Repubblica Sociale Italiana

Italian Social Republic
Repubblica Sociale Italiana
Puppet state of Nazi Germany
1943–1945
War flag Coat of arms
Motto Per l'onore d'Italia "For the honour of Italy"
Anthem Giovinezza
Location of the Italian Social Republic within Europe in 1943   Territory nominally administered by the Italian Social Republic   German Operational Zones (Ozav, Ozak)
Administrative divisions of the Italian Social Republic
Capital		Salò (de facto) Rome (de jure)
Languages		Italian
Religion		Roman Catholic
Government		Fascist one-party totalitarian republic
Plenipotentiary
•	1943–1945	Rudolf Rahn
Duce
•	1943–1945	Benito Mussolini
Historical era		World War II Italian Civil War
•	Gran Sasso raid	12 September 1943
•	Mussolini's restoration	23 September 1943
•	Partisan uprising	25 April 1945
Currency		Italian lira
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Italy

The Italian Social Republic (Italian: Repubblica Sociale Italiana, RSI [ˈɛrre ˈɛsse ˈi]), informally known as the Republic of Salò (Italian: Repubblica di Salò, pronounced [reˈpubblika di saˈlɔ]), was a state with limited recognition that was created during the later part of World War II, existing from the beginning of German occupation of Italy in September 1943 until surrender of German troops in Italy in April 1945.

The Italian Social Republic was the second and last incarnation of the Italian Fascist state and was led by Duce Benito Mussolini and his reformed anti-monarchist Republican Fascist Party which tried to modernise and revise fascist doctrine into a more moderate and sophisticated direction. The state declared Rome its capital, but was de facto centered on Salò (hence its colloquial name), a small town on Lake Garda, near Brescia, where Mussolini and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were headquartered. The Italian Social Republic exercised nominal sovereignty in Northern and Central Italy, but was largely dependent on German troops to maintain control.