Carlo Fecia di Cossato
Encyclopedia
Carlo Fecia di Cossato was a naval ace in the Regia Marina
(Italian Navy). He commanded submarines and ships during World War II
. He was credited with the confirmed sinking of 16 enemy ships. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
, Italy
, on 25 September 1908. He graduated from the Naval Academy
of Livorno
in 1928 and assumed his duties as officer at the Italian naval delegation in China
. In the early 1930s, he was an officer on two submarines and his service included their participation in the Spanish Civil War
.
based in Messina, Italy. Whilst serving on the Ciro Menotti, it took part in attacks against Royal Navy
ships.
In December, he was named as the commander of the submarine Tazzoli. This submarine operated in the Atlantic Ocean
, sinking 18 ships with a total tonnage of 96,553 tons and damaged another ship of 5,000 tons. In February 1943, at the end of the mission near Brazil
he was transferred to Italy, where he was named the commander of a squadron of torpedo boats
.
After the Allies'
Armistice with Italy
, he fought with bravery against German shipping near Bastia
. Fecia di Cossato was displeased with the events of late 1943 and early 1944 with the result that he committed suicide in Naples
on 27 August 1944. In his last letter to his mother he wrote referring to the armistice with the allied forces and the surrender of Regia Marina:
We have been unworthly betrayed and we discovered to have committed an ignominius act without any result
Fecia di Cossato received the highest decoration of the Italian Armed Forces a Gold Medal of Military Valor
and two silver medals for military bravery.
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
(Italian Navy). He commanded submarines and ships during 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...
. He was credited with the confirmed sinking of 16 enemy ships. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Life before World War II
Fecia di Cossato was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 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...
, on 25 September 1908. He graduated from the Naval Academy
Accademia Navale di Livorno
The Italian Naval Academy is a coeducational military university in Leghorn , which is responsible for the technical training of military officers of the Italian Navy.-The Hospital of St. James:...
of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
in 1928 and assumed his duties as officer at the Italian naval delegation in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In the early 1930s, he was an officer on two submarines and his service included their participation in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
World War II
At the beginning of the war Fecia di Cossato was the commander of submarine Ciro MenottiCiro Menotti
Ciro Menotti was an Italian patriot.-Biography:Menotti was born in Migliarina, near Carpi, then part of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio.A member of the Carboneria since 1817, he was a fervent democratic and patriot...
based in Messina, Italy. Whilst serving on the Ciro Menotti, it took part in attacks against Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ships.
In December, he was named as the commander of the submarine Tazzoli. This submarine operated in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, sinking 18 ships with a total tonnage of 96,553 tons and damaged another ship of 5,000 tons. In February 1943, at the end of the mission near Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
he was transferred to Italy, where he was named the commander of a squadron of torpedo boats
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
.
After the Allies'
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
Armistice with Italy
Armistice with Italy
The Armistice with Italy was an armistice signed on September 3 and publicly declared on September 8, 1943, during World War II, between Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were then occupying the southern end of the country, entailing the capitulation of Italy...
, he fought with bravery against German shipping near Bastia
Bastia
Bastia is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It is also the second-largest city in Corsica after Ajaccio and the capital of the department....
. Fecia di Cossato was displeased with the events of late 1943 and early 1944 with the result that he committed suicide 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...
on 27 August 1944. In his last letter to his mother he wrote referring to the armistice with the allied forces and the surrender of Regia Marina:
We have been unworthly betrayed and we discovered to have committed an ignominius act without any result
Fecia di Cossato received the highest decoration of the Italian Armed Forces a Gold Medal of Military Valor
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
and two silver medals for military bravery.