Giovanni Messe

Giovanni Messe (10 December 1883 – 18 December 1968) was an Italian field marshal and politician. In the Second World War, he was captured in Tunisia but made chief of staff of the Italian Co-belligerent Army after the armistice of September 1943.^[1]

Marshal of Italy Giovanni Messe
Messe in 1941
Personal details
Born	10 December 1883 Mesagne, Kingdom of Italy
Died	18 December 1968 Rome, Italian Republic
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Italy
Years of service	1901–1947
Battles/wars	World War I Italian Front Col Moschin World War II Battle of Albania Operation Barbarossa Albanian Front Battle of Petrikowka Battle of Pavlograd Capture of Stalino Capture of Gorlovka Battle of Nikitovka Christmas Battle Battles of Izyum First Battle of Don Battle of Enfidaville Italian campaign

Early life and career

Messe was born in Mesagne, in the Province of Brindisi in the Apulia region of Italy on 10 December 1883. Giovanni Messe pursued a military career in 1901.

Military career

Giovanni Messe was an Italian general who served in several key World War II campaigns. After Italy invaded Albania in 1939, he served under Governor Ubaldo Soddu. During the Greco-Italian War (1940–41), he led the Special Army Corps but was forced to retreat when Greek forces counterattacked. In 1941, Germany’s intervention led to an Axis victory in Greece. Messe was later sent to command the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia, where he criticized poor equipment and harsh conditions. By 1942, he was replaced and withdrew from the Russian Front. In 1943, he led the 1st Italian Army in Tunisia, succeeding Rommel, but was defeated and surrendered to Allied forces after the fall of Tunis. Promoted to Marshal of Italy just before his capture, he later supported the Royalist cause and became Chief of Staff of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army after the armistice. Messe retired in 1947 after 46 years of service.^[2][3]

Awards and decorations

Silver Medal of Military Valor – Gorizia, 21–23 May 1917

War Merit Cross – Albania, 19 June 1920

Promotion for War Merits – to Lieutenant General, Valona – Kalamas, 1940–1941

Promotion for War Merits – to Lieutenant Colonel, 1918

Onorificenze straniere

Croce di Cavaliere della Croce di Ferro - ribbon for ordinary uniform	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
	— 23 gennaio 1942[4]