Italo Balbo (6 Jun. 1896 - 28 Jun. 1940)
Balbo was serving as Governor-General of Libya and as Commander in Chief of Italian North Africa when Italy declared war on the Allies on June 10th 1940. He was the highest-ranking Fascist to believe that alliance with Germany was wrong and supported joining the Allied side. Additionally, Balbo vehemently opposed racial legislation against Jews.
When the war began though he did his part as military commander, planning the invasion of Egypt and directing ground forces. However, he was killed by his own men in a friendly-fire incident only eighteen days later, following a British air attack. His aircraft was misidentified as an enemy, and he was fired upon.
For more information on Italo Balbo:
Smith, Denis Mack. Italy: A Modern History (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press), 1959.
Taylor, Blaine. Fascist Eagle: Italy’s Air Marshal Italo Balbo (Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company), 1996.
When the war began though he did his part as military commander, planning the invasion of Egypt and directing ground forces. However, he was killed by his own men in a friendly-fire incident only eighteen days later, following a British air attack. His aircraft was misidentified as an enemy, and he was fired upon.
For more information on Italo Balbo:
Smith, Denis Mack. Italy: A Modern History (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press), 1959.
Taylor, Blaine. Fascist Eagle: Italy’s Air Marshal Italo Balbo (Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company), 1996.