Rodolfo Graziani facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani in 1940
Minister of National Defence of the Italian Social Republic
In office 23 September 1943 – 25 April 1945
President	Benito Mussolini
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Governor-General of Italian East Africa
In office 11 June 1936 – 21 December 1937
Monarch	Victor Emmanuel III
Prime Minister	Benito Mussolini
Preceded by	Pietro Badoglio
Succeeded by	Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
Governor-General of Italian Libya
In office 1 July 1940 – 25 March 1941
Preceded by	Italo Balbo
Succeeded by	Italo Gariboldi
Governor of Italian Somaliland
In office 6 March 1935 – 9 May 1936
Preceded by	Maurizio Rava
Succeeded by	Angelo De Ruben
Vice-Governor of Italian Cyrenaica
In office 17 March 1930 – 31 May 1934
Preceded by	Domenico Siciliani
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	(1882-08-11)11 August 1882 Filettino, Kingdom of Italy
Died	11 January 1955(1955-01-11) (aged 72) Rome, Italy
Resting place	Cemetery of Affile, Italy
Political party	National Fascist Party (1924–1943) Republican Fascist Party (1943–1945) Italian Social Movement (1946–1955)
Spouses	Ines Chionetti ​ (m. 1913⁠–⁠1955)​ ; his death
Children	One daughter
Alma mater	Military Academy of Modena
Profession	Military officer
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Italy (1900–1943)  Italian Social Republic (1943–1945)
Branch/service	Royal Italian Army (1900–1943) National Republican Army (1943–1945)
Years of service	1900–1945
Rank	Marshal of Italy
Unit	Italian 10th Army
Battles/wars	World War I Pacification of Libya Second Italo-Ethiopian War World War II North African campaign Italian campaign

Rodolfo Graziani (born August 11, 1882 – died January 11, 1955) was an important Italian military officer. He was known for his military actions in Africa before and during World War II. Graziani was a strong supporter of Italian fascism and a key figure in the Italian army under Victor Emmanuel III.

He helped Italy expand its Italian colonial empire in the 1920s and 1930s. He first served in Libya and then in Ethiopia. Graziani became known for using very strict methods. These included setting up camps where many civilians died. He also took harsh actions against people resisting the Italian army. Because of his tough methods in Libya, he was called Il macellaio del Fezzan, meaning "the butcher of Fezzan".

In 1937, after an attempt to harm him in Addis Ababa, Graziani ordered a period of severe retaliation known as Yekatit 12. When Italy joined World War II, he led troops in Italian North Africa. However, he resigned after a British attack in 1940-1941 defeated his forces.

After the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943, Graziani was the only high-ranking general who stayed loyal to Benito Mussolini. He became the Minister of Defence for the Italian Social Republic. He led its army against the Allies until the war ended. Graziani was never tried by the United Nations War Crimes Commission. He was on a list of Italians who could be tried for war crimes. However, the Allies did not push for his trial. In 1948, an Italian court sentenced Graziani to 19 years in prison for working with the Nazis. He was released after only four months. In his later years, he became involved in politics and died in 1955.

Early Life and Military Start

Rodolfo Graziani was born in Filettino, Italy, on August 11, 1882. His father was a doctor. Rodolfo studied in a seminary and then at a high school in Rome. Because his family did not have much money, he could not go to a military academy. Instead, he decided to study law at university.

In 1900, Graziani joined the Royal Italian Army as a reserve officer while still at university. In 1906, he became a second lieutenant. His first assignment was in Italian Eritrea, where he learned Arabic and Tigrinya. In 1918, during World War I, Graziani became the youngest Colonnello (Colonel) in Italian history.

Campaigns in Africa

Actions in Libya

In 1930, the Italian government made Graziani the Vice-Governor of Cyrenaica. He also became the commander of Italian forces in Libya. He stayed in this role until 1934. During this time, he put down the Senussi rebellion. In this "pacification" effort, he built several concentration camps and labor camps. Thousands of Libyan prisoners died in these camps.

In 1935, Graziani was made Governor of Italian Somaliland.

Role in Ethiopia

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935 and 1936, Graziani led the southern Italian forces. His army entered Ethiopia from Italian Somaliland. He commanded Italian troops in battles like Genale Doria and the Ogaden.

However, the main Italian attack came from Eritrea, led by General Emilio De Bono and later Pietro Badoglio. It was Badoglio who entered Addis Ababa first in May 1936. Graziani had wanted to reach Harar before Badoglio reached Addis Ababa, but he did not succeed. Still, on May 9, Graziani was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Italy for his role.

After the war, Graziani became the Viceroy of Italian East Africa. He was also the Governor-General of Shewa / Addis Ababa. On February 19, 1937, two Eritreans tried to harm him. In response, Graziani ordered a period of harsh actions across the country. This event is known by Ethiopians as Yekatit 12. Up to thirty thousand civilians in Addis Ababa were killed. Many others were executed or sent away from Ethiopia. Graziani became known as "the Butcher of Ethiopia."

World War II and Later Life

German and Italian officials at a funeral in Rome, 1940.

At the start of World War II, Graziani was the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army's General Staff. After Marshal Italo Balbo died in June 1940, Graziani took his place. He became the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa.

The Italian leader Benito Mussolini ordered Graziani to invade Egypt by August 8, 1940. Graziani was not sure his army was ready to defeat the British. He delayed the invasion as long as he could.

However, Graziani eventually followed orders. Four divisions of the Italian 10th Army invaded Egypt on September 9. The Italians made only small gains. They then set up fortified camps to defend their positions. In December 1940, the British attacked. They completely defeated the Italian 10th Army. On March 25, 1941, Graziani was replaced by General Italo Gariboldi. Graziani then remained mostly out of action for two years.

Graziani was the only Italian Marshal who stayed loyal to Mussolini after the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy. He joined Mussolini in northern Italy after Italy surrendered to the Allies. He was made Minister of Defense of the Italian Social Republic by Mussolini. He oversaw the mixed Italian and German forces. Graziani's forces defeated Allied troops in the "Battle of Garfagnana" in December 1944.

When Mussolini fled on April 25, 1945, Graziani was left as the leader of what remained of the Italian Social Republic. Mussolini was captured and executed a few days later. The next day, German forces in Italy surrendered. Graziani surrendered on May 1, 1945.

After World War II, Graziani was held by Allied forces. He was taken to Africa and stayed there until February 1946. Then, he was moved to a prison in Italy. He died of natural causes in Rome at age 72.

Books by Graziani

Graziani wrote several books, including:

• Ho difeso la Patria (una vita per l'Italia) (I Defended the Homeland (A Life for Italy))
• Africa settentrionale 1940–41 (North Africa 1940–41)
• Libia redenta (Libya Redeemed)
• Verso il Fezzan (Towards Fezzan)
• La riconquista del Fezzan (The Reconquest of Fezzan)
• Cirenaica pacificata (Cyrenaica Pacified)
• Pace romana in Libia (Roman Peace in Libya)

See Also

In Spanish: Rodolfo Graziani para niños

• Frontier Wire (Libya)