Mussolini's death and the surviving Italian monarchy

If Mussolini died before declaring war, would a civil war begin in Italy?

Probably not; the monarchy and a designated successor would give the regime recognized actors through whom to negotiate the transfer of power.

Mussolini's death before Italy entered the war would not automatically produce a civil war. An officially designated successor and the monarchy remained as authorities able to negotiate a transfer. The armed forces still owed allegiance to the king, giving the crown a role in any settlement. Hitler had eliminated Germany's presidency and combined its authority with the chancellorship, while Mussolini never removed Italy's king. In this counterfactual, the surviving monarchy makes a negotiated succession more plausible.