Vittorio Ambrosio (28 July 1879 – 19 November 1958) was an Italian general who served in the

Italo-Turkish War The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War ( tr, Trablusgarp Savaşı, "Tripolitanian War", it, Guerra di Libia, "War of Libya") was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ottoman Empire from 29 September 1911, to 18 October 1912. As a result o ...

World War I 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 ...

, and

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 ...

. During the last phase of World War II Ambrosio supported the fall of

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...

and Italy's eventual renunciation of the German alliance.

Before World War II

Ambrosio was a native of

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

. In 1896 he entered the Military School of Modena; on completion of his schooling he was commissioned as a cavalry officer. During the

(1911-1912) he served as a ''tenente'' (first lieutenant) in the ''Cavaleggeri di Lucca''

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

. Ambrosio served as a divisional chief of staff during World War I. In 1935 he was appointed Commander XII Army Corps. By 1939 he had risen to command the Second Army, located on the Yugoslav border.

World War II

Ambrosio's early actions in World War II included leading the Italian offensive in Yugoslavia in 1941. After brief but heavy fighting the 2nd Army under his command attacked from the north reaching Ljubjana and the outskirts of

Zadar Zadar ( , ; historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian: ); see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar serv ...

by April 11. On April 15 Ambrosio conquered

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enterta ...

and

Kotor Kotor (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian: ), is a coastal town in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative c ...

. By April 17 Ambrosio controlled the Dalmatian coast. Mussolini rewarded his success by appointing Ambrosio

Chief of Staff of the Italian Army The Chief of Staff of the Italian Army refers to the Chiefs of Staffs of the Royal Italian Army from 1882 to 1946 and the Italian Army from 1946 to the present. List of chiefs of staff Chiefs of Staff of the Royal Italian Army (1882–1946) ...

in January, 1942. As Chief of Army Staff, Ambrosio planned to return Italian troops from

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

and the

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

. In February 1943, he became

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...

of the entire armed forces. In May 1943, after a devastating loss at

Tunis ''Tounsi'' french: Tunisois , population_note = , population_urban = , population_metro = 2658816 , population_density_km2 = , timezone1 = CET , utc_offset1 ...

and the

Allied An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

invasion of

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

, Ambrosio attempted to convince Mussolini to pull Italy out of the war and end the alliance with Germany. When Mussolini became unable to stand against

Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

, Ambrosio supported his removal from power. After Mussolini’s fall in July, Ambrosio continued as Chief of Staff in

Pietro Badoglio Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino (, ; 28 September 1871 – 1 November 1956), was an Italian general during both World Wars and the first viceroy of Italian East Africa. With the fall of the Fascist regime ...

's military government. 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 the insistence of the Allies, who did not trust him.

Personal life

Ambrosio married a daughter of Croatian Minister of Interior,

Ante Nikšić Ante Nikšić (8 June 1892 – 28 January 1962) was a Croatian lawyer and politician who served as Minister of Interior of the Independent State of Croatia between 1942 and 1943. Early life Nikšić was born in Gospić in Croatian region of ...

, in 1942.

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ambrosio, Vittorio 1879 births 1958 deaths Military personnel from Turin Italian generals Italian military personnel of World War I Italian military personnel of World War II Chiefs of Italian general staff Italian military personnel of the Italo-Turkish War Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Commanders of the Military Order of Savoy

Before World War II

World War II

Personal life

See also

References