Pietro
Badoglio was
born in Italy in 1871. He joined the Italian
Army
and was a junior officer in Ethiopia (1896-97) and Tripolitania (1911-12).
During the First World War he rose from captain
to general and became chief of staff to the commander in chief of
the army.
After the
war remained in the army but also entered politics as a senator. After
expressing opposition to Benito
Mussolini
he was exiled as ambassador to Brazil (1924-25). Badoglio later changed
his political views and returned to Italy and became head of the armed
forces. He was governor of Libya (1928-33)
and in 1935 led the invasion of Ethiopia.
Badoglio
was opposed to Italy joining Germany
against the Allies in the Second World War.
He resigned as head of the armed forces after the defeat of the Italian
Army in Greece.
The loss
of Sicily created serious problems for
Benito
Mussolini.
It was now clear that the Allies would use the island as a base for
invading Italy. A meeting of the Fascist
Grand Council was held on 24th July and Galaezzo
Ciano got support for his idea that Italy should sign a separate
peace with the Allies. The following day Victor
Emmanuel III told Mussolini he was dismissed from office. The
king now appointed Badoglio as head of the government. Soon afterwards
he declared martial law and placed Mussolini under arrest.
Badoglio
began negotiating an armistice with the Allies. When General Albrecht
Kesselring heard the news he rushed in German troops. In danger
of being captured by the German forces, Badoglio and the Italian royal
family were forced to escape to Pescara where a government was set
up under the protection of the Allies. On 13th October the Italian
government declared war on Germany.
On
23rd September 1943, Badoglio and General Dwight
D. Eisenhower signed
the Italian surrender aboard Nelson
off Malta. On 13th October the Italian
government declared war on Germany.
Badoglio
was replaced by Invanoe Bonomi in June
1944. In an attempt to unite the country against Benito
Mussolini, Bonomi's government included long-time campaigners
against fascism such as Carlo
Sforza , Benedetto Croce and Palmiro
Togliatti, the leader of the Italian Communist Party. Pietro
Badoglio died
in 1956.
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