Mario Berti
Encyclopedia
Mario Berti was an Italian officer during World War I and General in the Spanish Civil War
and World War II
.
, which is located in modern day Liguria
. He was born into an upper-middle class family. His family was quite wealthy, partly because his father (originally from Pistoia
) was granted land in La Spezia after the Mille Expedition of Garibaldi. Berti never married and never had children, but he had two nephews and a niece, who were his only heirs.
for his services to the Allies in World War I. He would later be awarded by Hitler with the Iron Cross.
before becoming the Deputy Commander of the Corps of Volunteer Troops (Corpo di Truppe Volontarie
, or CTV) during the Spanish Civil War
in 1937. Subsequently, Berti became commander of the CTV from late 1937 into 1938 during the Aragon Offensive
. He was Commander of the Italian XV Corps
from 1939 to 1940 and became head of the CTV at General Franco's request.
His relation with Graziani was abysmal. After the failures in Egypt, Berti called Graziani incompetent and refused to send him help. During his sick leave with fever Graziani called him a coward and had him dishonored.
In the summer of 1940, Berti replaced Francesco Guidi as the commander of the Italian Tenth Army in Libya. On 9 September 1940, Berti was in command of the Tenth Army during the Italian invasion of Egypt
. Halted at Sidi Barrani
by logistical problems, Berti deployed his advanced units in a series of fortified strongpoints. He then began work on extending the Via Balbia
into Egypt
. The fortified strongpoints were not mutually supporting. Large gaps between them were only covered by motorised patrols.
A build-up for a new Italian offensive further into Egypt was delayed by the Italian invasion of Greece
. The offensive in Egypt was rescheduled and a mid-December launch was planned. However, prior to this, General Berti went on sick leave and Italo Gariboldi
took his place temporarily.
On 8 December 1940, Berti was on leave when British General Richard O'Connor
launched Operation Compass
. On 14 December, Berti arrived back in North Africa. The British forces had exploited the gaps between the Italian fortified camps and in three days were able to overrun them and to capture or destroy almost all of the Italian defenders. On 11 December, Sidi Barrani
fell. By 16 December, the Italians had been ejected from Egypt.
On 23 December, Berti was replaced by General Giuseppe Tellera
as commander of the Tenth Army. Tellera was to die in action at Beda Fomm
.
On September 8 1943, Italy sign an armistice with the allies. At that point he retired from the Army. After the war he was cleared of wrong doing. The post war government arrested Graziani had asked Berti if he was a criminal. Berti made it clear that Graziani had done no wrong. He lived in the hills of La Spezia for the rest of his life. He is not to be confused with Col. Berti.
Colonel Berti was known as a "sly murderer" (that's what commandants of prisoner of war camps were called during World War II).
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Personal life.
Mario Berti was born in La SpeziaLa Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
, which is located in modern day Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
. He was born into an upper-middle class family. His family was quite wealthy, partly because his father (originally from Pistoia
Pistoia
Pistoia is a city and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy, the capital of a province of the same name, located about 30 km west and north of Florence and is crossed by the Ombrone Pistoiese, a tributary of the River Arno.-History:...
) was granted land in La Spezia after the Mille Expedition of Garibaldi. Berti never married and never had children, but he had two nephews and a niece, who were his only heirs.
WWI
He achieved the rank of colonel at an extremely young age (he is still considered one of the youngest Italians ever to have held this rank except for the member of the royal family). Originally stationed in Libya by the outbreak of the war, he was serving on the Trento front in 1916. He saw action at the battle of Asiago and later was decorated with DSO personally by Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
for his services to the Allies in World War I. He would later be awarded by Hitler with the Iron Cross.
Spanish Civil War
As a General, Berti was the commander of the 9th "Pasubio" Infantry Division then commander of the 3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta
The 3 Cavalry Division Amedeo Duca d'Aosta was an Cavalry or Celere Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The division was formed in 1934, and during World War II was mobilized in June 1940. As a cavalry division and took part in the Invasion of Yugoslavia and was part of the Italian...
before becoming the Deputy Commander of the Corps of Volunteer Troops (Corpo di Truppe Volontarie
Corpo Truppe Volontarie
The Corps of Volunteer Troops was an Italian expeditionary force which was sent to Spain to support General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War...
