Paolo Caccia Dominioni
Encyclopedia
Paolo Caccia Dominioni, 14th Baron of Sillavengo
(May 14, 1896 – August 12, 1992) was an Italian
soldier
, engineer
and writer
, most noted for his leadership in the North Africa Campaign in World War II
.
Caccia Dominioni was born in Nerviano
, Lombardy
. During his engineer's career in prewar Egypt, he developed a deep friendship with the Belgian expatriate Vladimir Penjakoff – later to be known as Popsky, creator and leader of a World War II SAS special unit nicknamed Popsky Private Army (PPA) – with whom he toured the Libyan and Egyptian desert: the same desert that would see few years later the two friends facing each others as enemies when World War II broke out. Caccia Dominioni fought in the First World War
, the Libyan Campaign, and the War in Ethiopia, and finally, after having been assigned to Military Intelligence, he was given command in 1942 as a major of the 31st Guastatori (Engineer) Battalion on the El Alamein
front until the defeat of the Axis forces in North Africa.
He joined the resistance against Benito Mussolini
in Italy, was arrested by the Italian Militia and the Gestapo
, who released him as an officer decorated personally by Erwin Rommel
. His book on the Italian Campaign in North Africa, Alamein 1933-1962, was translated into English and published by Allen & Unwin
in 1986 as Alamein 1933-1962: An Italian Story. Caccia Dominioni devoted his postwar career to the retrieving of soldiers' corpses on the Alamein battlefield and the design and construction of a cemetery and a memorial building, located on a particular spot on the Alamein battleground named "Quote 33", where – thanks to his 20 years of efforts – thousands of Italian, German and British unknown fallen soldiers were eventually identified and received a proper burial.
He died in Rome in 1992.
Sillavengo
Sillavengo is a comune in the Province of Novara in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about 80 km northeast of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Novara...
(May 14, 1896 – August 12, 1992) was an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, most noted for his leadership in the North Africa Campaign in 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...
.
Caccia Dominioni was born in Nerviano
Nerviano
Nerviano is a comune in the Province of Milan in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 15 km northwest of Milan. Its territory is crossed by the Olona river and by the Villoresi Canal.-External links:*...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. During his engineer's career in prewar Egypt, he developed a deep friendship with the Belgian expatriate Vladimir Penjakoff – later to be known as Popsky, creator and leader of a World War II SAS special unit nicknamed Popsky Private Army (PPA) – with whom he toured the Libyan and Egyptian desert: the same desert that would see few years later the two friends facing each others as enemies when World War II broke out. Caccia Dominioni fought in the First World War
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...
, the Libyan Campaign, and the War in Ethiopia, and finally, after having been assigned to Military Intelligence, he was given command in 1942 as a major of the 31st Guastatori (Engineer) Battalion on the El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
front until the defeat of the Axis forces in North Africa.
He joined the resistance against Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
in Italy, was arrested by the Italian Militia and the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, who released him as an officer decorated personally by Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
. His book on the Italian Campaign in North Africa, Alamein 1933-1962, was translated into English and published by Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin, formerly a major British publishing house, is now an independent book publisher and distributor based in Australia. The Australian directors have been the sole owners of the Allen & Unwin name since effecting a management buy out at the time the UK parent company, Unwin Hyman, was...
in 1986 as Alamein 1933-1962: An Italian Story. Caccia Dominioni devoted his postwar career to the retrieving of soldiers' corpses on the Alamein battlefield and the design and construction of a cemetery and a memorial building, located on a particular spot on the Alamein battleground named "Quote 33", where – thanks to his 20 years of efforts – thousands of Italian, German and British unknown fallen soldiers were eventually identified and received a proper burial.
He died in Rome in 1992.