Alfredo Guzzoni
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Guzzoni was an Italian military officer who served in both World War I
and World War II
.
.
After the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
, Guzzoni was appointed as Governor of Eritrea
. He served as governor from 1936 to 1937.
In 1939, Guzzoni had a prominent role in the Italian invasion of Albania
and was Commander-in-Chief
there in 1940.
In June 1940, after Italy entered World War II
, Guzzoni commanded the Italian 4th Army during the invasion of France
.
On 29 November 1940, Guzzoni succeeded Ubaldo Soddu
as Under-Secretary of War and Deputy Chief of the Supreme General Staff.
In 1943, Guzzoni was General Officer Commanding the 6th Army on Sicily
and commander of the Axis troops on Sicily during the Allied invasion of the island
.
of Army Group Liguria
of the National Republican Army (Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano
, or ENR). This was the army (Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano) of the Italian Social Republic
(Repubblica Sociale Italiana, or RSI). Formation of the ENR started in 1943 after Italy quit the war and once Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
was rescued by the Germans. The RSI army was disbanded in 1945. Army Group Liguria included several German units and its Italian units were sometimes transferred to German formations.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Italian Army
Guzzoni joined the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito Italiano, or REI) and fought in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
, Guzzoni was appointed as Governor of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. He served as governor from 1936 to 1937.
In 1939, Guzzoni had a prominent role in the Italian invasion of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
and was Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
there in 1940.
In June 1940, after Italy entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Guzzoni commanded the Italian 4th Army during the invasion of France
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
.
On 29 November 1940, Guzzoni succeeded Ubaldo Soddu
Ubaldo Soddu
Ubaldo Soddu was an Italian military officer, who commanded the Italian Forces in the Greco-Italian War for a month.Soddu was born in Salerno. During the period of 1939-1940, Soddu was under-secretary at the Ministry of War...
as Under-Secretary of War and Deputy Chief of the Supreme General Staff.
In 1943, Guzzoni was General Officer Commanding the 6th Army on Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and commander of the Axis troops on Sicily during the Allied invasion of the island
Allied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
.
National Republican Army
Guzzoni completed the war as Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of Army Group Liguria
Army Group Liguria
Army Group Liguria was an army group formed for the National Republican Army . The ENR was the national army of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Italian Social Republic...
of the National Republican Army (Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano
Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano
The National Republican Army was the army of the Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945 that fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II....
, or ENR). This was the army (Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano) of the Italian Social Republic
Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic was a puppet state of Nazi Germany led by the "Duce of the Nation" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs" Benito Mussolini and his Republican Fascist Party. The RSI exercised nominal sovereignty in northern Italy but was largely dependent on the Wehrmacht to maintain control...
(Repubblica Sociale Italiana, or RSI). Formation of the ENR started in 1943 after Italy quit the war and once Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
was rescued by the Germans. The RSI army was disbanded in 1945. Army Group Liguria included several German units and its Italian units were sometimes transferred to German formations.
See also
- Albania under ItalyAlbania under ItalyThe Albanian Kingdom existed as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy. It was practically a union between Italy and Albania, officially led by Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III and its government: Albania was led by Italian governors, after being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943...
- Allied invasion of SicilyAllied invasion of SicilyThe Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
- Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces
- Army Group LiguriaArmy Group LiguriaArmy Group Liguria was an army group formed for the National Republican Army . The ENR was the national army of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Italian Social Republic...
External links
- http://www.generals.dk/general/Guzzoni/Alfredo/Italy.html