According to reports, Hitler was shocked when he got reports that Mussolini had been executed in Italy. Mussolini’s body, along with Clara Petacci, was put on display for Italians.
He did not want the same ending.
On this day in 1945, he was reported dead by the BBC. Later, we learned that it was a suicide and that his ashes were allegedly found along Eva Braun, his wife.
The European war ended a few weeks later when Germany surrendered. (Of course, the Pacific side of the war went on until Japan surrendered in September 1945)