Pietro Badoglio
(born Sept. 28, 1871, Grazzano Monferrato, Italy?died Nov. 1, 1956, Grazzano Badoglio [formerly Grazzano Monferrato]) was a
general
and statesman during the
dictatorship
of
Benito Mussolini
(1922?43). In September 1943 he extricated
Italy
from
World War II
by arranging an
armistice
with the Allies.
Badoglio entered the Italian army in 1890 as an
artillery
officer and fought in the Ethiopian campaign of 1896 and in the
Italo-Turkish War
(1911?12). In
World War I
he distinguished himself by planning and directing the capture of Monte Sabotino on Aug. 6, 1916. Although his forces suffered defeat in the
Battle of Caporetto
on Oct. 24, 1917, he emerged from the war a high-ranking general and conducted the armistice talks for the Italians. He was chief of the Italian
general staff
from 1919 to 1921. Initially
lukewarm
to
Mussolini
, Badoglio remained outside of politics for one year after the
March on Rome
(1922). He then served briefly as ambassador to
Brazil
before Mussolini named him chief of staff once again on May 4, 1925. He was made a
field marshal
on May 26, 1926.
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He governed
Libya
from 1928 to 1934 with the title of
marquis
of Sabotino. He assumed command of the Italian forces in
Ethiopia
in 1935 and captured
Addis Ababa
, the capital, where he remained for a short time in 1936 as
viceroy
of Ethiopia. He later received the title of
duke
of Addis Ababa.
In 1940 he differed with Mussolini over Italy’s preparations for entering World War II. On Dec. 4, 1940, in the midst of Italy’s disastrous campaign in Greece, he resigned as chief of staff and disavowed responsibility for Mussolini’s acts. It is not clear, however, whether his objections were tied to concerns over
morals
or
military
strategy. In any case, upon the downfall of Mussolini (July 25, 1943), which he had been instrumental in organizing, Badoglio became prime minister; he arranged for an armistice with the Allies on September 3. On September 8 Italy’s unconditional surrender to the Allies was announced. Badoglio dissolved the
Fascist Party
, and on October 13 Italy declared war on Nazi Germany. In June 1944 he resigned to allow the formation of a new cabinet in liberated
Rome
and retired to his familial home in Grazzano Badoglio.