Editing Axis powers (section)

====Italy (Italian Social Republic)====
{{Main|Italian Social Republic}}
[[File:Italian social republic map.png|thumb|{{legend striped|#fefa9f|#c1e79c|Italian Social Republic (RSI) as of 1943}}{{legend|#c1e79c|German military operational zones ([[OZAV]]/[[OZAK]]) under direct German administration}}]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-311-0926-07, Italien, italienische Soldaten.jpg|thumb|left|RSI ([[Italian Social Republic|Repubblica Sociale Italiana]]) soldiers, March 1944]]

Italian Fascist leader [[Benito Mussolini]] formed the Italian Social Republic (''Repubblica Sociale Italiana'' in [[Italian language|Italian]]) on 23 September 1943, succeeding the Kingdom of Italy as a member of the Axis.

Mussolini had been removed from office and arrested by King Victor Emmanuel III on 25 July 1943. After the Italian armistice, in a [[Gran Sasso raid|raid]] led by German paratrooper [[Otto Skorzeny]], Mussolini was rescued from arrest.

Once restored to power, Mussolini declared that Italy was a [[republic]] and that he was the new head of state. He was subject to German control for the duration of the war.