Clemente Primieri
Encyclopedia
Clemente Primieri was an Italian general, best known for being the leader of Gruppo di Combattimento Cremona, one of the units of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army
which fought alongside the Allies in the latter part of World War II.
In 1936, as a Tenente Colonnello (Lieutenant Colonel
) he took part to the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
. In 1937 he became the commander of the 28° Artillery Regiment of the "Livorno" Division.
During the Second World War he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Army High Command. After the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 he took over the 44 Infantry Division Cremona
which expelled the Germans from Corsica
after heavy fighting. The Division was reformed on 23 July 1944 and became Gruppo di Combattimento Cremona (one of the units of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army
), which was positioned on the right flank of the British Eighth Army. Under Primieri's command, the Group followed the northward drive of the Allied Armies and contributed to the liberation of several cities including Portomaggiore
, Codigoro
, Rovigo
, Padua
and finally Venice
on 2 May 1945
.
At the end of the war he remained the commander of the new "Cremona" Division, stationed at Turin
.
He was then transferred to the 4th Mountain Army Corps, of which he was commander from July 1952 up till 1954, and later on served in the Verona
Allied Land Forces Southern Europe Command.
He died in Sanremo
on 15 February 1981 and was laid to rest in the Camerlona War Cemetery in the Comune of Ravenna
, alongside the war dead of Gruppo di Combattimento "Cremona".
Grand Officer of the Military Order of Italy
30 December 1952
1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
28 November 1957.
Knight of the Military Order of Italy
30 May 1950.
, a fellow member of Gruppo di Combattimento "Cremona".
Italian Co-Belligerent Army
The Italian Co-Belligerent Army , or the Army of the South , was the army of the Italian Royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies during World War II....
which fought alongside the Allies in the latter part of World War II.
Biography
He entered the Modena Military Academy at age 18 and at the end of his course he was assigned to 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment; at the start of the First World War the unit was sent to the frontline and in 1916 Primieri was promoted to Capitano (Captain) for war merit.In 1936, as a Tenente Colonnello (Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
) he took part to the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
. In 1937 he became the commander of the 28° Artillery Regiment of the "Livorno" Division.
During the Second World War he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 2nd Army High Command. After the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 he took over the 44 Infantry Division Cremona
44 Infantry Division Cremona
The 44 Infantry Division Cremona was a Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Cremona Division was part of the Italian XV Corps that took part in the Italian invasion of France in June 1940. It was transferred to Sardinia in March 1941...
which expelled the Germans from Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
after heavy fighting. The Division was reformed on 23 July 1944 and became Gruppo di Combattimento Cremona (one of the units of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army
Italian Co-Belligerent Army
The Italian Co-Belligerent Army , or the Army of the South , was the army of the Italian Royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies during World War II....
), which was positioned on the right flank of the British Eighth Army. Under Primieri's command, the Group followed the northward drive of the Allied Armies and contributed to the liberation of several cities including Portomaggiore
Portomaggiore
Portomaggiore is a town and comune in the province of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Davide Santon was born here.-Main sights:The main attraction of the comune is the Delizia del Verginese, in the frazione of Gambulaga, a castle-residence built by Duke Alfonso I d'Este in the early 16th...
, Codigoro
Codigoro
Codigoro is a comune in the Province of Ferrara in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km northeast of Bologna and about 40 km east of Ferrara.-Main sights:*Abbey of Pomposa...
, Rovigo
Rovigo
Rovigo is a town and comune in the Veneto region of North-Eastern Italy, the capital of the eponymous province. -Geography:...
, Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and finally Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on 2 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
.
At the end of the war he remained the commander of the new "Cremona" Division, stationed at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
.
He was then transferred to the 4th Mountain Army Corps, of which he was commander from July 1952 up till 1954, and later on served in the Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
Allied Land Forces Southern Europe Command.
He died in Sanremo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
on 15 February 1981 and was laid to rest in the Camerlona War Cemetery in the Comune of Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, alongside the war dead of Gruppo di Combattimento "Cremona".
Honors and awards
Military Order of Italy
The Military Order of Italy is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815...
30 December 1952
1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
28 November 1957.
Knight of the Military Order of ItalyMilitary Order of Italy
The Military Order of Italy is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815...
30 May 1950.
See also
Luigi GiorgiLuigi Giorgi (soldier)
Captain Luigi Giorgi was an Italian soldier of World War II, the only one to receive two Gold Medals in the Italian Campaign and one of very few non-Americans to receive the Silver Star.-Biography:...
, a fellow member of Gruppo di Combattimento "Cremona".
External links
- http://digilander.libero.it/lacorsainfinita/guerra2/personaggi/primieri.htm
- http://www.anpi.it/donne-e-uomini/clemente-primieri