Biography of Pietro Badoglio

29 September 1871 1 November 1956 Pietro Badoglio was born on 29 September 1871 in Grazzano Monferrato (localities that today under the name of Grazzano Badoglio) from a farmer family: his mother, Antoinette Pittarelli, is a wealthy bourgeois, while his father, Mario, is an owner of modest conditions. After he joined the Military Academy of Turin, 16 November 1890 he was appointed second lieutenant of artillery, and two years later he was promoted to Lieutenant. Moving to Florence at 19° from the countryside, Tuscany until the beginning of 1896, when ships in Eritrea along with General Baldissera. Star of the episode on Adigrat organized to rid the Greater Prestinari siege, once hostilities with Ethiopia remains in Adi Caieh, in garrison on the plateau, for two years. He returned to Italy in 1898, stands at the war school for the tenacity and intelligence that characterize his studies. Five years later he was promoted to captain and transferred to Capua, at 12°. After commanding the Corps of Bari, he took part in the war of Libya, decorated for bravery with the merit of having organized the sortie of Ain Zara. Once repatriated, passes under the command of the 4th Division with the beginning of World War I. The sector is dominated by Mount Sabotino, completely bare and fortified by the Austrians, therefore, considered impregnable. Pietro Badoglio 's intuition is to resort to parallel to infiltrate it: after months and months of work on the excavation and reinforcement of the trenches, the Brigade commanded by him conquering mount on 6 August 1916. Meanwhile he was appointed Major General for war, assumed command of the Brigade wedge, and then of the II Corps, a few days before the start of the tenth battle on the river Isonzo. His men conquered Mount Kuk, considered hitherto virtually impregnable. In spite of the promotion to Lieutenant General, Badoglio on 24 October 1917 must come to terms with the defeat of Caporetto by Austrians and Germans. The main mistake of Badoglio is to neglect the right flank, meaning the right bank of the River, in the area located between Kobarid and Tolmin, the Austrian bridgehead. It is a few kilometres long line that represents the border of the area attributed to Carr and his Corps and the area that it is up to Badoglio and his Corps. Although all the events seem to indicate the Director of the Austrian attack along that line, Badoglio leave empty the right bank, making Castle most men of the Brigade Naples and 19° Mountain Division. And so, Italian troops at high altitude, rain and fog, do not realize that the Germans are switching sottovalle, and within four hours they will arrive safely at Caporetto, having climbed the shore, catching by surprise the IV Corps of Carr. Now, despite this grave strategic mistake, strength of Supreme command together with General grounds, Pietro Badoglio turns into Diaz's alter ego, encouraging negotiations to get the Armistice signed on 4 November 1918. After the war, he was appointed Senator, and then Commissioner of the Government for the Venezia Giulia. After a mission in the River occupied by Gabriele D'Annunzio, he returned to Rome and leave the job of Chief of staff to enter the army Council. Posted by Benito Mussolini as Ambassador to Brazil in 1923, back after two years and was promoted to marshal of Italy. Stays at home, though, even for a short time, since in January 1929 is called to rule Libya. During his tenure, the country is at peace, and is put in place a program of public works. The African experience lasts four years: in Italy, then let her back in 1933 Badoglio again two years later when it is shipped as Supreme Commander in Eritrea. After the triumph of the 5 May 1936 in Addis Ababa, he returned to his homeland, where he was welcomed among awards and honors, including the title of Duke of Addis Abeba. Keeping the post of Chief of staff even when il Duce chooses to join Germany in the war, is considered to be the scapegoat of the first painful and unexpected defeats suffered by Italy in Greece and North Africa. Resign in view of the accusations of incompetence resigned from different parts (including environments fascists), Badoglio in 1943 is approached by Orlando, Bonomi and other anti-fascist leaders, expressing its readiness to become President of the Council concluding the war. He, therefore, becomes Prime Minister on 25 July 1943, and from that moment manages the Armistice. Once abandoned Rome, he moved to Brindisi, new capital, together with the King, will remain Chairman of the Board until Rome will not be freed. In fact, the 8 June 1944 relinquishes his duties at Ivanoe Bonomi, who had already served more than twenty years earlier. In the early summer of 1944 he retires to Campania, in Cava de ' Tirreni, while his son Mario Badoglio, deported to Germany, lies in the concentration camps of Dachau. In 1946 the former military loses the Senator, according to a decision of the High Court of Justice: a ruling that nevertheless is canceled two years later by the Supreme Court, which reinstates the Marshal in parliamentary functions. Later that year, however, his name is inserted by the Ethiopian Government in a list of ten war criminals sent to the United Nations, found guilty of having bombed Red Cross hospitals and used gas during the campaign of 1935 and 1936. On behalf of Badoglio, however, is no longer present when the Italian Commission of inquiry begins its work. The former Prime Minister, then, falls in Grazzano, where it causes his birthplace to become a nursery school for children of the country free of charge. Pietro Badoglio dies in his native country on November 1 1956 due to an asthma attack.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.