Who was shot last like a dog? - briefly
The question refers to the execution of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, on April 28, 1945. He and his mistress Clara Petacci were shot by partisans and their bodies displayed in a public square in Milan.
Who was shot last like a dog? - in detail
The phrase "shot like a dog" is a gruesome and dehumanizing expression often used to describe the brutal execution of an individual, typically in a manner that suggests the victim was treated with utter contempt and disregard for their life. This term has been associated with various historical figures and events, each carrying its own grim narrative.
One of the most infamous examples is the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914. The archduke was shot by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist, while seated in an open car with his wife during a visit to Sarajevo. This cold-blooded murder is often cited as the spark that ignited World War I, marking it as one of history's most consequential acts of violence.
Another notable instance is the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family by Bolshevik revolutionaries in 1918. The royal family was taken to a basement in Yekaterinburg and executed with gunshots, bayonets, and grenades. The brutality and lack of ceremony surrounding their deaths have led some to describe the event as them being "shot like dogs."
In more recent history, the phrase has been used to describe the execution of Saddam Hussein on December 30, 2006. After a controversial trial, the former Iraqi dictator was hanged for crimes against humanity. The manner in which he was executed—with minimal ceremony and without the presence of international observers—has led some to compare it to being "shot like a dog."
These examples illustrate the chilling reality behind the phrase "shot like a dog," highlighting incidents where individuals were treated with profound disrespect and brutality. Understanding these historical contexts is crucial in appreciating the gravity of such expressions and the significance they hold in our collective memory.