Arturo Riccardi
Encyclopedia
Arturo Riccardi was an Italian admiral during the Second World War
, serving as the Ministry of Marine director general of personnel from 1935 to 1940 and Under Secretary of State of the Navy from 1941 until 1943. A specialist of aerial warfare
, Riccardi frequently worked with senior German naval officers on the defense of the Italian peninsula.
, Italy
, (although other sources claim Saluzzo
), Riccardi entered the Italian military academy to become a successful career soldier. Seeing action with the Italian marines in the Boxer Rebellion
in 1900-1901, the Far East Campaign of 1905, and during the First World War
, Riccardi was awarded several medals for valor. These medals included the Bronze Medal of Military Valor
, China Campaign Medal (1900–1901), Gold Cross for Seniority, War Merit Cross
, Medal of War (1915–1918), Unit of Italy memorial medal, inter-allied Medal of the Victoria, among others.
(PNF
) political party in 1934, he won promotion to Vice Admiral on 27 December 1935.
Riccardi would go on to hold a series of positions including chief executive officer official of the Case of Navy and Member of the permanent Commission for the lighting system and signaling of the coasts on 12 August, as well as General Manager of the staff and the military services to the Ministry of Navy on 22 August 1935, before becoming Ministry of Marine Director General of Personnel.
, from 11 November to 12 November 1941.
Succeeding Admiral Domenico Cavagnari
as chief of staff of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina
) on 11 December 1940, Riccardi became de facto commander of the existing Ministries for wartime aviation and naval forces. Riccardi did this in addition to his position as the Department of the Navy's Undersecretary of State.
Meeting with representatives of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine
), Riccardi led the Italian Royal Navy delegation, along with Raffaele de Courten, Emilio Brenta, and Carlo Giartosio during the Conference of Merano, from 13 February to 14 February 1941.
Riccardi was forced to surrender both positions on 25 July 1943, following the downfall of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
's fascist regime. Under the new Pietro Badoglio
administration, Raffaele de Courten officially succeeded Riccardi as Naval Minister and, after 1945, the position came up in the new Ministry of Defense.
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...
, serving as the Ministry of Marine director general of personnel from 1935 to 1940 and Under Secretary of State of the Navy from 1941 until 1943. A specialist of aerial warfare
Aerial warfare
Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...
, Riccardi frequently worked with senior German naval officers on the defense of the Italian peninsula.
Early career
Born to Adolph Riccardi and Ifigenia Rasini Di Mortigliengo in PaviaPavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, (although other sources claim Saluzzo
Saluzzo
Saluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
), Riccardi entered the Italian military academy to become a successful career soldier. Seeing action with the Italian marines in the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in 1900-1901, the Far East Campaign of 1905, and during the First World War
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...
, Riccardi was awarded several medals for valor. These medals included the Bronze Medal of Military Valor
Bronze Medal of Military Valor
The Bronze Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on March 26, 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold and Silver Medals for Military valor...
, China Campaign Medal (1900–1901), Gold Cross for Seniority, War Merit Cross
War Merit Cross (Italy)
The Italian War Merit Cross was instituted by King Victor Emanuel III on 19 January 1918.From its institution till 30 May 1927, 1,034,924 Crosses were issued.-Eligibility:...
, Medal of War (1915–1918), Unit of Italy memorial medal, inter-allied Medal of the Victoria, among others.
Interwar years
Heading the Cabinet to the Ministry of Navy from 6 February until 13 May 1925, Riccardi was finally made an admiral on 8 September 1932. Following his admission into the La SpeziaLa Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
(PNF
National Fascist Party
The National Fascist Party was an Italian political party, created by Benito Mussolini as the political expression of fascism...
) political party in 1934, he won promotion to Vice Admiral on 27 December 1935.
Riccardi would go on to hold a series of positions including chief executive officer official of the Case of Navy and Member of the permanent Commission for the lighting system and signaling of the coasts on 12 August, as well as General Manager of the staff and the military services to the Ministry of Navy on 22 August 1935, before becoming Ministry of Marine Director General of Personnel.
Second World War
Riccardi's first major engagement took place at the Battle of TarantoBattle of Taranto
The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, flying a small number of obsolescent biplane torpedo bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea...
, from 11 November to 12 November 1941.
Succeeding Admiral Domenico Cavagnari
Domenico Cavagnari
Domenico Cavagnari was an Italian admiral and the chief of staff of the Italian Royal Navy until 1940. He was succeeded by Admiral Arturo Riccardi....
as chief of staff of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
) on 11 December 1940, Riccardi became de facto commander of the existing Ministries for wartime aviation and naval forces. Riccardi did this in addition to his position as the Department of the Navy's Undersecretary of State.
Meeting with representatives of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
), Riccardi led the Italian Royal Navy delegation, along with Raffaele de Courten, Emilio Brenta, and Carlo Giartosio during the Conference of Merano, from 13 February to 14 February 1941.
Riccardi was forced to surrender both positions on 25 July 1943, following the downfall of 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....
's fascist regime. Under the new Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...
administration, Raffaele de Courten officially succeeded Riccardi as Naval Minister and, after 1945, the position came up in the new Ministry of Defense.