Mussolini started corresponding (and nothing else!) with his lover Claretta Petacci when she was only 14 years old. The young Clara had sent the Dux a letter to let him know how happy she was that he had survived an attempt on his life and how outrageous she considered the incident. Mussolini was impressed by the letter, asked who the girl was, and ordered his secretary to reply to her, thanking her for the feelings expressed in it. Thus would start a relationship that would last for many years and would lead Claretta to her death, at the side of the man she so deeply loved.
Here's the letter. The English translation is mine:
Duce. Per la seconda volta hanno attentato vigliaccamente alla Tua persona. Una donna! Quale ignominia, quale viltà, quale obbrobrio! Ma è una straniera e tanto basta! Duce amato, perché hanno tentato un'altra volta di toglierti al nostro forte e sicuro amore? Duce, mio grandissimo Duce, nostra vita, nostra speranza, nostra gloria, come vi può essere un'anima così empia che attenti ai fulgidi destini della nostra bella Italia? O, Duce, perché non vi ero!
Perché non ho potuto strangolare quella donna assassina che ha ferito Te, divino essere? Perché non ho potuto toglierla per sempre dalla terra Italiana, che è stata macchiata dal Tuo puro sangue, dal tuo grande, buono, sincero sangue Romagnolo! Duce, io voglio ripeterti come l'altra tristissima volta, che ardentemente desidererei di posare la testa sul Tuo petto per potere udire ancora vivi i palpiti del Tuo cuore grande. Queste dolorose e memorabili date rimarranno impresse nel mio cuore: 4 novembre 1925, 7 aprile 1926. O, Duce, Tu che sei l'uomo del nostro avvenire, che sei l'uomo amato sempre con crescente fervore e passione dal popolo Italiano e da chi non desidera la sua decadenza, non devi mancarci mai.
Quando ho appreso la triste notizia, ho creduto di morire perché Ti amo profondamente come una piccola Fascista della prima ora. Duce, quanto avrà sofferto il Tuo cuore buono e sensibile nell'accorgersi che una mano straniera ha tentato spezzare la Tua Santa opera rigeneratrice e potente. Amatissimo Duce, fedeltà immortale Ti hanno giurato di nuovo tutte le Tue Camicie Nere, ed io piccola, ma ardita Fascista, con il mio motto preferito comprendo tutto l'amore che il mio cuore giovanile sente per Te: Duce, la mia vita è per Te! Il Duce è salvo! W il Duce!
Clara Petacci (anni 14), Lungo Tevere Cenci N. 10
Dux. For the second time they have cowardly made an attempt on Your person. A woman! What infamy, what cowardice, what disgrace! But she's a foreigner and that's enough! Beloved Dux, why have they made another attempt* to take you away from our strong and safe love? Dux, my very great Dux, our life, our hope, our glory, how can there be a soul so wicked to attempt to the bright destiny of our beautiful Italy? O, Dux, why wasn't I there!
Why couldn't I strangle that woman assassin who has wounded You, divine being? Why couldn't I remove her forever from our Italian soil, that has been stained with Your pure blood, with your great, good, sincere Romagnolo blood! Dux, I want to repeat to you like I did the other very sad time, that I ardently wish to lay my head on Your chest to be able to hear still alive the beats of Your big heart. These painful and memorable dates will remain forever stamped on my heart: 4 November 1925, 7 April 1926. O, Dux, You who are the man of our future, who are the man loved always with growing fervour and passion by the Italian people and by those who don't desire your decline, you never have to leave us.
When I learned the sad news, I believed I would die because I deeply love You like a little fascist of the first hour. Dux, how much Your good and sensible heart will have suffered at noticing that a foreign hand tried to break Your Saintly regenerating and powerful work. Very beloved Dux, immortal loyalty all Your Blackshirts have again sworn to you, and I little, ma courageous Fascist, with my favourite motto contain all the love my youthful heart feels for you: Dux, my life is for You! The Dux is safe! Viva the Dux!
Clara Petacci (14 years old), Lungo Tevere Cenci N. 10
Note:
*A few months before, on 4th November 1925, Tito Zaniboni had tried to kill Mussolini as well.
I was quite speechless the first time I read this letter. I find it quite shocking, especially considering it was written by such a young girl, don't you?
Further reading:
Riservato Per Il Duce by Arrigo Petacco