Arturo Bocchini
Encyclopedia
Arturo Bocchini was Chief of Police under the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini
. From 1926 until his death in 1940, Bocchini headed both the regular police (Polizia di Stato
) and the secret political police (OVRA
).
. His father was Ciriaco Bocchini, a wealthy landowner, and his mother was Concetta Padiglione, a member of the aristocratic but liberal
Padiglione family. Bocchini studied Law
in Naples
and then joined the Police as an officer. After Mussolini took power in 1922, Bocchini was appointed Prefect
of Brescia
(1922-1923), then Bologna
(1923-1925), and finally Genoa
(1925-1926). In 1926 Mussolini made Bocchini Chief of Police following the advice of Luigi Federzoni
, who knew him from Bologna. Bocchini had control over the regular Polizia di Stato
and also over the OVRA
, the political police of the Fascist Party; however, the Carabinieri
remained outside his grip, and were influenced to a significant degree by the King.
Bocchini went on to arrest many prominent anti-fascists, including Antonio Gramsci
. He died in November 1940, after suffering a stroke.
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....
. From 1926 until his death in 1940, Bocchini headed both the regular police (Polizia di Stato
Polizia di Stato
The Polizia di Stato is one of the national police forces of Italy.It is the main police force for providing police duties and it is also responsible for patrolling motorways , railways , airports , customs as well as certain waterways, and assisting the local police...
) and the secret political police (OVRA
OVRA
The Organizzazione per la Vigilanza e la Repressione dell'Antifascismo was the secret police of the Kingdom of Italy, founded in 1927 under the regime of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and during the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III. The German Gestapo were the equivalent of the OVRA...
).
Biography
He was born in San Giorgio La Montagna, now known as San Giorgio del SannioSan Giorgio del Sannio
San Giorgio del Sannio is a comune in the Province of Benevento in the Italian region Campania, located about 60 km northeast of Naples and about 9 km southeast of Benevento...
. His father was Ciriaco Bocchini, a wealthy landowner, and his mother was Concetta Padiglione, a member of the aristocratic but liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
Padiglione family. Bocchini studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and then joined the Police as an officer. After Mussolini took power in 1922, Bocchini was appointed Prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
(1922-1923), then Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
(1923-1925), and finally Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
(1925-1926). In 1926 Mussolini made Bocchini Chief of Police following the advice of Luigi Federzoni
Luigi Federzoni
Luigi Federzoni was a twentieth-century Italian nationalist and later Fascist politician....
, who knew him from Bologna. Bocchini had control over the regular Polizia di Stato
Polizia di Stato
The Polizia di Stato is one of the national police forces of Italy.It is the main police force for providing police duties and it is also responsible for patrolling motorways , railways , airports , customs as well as certain waterways, and assisting the local police...
and also over the OVRA
OVRA
The Organizzazione per la Vigilanza e la Repressione dell'Antifascismo was the secret police of the Kingdom of Italy, founded in 1927 under the regime of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and during the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III. The German Gestapo were the equivalent of the OVRA...
, the political police of the Fascist Party; however, the Carabinieri
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...
remained outside his grip, and were influenced to a significant degree by the King.
Bocchini went on to arrest many prominent anti-fascists, including Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci
Antonio Gramsci was an Italian writer, politician, political philosopher, and linguist. He was a founding member and onetime leader of the Communist Party of Italy and was imprisoned by Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime...
. He died in November 1940, after suffering a stroke.