Alberto Mannerini (

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

, 22 February 1891 –

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, 7 February 1962) was an Italian general during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. After the war he served as

Commander-General of the Carabinieri The Commander-General of the Carabinieri (Comandante generale dell'Arma dei Carabinieri) is the head of the Carabinieri, the Italian Gendarmerie. He is usually chosen by decree of the president of the republic, nominated by the Minister of Defence ( ...

from 1950 to 1954.

Biography

He was born in Naples on February 22, 1891, the son of Giovanni Mannerini and Santa Pigliacelli. On 7 November 1909 he entered the Royal Military Academy of Infantry and Cavalry of

Modena Modena (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language#Dialects, Modenese, Mòdna ; ett, Mutna; la, Mutina) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern I ...

, graduating on 23 February 1913 as

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

, assigned to the

6th Alpini Regiment The 6th Alpini Regiment ( it, 6° Reggimento Alpini) is a training regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The regiment is based in Bruneck ...

. He was immediately sent to

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

, where he participated in operations against the Senussi insurgency in 1913-1914.Aldo Lisetti, La gavetta del Generale nell'Italia Repubblicana, pp. 37-38Andrea Bianchi, Gli Ordini Militari di Savoia e d'Italia. Vol.3, pp. 135-136 During the course of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he held various commands within the 7th Alpini Regiment, being promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

and later to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. In June 1916 he captured Cima Caldiera from the Austro-Hungarians on the

Asiago plateau Asiago (; Venetian: ''Axiago'', Cimbrian: ''Slege'', German: ''Schlägen'' ) is a minor township (population roughly 6,500) in the surrounding plateau region (the ''Altopiano di Asiago'' or '' Altopiano dei Sette Comuni'', Asiago plateau) in ...

, for which he was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor, and a year later he participated in the battle of the Ortigara. Between 1917 and 1918 he commanded the "Monte Pelmo" Alpini Battalion, participating in the battle of Vittorio Veneto, and by the end of the war he had been awarded two

silver medals A silver medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of, or plated with, silver awarded to the second-place finisher, or runner-up, of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc ...

, a

bronze medal A bronze medal in sports and other similar areas involving competition is a medal made of bronze awarded to the third-place finisher of contests or competitions such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The outright winner receive ...

and a war cross for military valor. After promotion to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

he held the command of the "Pieve di Cadore" Alpini Battalion, as well as several roles as staff officer. He was promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

on 1 December 1926 and given command of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd

Grenadiers of Sardinia A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was originally a specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in battle. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when grenadiers were recruited from ...

Regiment, after which he held various posts, including that of

Military Attaché A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission, often an embassy. This type of attaché post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer, who retains a commission while serving with an embassy. Opport ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

, until 18 October 1936, when he returned to

to assume the post of commander of the 2nd Grenadiers Regiment. On 31 December of the same year he was promoted to

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

, and held the command of the 2nd Grenadiers of Sardinia Regiment until February 14, 1939, when he was transferred to the headquarters of the VIII Army Corps of Rome, then under the command of General Remo Gambelli, for special assignments. On 8 April 1939 he was flown to

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

at the head of an ad-hoc, regiment-sized unit of the Grenadiers of Sardinia, named after him, in order to participate in the conquesto of Albania, for which he was awarded another bronze medal for Military Valor. Returning to Rome, after the

Kingdom of Italy The Kingdom of Italy ( it, Regno d'Italia) was a state that existed from 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 1946, when civil discontent led to ...

entered the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

on 10 June 1940, he was Chief of Staff of the VIII Corps during the

Greek campaign The German invasion of Greece, also known as the Battle of Greece or Operation Marita ( de , Unternehmen Marita, links = no), was the attack of Greece by Italy and Germany during World War II. The Italian invasion in October 1940, which is usu ...

from December of the same year, being promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

for war merits on 11 June 1941. Immediately afterwards he became deputy commander of the

21st Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna" The 21st Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna" ( it, 21ª Divisione di fanteria "Granatieri di Sardegna") was an infantry division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II. The division's name translates as "Grenadiers of Sardinia", ref ...

(General

Taddeo Orlando Taddeo Orlando (Gaeta, 23 June 1885 – Turin, 1 September 1950) was an Italian general who served in the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, and World War II. Biography Orlando was born in Gaeta on June 23, 1885. He attended the Military Co ...

), sent to

Slovenia Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...

(where it was stationed between Ljubljana and Kočevje) to garrison the

province of Ljubljana The Province of Ljubljana ( it, Provincia di Lubiana, sl, Ljubljanska pokrajina, german: Provinz Laibach) was the central-southern area of Slovenia. In 1941, it was annexed by Fascist Italy, and after 1943 occupied by Nazi Germany. Created on May ...

and counter partisan activity in the area), but his stay was cut short as from 11 August 1941, on request of general

Gastone Gambara Gastone Gambara (10 November 1890 – 27 February 1962) was an Italian General who participated in World War I and World War II. He excelled during the Italian intervention in favor of the nationalists in the Spanish Civil War. During World War I ...

(who had been his superior in Greece), he was assigned to the Armed Forces High Command in North Africa, for special assignments. On 7 October 1942 he was given command of the Libyan Sahara Defense Command, which included all the desert garrisons in southern Libya and the "

Auto-Saharan companies Auto-Saharan Companies (in Italian ''Compagnie Auto-Avio Sahariane'' (sometimes referred to as "La Compagnia") were special Italian units of desert warfare operating in Libya and Sahara desert during Second World War. Their military operations too ...

" which clashed with the Long Range Desert Group and the Free French of General Philippe Leclerc. In early 1943 he raised a division-sized "Saharan group" named after him (''Raggruppamento Sahariano "Mannerini''"), composed of the remnants of units that had been destroyed during the retreat from Libya (some 6,000 men, including the seven surviving Saharan companies, GAF troops, PAI personnel, colonial troops and cavalry units), which fought under his command during the

Tunisian campaign The Tunisian campaign (also known as the Battle of Tunisia) was a series of battles that took place in Tunisia during the North African campaign of the Second World War, between Axis and Allied forces from 17 November 1942 to 13 May 1943. The ...

, in the

battle of the Mareth Line The Battle of the Mareth Line or the Battle of Mareth was an attack in the Second World War by the British Eighth Army (General Bernard Montgomery) in Tunisia, against the Mareth Line held by the Italo-German 1st Army (General Giovanni Messe). ...

and in further clashes with the Long Range Desert Group. He was captured near Gabes on 29 March 1943 and remained in Allied captivity until 1945; upon returning to Italy, on 14 June 1945, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the

Military Order of Savoy The Military Order of Savoy was a military honorary order of the Kingdom of Sardinia first, and of the Kingdom of Italy later. Following the abolition of the Italian monarchy, the order became the Military Order of Italy. History The origin of ...

. He then held various positions within the Ministry of Defense, being promoted to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

on March 29, 1948, and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army in the following June. On 9 May 1950 he was promoted to

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

, and from the following 25 May and until 4 May 1954 he held the prestigious position of

. On 2 June 1956 he was awarded the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking ...

. He died in Rome on February 7, 1962.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mannerini, Alberto 1891 births 1962 deaths Italian military personnel of World War I Italian military personnel of World War II Italian generals Recipients of the Silver Medal of Military Valor Recipients of the Bronze Medal of Military Valor Carabinieri