Gaetano Giardino
Encyclopedia
Gaetano Giardino was an Italian soldier that rose to the rank of Marshal of Italy
during World War I
.
, then was named Lieutenant
of 8th Bersaglieri regiment. In the late 80s of 19th century he joined the Italian forces that were fighting in Eritrea
and Sudan
and in 1894 he fought in Kassala
. He was later named Captain and became a company commander of 6th Bersaglieri regiment.
In the early years of 20th century he was named chief of the staff of two different Italian divisions then at the outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War
he was named “Sotto capo di Stato Maggiore” ( vice chief of the staff ) of the Italian expedition forces.
he was named chief of the staff of the IV Army Corp then of the II Army Corps. He later assumed the duty of commander of the 48th Division, then he was named commander of two different Army Corps.
After the Battle of Caporetto
and the subsequent changes in Italian highest military positions he became a close adviser of Armando Diaz
with the duty to maintain the relations with the other Triple Entente
powers.
April 1918 he was named commander of the 4th Army the Army of Monte Grappa. In the Battle of Solstizio his army was able to stop the Austrian offensive. During the Battle of Vittorio Veneto
the troops under Giardino's leadership were the first Italian troops to attack the Austrian front in order to force the Austrian general staff to use the reserve troops against the Italians on Monte Grappa, facilitating the attack along river Piave
that took place three days later. After the armistice of Villa Giusti Giardino’s 4th was disbanded.
. In 1926 he was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Italy
.
He died in Torino in 1935 and he is buried together with his soldiers in the war cemetery of Monte Grappa.
Marshal of Italy
Marshal of Italy was a rank in the Italian Royal Army . Originally created in 1924 by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini for the purpose of honoring Generals Luigi Cadorna and Armando Diaz, the rank was granted to several other general officers from 1926 to 1943...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Life
Born in Montemagno he attended the Italian military academy in ModenaModena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, then was named Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
of 8th Bersaglieri regiment. In the late 80s of 19th century he joined the Italian forces that were fighting in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and in 1894 he fought in Kassala
Kassala
Kassala is the capital of the state of Kassala in eastern Sudan. Its 2008 population was recorded to be 419,030. It is a market town and is famous for its fruit gardens. It was formerly a railroad hub, however, as of 2006 there was no operational railway station in Kassala and much of the track...
. He was later named Captain and became a company commander of 6th Bersaglieri regiment.
In the early years of 20th century he was named chief of the staff of two different Italian divisions then at the outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
he was named “Sotto capo di Stato Maggiore” ( vice chief of the staff ) of the Italian expedition forces.
World War I
In the spring of 1915 when Italy declared war on Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
he was named chief of the staff of the IV Army Corp then of the II Army Corps. He later assumed the duty of commander of the 48th Division, then he was named commander of two different Army Corps.
After the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
and the subsequent changes in Italian highest military positions he became a close adviser of Armando Diaz
Armando Diaz
Armando Diaz, 1st Duca della Vittoria was an Italian general and a Marshal of Italy.Born in Naples, Diaz began his military career as a student at the Military Academy of Turin, where he became an artillery officer. He was a colonel commanding the 93rd infantry during the Italo-Turkish War, and...
with the duty to maintain the relations with the other Triple Entente
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907....
powers.
April 1918 he was named commander of the 4th Army the Army of Monte Grappa. In the Battle of Solstizio his army was able to stop the Austrian offensive. During the Battle of Vittorio Veneto
Battle of Vittorio Veneto
The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought between 24 October and 3 November 1918, near Vittorio Veneto, during the Italian Campaign of World War I...
the troops under Giardino's leadership were the first Italian troops to attack the Austrian front in order to force the Austrian general staff to use the reserve troops against the Italians on Monte Grappa, facilitating the attack along river Piave
Piave
Piave can refer to:* Francesco Maria Piave, Italian librettist and composer* Piave * Piave * Battle of the Piave River* 10 Motorised Division Piave An Italian division of World War II...
that took place three days later. After the armistice of Villa Giusti Giardino’s 4th was disbanded.
Later life
Between 1923 and 1924 he was named governor of the free state of RijekaRijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
. In 1926 he was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Italy
Marshal of Italy
Marshal of Italy was a rank in the Italian Royal Army . Originally created in 1924 by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini for the purpose of honoring Generals Luigi Cadorna and Armando Diaz, the rank was granted to several other general officers from 1926 to 1943...
.
He died in Torino in 1935 and he is buried together with his soldiers in the war cemetery of Monte Grappa.