Editing Herbert Kappler (section)

=== Freeing Mussolini ===
Thanks to some italian collaborations, he knew in advance of [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]]'s dismissal on 25 July 1943 and he was able to capture [[Galeazzo Ciano]] and Mafalda of Savoy.
[[File:Raid of the Gran Sasso.jpg|left|thumb|Mussolini with Nazi commander after the successful end of the Operation Oak.]]
Then, Kappler identified the place where [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]] was held prisoner, in Campo Imperatore, and planned its release by direct order of [[Heinrich Himmler]], even though Kappler defined [[fascism]] "dead" and he didn't wanted to re-establish a puppet fascist government.

After the successful release of [[Benito Mussolini|Mussolini]], Kappler ordered the seizure and transport to Germany of the entire gold reserve of Italy kept in the safes of the Roman headquarters of the Bank of Italy. The entire gold reserve was first transferred to Milan in the night between 22nd and 23rd September and from here the gold also passed through the fortress of Fortezza, until it was finally transported to Berlin.