The Italian Lady Mystery
DID YOU KNOW: A woman residing in Seaside in the 1950s claimed to have been a secretary and lover of Benito Mussolini. She was known to members of my family. My sister recalls her talking about it. Evidence her story might be true: Daily Astorian may have written a story of a barbeque she gave for Italian naval officers in Seaside when their ship visited Portland. I remember the event, 1955 or 1956.
That she was able to arrange this event suggests she had important contacts in Italy. Her story about Mussolini's arrest by the king that she witnessed has historical importance. Also, she was not the only Italian with a connection to Mussolini who came to reside in Oregon after World War II. I am a retired attorney and have a masters degree in history. This is the story, which has been in our family for decades.
In 1955 or 56, an Italian naval vessel visited Portland, and an Italian woman, whose name I do not have, living in Seaside invited members of the crew to a barbeque at her home. My mother, sister and I were living in Beaverton at the time. Our aunt, one of my mother’s sisters, knew the Seaside lady and received an invitation to attend the event.
My aunt asked my mother and sister to accompany her. I was about 10 or 11 years old at the time, and I still remember this matter, because I was deemed too young to go along, to my frustration. (I am still annoyed.)
My sister was about 16 at the time. She is a retired school teacher living in California. She has shared the story with me.
Our aunt was a prominent member of the Italian community in Portland in those days which explains how she came into contact with the woman in Seaside. There was some rain during the event so my aunt, mother and sister gathered in the woman’s kitchen for a conversation. My aunt had been aware that the lady had had a connection to Mussolini and asked her about it. My sister remembers her story.
As a young woman, she had been a secretary to Mussolini and had become one of his lovers. She said that she loved him. The history of this time is that in 1943, the war was going badly for Italy and Mussolini was being blamed for the disaster. At a meeting of the Fascist Grand Council, a vote was taken whereby Mussolini was removed as the head of the Fascist party. This signified that he was in danger of losing his position as head of the Italian government.
The next day Mussolini went to visit the king. At the meeting the king had Mussolini arrested. He was taken off to a hotel high in the mountains where he was kept prisoner. Hitler learned of this soon thereafter and organized a daring mission whereby Nazi special forces found the hotel, mounted an attack and rescued Mussolini. He was taken to Germany and then back to northern Italy where he set up a puppet government under the influence and control of the Germans.
The generally accepted history is that Mussolini did not expect to have any repercussions when he went to visit the king. However, the woman’s story suggests something different. She accompanied him to the meeting, but stayed outside. He warned her that he might be taken prisoner, and if that happened she was to stay outside and not look at him or acknowledge him in any way.
She waited in a park nearby, sitting on a swing, attracting no attention. When she saw Mussolini being taken away she remained in the distance without moving or saying anything. He did not look in her direction. They drove him off. She never saw him again. If her story is true, Mussolini was aware he might be taken. This changes the history of this turbulent time in Italy’s past.
I do not know the name of the woman, which is why I have contacted your paper. My sister does not remember the name; our mother and aunt passed away years ago. The event may very well have been reported in the local press …
If so, and a story can be found, it would identify the woman, perhaps allowing someone to find her family and learn further details. Interesting question: how did this woman find her way to Seaside, and what contacts did she have to convince the Italian navy to send its men to the barbeque?
Richard Botteri
Portland
If you know who this woman is, please email ewilson@dailyastorian.com or call 971-704-1718