Vittorio Ambrosio
Encyclopedia
Vittorio Ambrosio was an Italian
general who served in the Italo-Turkish War
, World War I
, and World War II
. During the latter conflict, Ambrosio served an instrumental role in the fall of Benito Mussolini
and the eventual Italian renunciation of its alliance with Germany.
.
He started his military career as in 1896 when he joined the Military School of Modena; in the early 20th century he was named officier in the cavalry. During the Tripolitanian war
, which lasted until 1912, he served with the rank of Tenente
in regiment
Cavaleggeri di Lucca. In World War I he served as a divisional until after World War I when he was promoted to Commander
of the Second Army which was located on the Yugoslav
border in 1939.
and the outskirsts of Zara
; on April 15 Ambrosio conquered Spalato
and Cattaro
; on April 17 all the Dalmatian coast was in his control: his fast conquests were welcomed by the same Mussolini. In January 1942, he was promoted to Chief of Staff and later appointed Chief of Staff of the general armed forces for the Italian Army in February 1943.
As Chief of Staff, Ambrosio planned to return Italian troops from Ukraine
and the Balkans
. In May 1943 after a devastating loss at Tunis
and the Allied
invasion of Sicily
Ambrosio attempted to convince Mussolini to pull Italy out of the war and separate from Germany.
When Mussolini became unable to stand against Adolf Hitler
, Ambrosio helped as he was removed from power. After Mussolini was removed from power in July, Ambrosio replaced Ugo Cavallero
and served under Pietro Badoglio
's military government as the Chief of the Supreme Command (Comando Supremo). In September, Ambrosio helped negotiate an armistice with the Allies. The negotiations took longer than expected and allowed the Germans time to occupy much of Italy.
Ambrosio was eventually demoted to Inspector-General of the army by Badoglio in November 1943 on insistence of the allies who did not trust him.
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...
general who served in the Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
, World War I
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...
. During the latter conflict, Ambrosio served an instrumental role in the fall of 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....
and the eventual Italian renunciation of its alliance with Germany.
Before World War II
Ambrosio was a native of 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...
.
He started his military career as in 1896 when he joined the Military School of Modena; in the early 20th century he was named officier in the cavalry. During the Tripolitanian war
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
, which lasted until 1912, he served with the rank of Tenente
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
Cavaleggeri di Lucca. In World War I he served as a divisional until after World War I when he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Second Army which was located on the Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
border in 1939.
World War II
Ambrosio's early actions in World War II, included leading the Italian offensive in Yugoslavia in 1941. On April 11 his "II Armata" attacked from the north reaching in the next two days -after brief but heavy fighting- LubianaLubiana
Łubiana is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Kościerzyna, within Kościerzyna County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately west of Kościerzyna and south-west of the regional capital Gdańsk....
and the outskirsts of Zara
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
; on April 15 Ambrosio conquered Spalato
Split
Split or The Split may refer to:-Places:* Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia* Split Island, an island in Hudson Bay, Canada* Split Island, Falkland Islands* Hạf’liua or Split Island, an island in the Rotuma Group of Fiji...
and Cattaro
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
; on April 17 all the Dalmatian coast was in his control: his fast conquests were welcomed by the same Mussolini. In January 1942, he was promoted to Chief of Staff and later appointed Chief of Staff of the general armed forces for the Italian Army in February 1943.
As Chief of Staff, Ambrosio planned to return Italian troops from Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. In May 1943 after a devastating loss at Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
and the Allied
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...
invasion of 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,...
Ambrosio attempted to convince Mussolini to pull Italy out of the war and separate from Germany.
When Mussolini became unable to stand against Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, Ambrosio helped as he was removed from power. After Mussolini was removed from power in July, Ambrosio replaced Ugo Cavallero
Ugo Cavallero
Ugo Cavallero was an Italian military commander before and during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
and served under Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio
Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...
's military government as the Chief of the Supreme Command (Comando Supremo). In September, Ambrosio helped negotiate an armistice with the Allies. The negotiations took longer than expected and allowed the Germans time to occupy much of Italy.
Ambrosio was eventually demoted to Inspector-General of the army by Badoglio in November 1943 on insistence of the allies who did not trust him.
See also
- Royal Italian ArmyRoyal Italian ArmyThe Regio Esercito was the army of the Kingdom of Italy from the unification of Italy in 1861 to the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946...
- Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
- Italian Co-Belligerent ArmyItalian Co-Belligerent ArmyThe Italian Co-Belligerent Army , or the Army of the South , was the army of the Italian Royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies during World War II....