Italo Gariboldi

Italo Gariboldi (born 20 April 1879, Lodi; died 3 February 1970, Rome) was a senior officer in the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito) before and during World War II.

Military career

From the end of World War I and through the interwar Period, Gariboldi rose in the ranks and held various staff, regimental, and brigade level commands.

Abyssinia

In 1935, Gariboldi commanded the 30th Infantry Division "Sabauda" on the northern front during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. His division was part of the I Corps based in Eritrea. After Italy defeated Ethiopia (Abyssinia) in 1936, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland were joined to form the colony of Italian East Africa.

North Africa

From 1939 to 1941, Gariboldi was an army commander in Marshal Italo Balbo's "Supreme Command - North Africa." When Italy declared war, Gariboldi commanded the Italian Fifth Army which was on the border with French Tunisia. He ultimately commanded both armies located in Libya. After the Battle of France ended, the Fifth Army became a source of men, parts, and supply for the Italian Tenth Army on the border with Egypt.

Gariboldi was given command of the Tenth Army after that army was virtually destroyed during Operation Compass. On 25 March 1941, he was promoted to Governor-General of Libya and replaced Marshal Rodolfo Graziani. By 19 July, Gariboldi himself was relieved because of his alleged lack of cooperation with Rommel. General Ettore Bastico took his place.

Russia

From 1942 to 1943, Gariboldi commanded the Italian Army in Russia (Armata Italiana in Russia, or ARMIR, or Italian 8th Army). He was in command of the Italian Army in Russia during the destruction of that army during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Italy

In 1943, Gariboldi was in Italy when King Victor Emmanuel III and Marshal Pietro Badoglio ousted dictator Benito Mussolini and then signed an armistice with the Allies. Like many Italian military, Gariboldi was made a prisoner of war (POW) by the Germans. In 1944, he was condemned to death as traitor.

Later in 1944, Gariboldi was liberated from prison by the Allies.

Military offices held

• Chief of Staff of the 77th Division - 1919
• Commanding Officer of the 26th Regiment - 1926
• Commanding Officer of the 5th Brigade - 1931
• Commander of the 30th Infantry Division "Sabauda," Ethiopia - 1935 to 1936
• Commander of the 5th Army, Tripolitania - 1939 to 1941
• Commander of the 10th Army, Cyrenaica - 1941
• Governor-General of Italian Libya - 1941
• Commander of Italian Army in Russia, southern Russia - 1942 to 1943

Personal

Gariboldi died at the age of 90 in Rome.

Gariboldi's son, Mario Gariboldi, followed his father in a military career.

See also

• Second Italo-Abyssinian War
• Italian war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943

References

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.

External links

• Concise biography (in Italian)