, or CTV) during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in 1937. Subsequently, Berti became commander of the CTV from late 1937 into 1938 during the Aragon Offensive
Aragon Offensive
The Aragon Offensive was a Nationalist campaign during the Spanish Civil War, which began after the Battle of Teruel. The offensive began on March 7, 1938, and ended on April 19, 1938...
. He was Commander of the Italian XV Corps
XV Corps
List of military corps — List of military corps by numberCountries with Fifteenth, or XV, Corps:*XV Corps *Indian XV Corps*Ottoman XV Corps, World War I*U.S...
from 1939 to 1940 and became head of the CTV at General Franco's request.
World War II
At the beginning of the war Berti was Chief of Staff in the Italian Army. However Italy's commitment in Spain had drained it out of resources which made it not ready to fight against Britain and France. Many Generals made this clear to Mussolini and Berti was involved. The outcome of this was a demotion and he was sidelined. He was given the rank of Commissioner of Libya. He had fallen out of favour with Mussolini and Graziani had taken his place.His relation with Graziani was abysmal. After the failures in Egypt, Berti called Graziani incompetent and refused to send him help. During his sick leave with fever Graziani called him a coward and had him dishonored.
In the summer of 1940, Berti replaced Francesco Guidi as the commander of the Italian Tenth Army in Libya. On 9 September 1940, Berti was in command of the Tenth Army during the Italian invasion of Egypt
Italian invasion of Egypt
The Italian Invasion of Egypt was an Italian offensive action against British, Commonwealth and Free French forces during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Initially, the goal of the offensive was to seize the Suez Canal. To accomplish this, Italian forces from Libya would have...
. Halted at Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani is a town in Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea, about east of the border with Libya, and around from Tobruk, Libya.Probably named after Sidi Mohammed el Barrani, a Senussi fighter in the early 1900s, the village is mainly a Bedouin community...
by logistical problems, Berti deployed his advanced units in a series of fortified strongpoints. He then began work on extending the Via Balbia
Via Balbia
The Libyan Coastal Highway is a highway that is the only major road that runs along the entire east-west length of the Libyan Mediterranean coastline...
into Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The fortified strongpoints were not mutually supporting. Large gaps between them were only covered by motorised patrols.
A build-up for a new Italian offensive further into Egypt was delayed by the Italian invasion of Greece
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
. The offensive in Egypt was rescheduled and a mid-December launch was planned. However, prior to this, General Berti went on sick leave and Italo Gariboldi
Italo Gariboldi
Italo Gariboldi was a senior officer in the Italian Royal Army before and during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
took his place temporarily.
On 8 December 1940, Berti was on leave when British General Richard O'Connor
Richard O'Connor
General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, DSO & Bar, MC, ADC was a British Army general who commanded the Western Desert Force in the early years of World War II...
launched Operation Compass
Operation Compass
Operation Compass was the first major Allied military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II. British and Commonwealth forces attacked Italian forces in western Egypt and eastern Libya in December 1940 to February 1941. The attack was a complete success...
. On 14 December, Berti arrived back in North Africa. The British forces had exploited the gaps between the Italian fortified camps and in three days were able to overrun them and to capture or destroy almost all of the Italian defenders. On 11 December, Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani
Sidi Barrani is a town in Egypt, near the Mediterranean Sea, about east of the border with Libya, and around from Tobruk, Libya.Probably named after Sidi Mohammed el Barrani, a Senussi fighter in the early 1900s, the village is mainly a Bedouin community...
fell. By 16 December, the Italians had been ejected from Egypt.
On 23 December, Berti was replaced by General Giuseppe Tellera
Giuseppe Tellera
Giuseppe Tellera was a General in the Italian Army during World War II.Giuseppe Tellera was a Lt. General in the Italian Army during the North African Campaign fought against the British and Commonwealth forces in world war II...
as commander of the Tenth Army. Tellera was to die in action at Beda Fomm
Beda Fomm
Beda Fomm is a small coastal town in southwestern Cyrenaica, Libya located between the much larger port city Benghazi to its north and the larger town of El Agheila further to the southwest...
.
On September 8 1943, Italy sign an armistice with the allies. At that point he retired from the Army. After the war he was cleared of wrong doing. The post war government arrested Graziani had asked Berti if he was a criminal. Berti made it clear that Graziani had done no wrong. He lived in the hills of La Spezia for the rest of his life. He is not to be confused with Col. Berti.
Colonel Berti was known as a "sly murderer" (that's what commandants of prisoner of war camps were called during World War II).