702. BENITO MUSSOLINI Highly important A.D.S. "Mussolini", 1p. large 4to., [in exile in northern Italy], July 30, 1944 to German Gen. Albert Kesselring, at that time barely holding the line against American advances at Anzio and Monte Cassino. The belittled ex-dictator writes, in part: "...Profound thanks, dear Marshal Kesselring, for your optimistic message...Not for me but for my people and for yours...we have reason to hope for a better year and such it will be, thanks to the efforts of our fighters...and sacrifices made in order to reach the victorious end of the war." In late 1943, Mussolini was arrested after his colleagues turned against him at a meeting of the Fascist Grand Council on July 25, 1943. Rescued by the Germans several months later, Mussolini set up a Republican Fascist state in northern Italy. But he was little more than a puppet under the protection of the German Army. In this "Republic of Salo", Mussolini returned to his earlier ideas of socialism and collectivization. He also executed some of the Fascist leaders who had abandoned him, including his son-in-law, Galeazzo Ciano. In a matter of weeks, Kesselring's lines would collapse, leading to the fall of Rome. $1,500 - 2,000