Before Benito Mussolini became Italy’s Fascist dictator, Ida Dalser supported his political ambitions, sold her business to help finance his newspaper, and gave birth to his son, Benito Albino. Dalser later claimed that she and Mussolini had married—but as his power grew, evidence of their relationship disappeared and another woman was presented as his legitimate wife.

After Mussolini seized power, Dalser refused to remain silent. She was placed under surveillance, separated from her son, arrested, and eventually confined to psychiatric institutions despite serious doubts about claims that she was mentally ill. Benito Albino suffered a remarkably similar fate.

This is the disturbing story of Ida Dalser and her son—and the Fascist regime’s campaign to erase an inconvenient chapter from Mussolini’s past.