Manlio Brosio
Encyclopedia
Manlio Giovanni Brosio was an Italian lawyer, diplomat, politician and the fourth Secretary General of NATO
between 1964 and 1971.
and studied law in the local university
. During the World War I, he served in Alpine regiment
as an artillery officer. After the war, he graduated and in 1920 he entered politics. Later his political activity was barred because of his opposition of Fascism
.
During World War II, after Allied invasion of Italy
in 1943; Brosio went underground and later became a member of the National Liberation Committee
. After the war he re-entered politics, and became a deputy prime minister and in 1945, a minister of Defense.
In January 1947, Brosio became the Italian ambassador to Soviet Union
and got involved with the peace treaty
negotiations between the countries. In 1952 he became ambassador to the UK, to the USA in 1955 and from 1961–1964 to France.
On May 12, 1964 the NATO council chose Brosio to succeed Dirk Stikker
as a secretary general. He resigned September 3, 1971. On September 29, 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
.
Manlio Brosio died in Torino in 1980.
Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
between 1964 and 1971.
Biography
Brosio was born in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and studied law in the local university
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
. During the World War I, he served in Alpine regiment
Alpini
The Alpini, , are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. They are currently organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinated to the Alpini Corps Command. The singular is Alpino ....
as an artillery officer. After the war, he graduated and in 1920 he entered politics. Later his political activity was barred because of his opposition of Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
.
During World War II, after Allied invasion of 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...
in 1943; Brosio went underground and later became a member of the National Liberation Committee
National Liberation Committee
The National Liberation Committee was the underground political entity of Italian Partisans during the German occupation of Italy in the last years of the Second World War. It was a multi-party entity, whose members were united by their anti-fascism...
. After the war he re-entered politics, and became a deputy prime minister and in 1945, a minister of Defense.
In January 1947, Brosio became the Italian ambassador to Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and got involved with the peace treaty
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
negotiations between the countries. In 1952 he became ambassador to the UK, to the USA in 1955 and from 1961–1964 to France.
On May 12, 1964 the NATO council chose Brosio to succeed Dirk Stikker
Dirk Stikker
Dirk Uipko Stikker, GBE, GCVO was a Dutch banker, industrialist, politician, and diplomat.Born in Winschoten, he studied law at the University of Groningen. After his studies he began a career in the banking sector. In 1935, he became director of Heineken International, the famous beer company...
as a secretary general. He resigned September 3, 1971. On September 29, 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
.
Manlio Brosio died in Torino in 1980.