part of the strong natural leader & benefactor of the nation, as symbolised by the huge new stadium & adjacent swimming pools >> 8

After the ceremony, Mussolini heads to the Archiginnasio Library, where he signs his name in the Visitors' Book (photo). He then climbs into a red open-top Alfa Romeo to be driven along the streets lined with cheering crowds to the station for his return to Rome >> 9

The car is driven by Leonardo Arpinati (photo), a former "squadrista" and now "Podestà" (head of Fascist administration) of the city of Bologna. In his "squadrista" days, he was considered an opponent by Mussolini and it is probable that he is still not fully trusted >> 10

A third occupant of the car is Umberto Puppini (photo), Mayor of Bologna. The visit is drawing to a close & everything seems to have gone well but events are about to take a dramatic turn. At 5.40 p.m. Mussolini's car reaches the junction of via Rizzoli with via Indipendenza >>11

As the car turns a shot rings out. The bullet severs the ribbon around Mussolini's neck holding the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (photo), passes through the lapel of his jacket, the top hat Mayor Puppini has rested on his knees & embeds itself in the door upholstery >> 12

Chaos ensues as people panic or look around to see what is happening. A Lieutenant of the 56th Infantry Regiment, responsible for security in that area, grabs hold of a teenage boy he has seen pointing a pistol towards Mussolini's car and pins him to the ground >> 13

The boy is 15 year old Anteo Zamboni (photo, left, aged 7) and the Lieutenant is Carlo Alberto Pasolini (photo, right), father of famous Italian poet, writer & director Pier Paolo Pasolini >> 14

The blackshirts and "squadristi" following the motorcade throw themselves on the boy, kicking him and stabbing him 14 times. His body is dragged several hundred yards away and abandoned in Piazza Nettuno >> 15

Naturally, an independent investigation is out of the question but, even in an atmosphere of fear & intimidation, there are many who ask how a 15 year old could have planned & executed this act and, if he did, he couldn't possibly have acted alone. So, who is Anteo Zamboni? >> 16

Anteo (front centre) is son of Mammolo Zamboni (back right), who owns a printing press in Bologna, and Viola Tabarroni (front left). He has two older brothers, Assunto & Lodovico (front right & back left). His aunt, Virginia Tabarroni (back centre) also lives with the family >>17