Giovanni Messe (10 Dec. 1883 - 19 Dec. 1968)
Having commanded in Abyssinia during the Italian invasion, Messe was a suitable commander for the invasion of Greece in 1940, commanding a corps. He had some success, but Greek forces would soon launch a counterattack which would only be repelled with the interference of the German Army in 1941.
Following this, he became commander of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia, taking part in Operation Barbarossa alongside the Wehrmacht. He would leave Russia in November 1942, being replaced by the Italian Army in Russia. Whilst fighting in Stalingrad, Messe had encountered fierce fighting with the Soviets, not enough for his under-supplied forces to contend with.
Messe was then transferred to North Africa to combat the advancing British and American soldiers. His delaying tactics worked well, allowing troops to retreat to Italy, however in May, one day after becoming Marshal of Italy, he surrendered to Allied forces. He would be released in 1943 and brought back into the King’s government as Chief of Staff of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army, made of soldiers loyal to the King. He would continue in this post until the end of the war.
For more information on Giovanni Messe:
Griess, Thomas E. ed. The Second World War: Europe and the Mediterranean (New York: Square One), 2002.
Following this, he became commander of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia, taking part in Operation Barbarossa alongside the Wehrmacht. He would leave Russia in November 1942, being replaced by the Italian Army in Russia. Whilst fighting in Stalingrad, Messe had encountered fierce fighting with the Soviets, not enough for his under-supplied forces to contend with.
Messe was then transferred to North Africa to combat the advancing British and American soldiers. His delaying tactics worked well, allowing troops to retreat to Italy, however in May, one day after becoming Marshal of Italy, he surrendered to Allied forces. He would be released in 1943 and brought back into the King’s government as Chief of Staff of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army, made of soldiers loyal to the King. He would continue in this post until the end of the war.
For more information on Giovanni Messe:
Griess, Thomas E. ed. The Second World War: Europe and the Mediterranean (New York: Square One), 2002.
