Reginaldo Giuliani
Encyclopedia
Reginaldo Giuliani better known as Father Giuliani, was a Dominican friar, a soldier and Italian
writer.
When World War I
broke out Father Giuliani enlisted in the Italian Army as Chaplain and fought in the trenches with the Third Army Corps Arditi
, the special Unit of the WW1 Italian Army; for gallantry in action, he was awarded two bronze medals and a silver medal. After the war, he took part with the “Catholic Legionnaires”, in the seizure of Fiume under Gabriele d'Annunzio
, the city on the Dalmatian coast, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that Italy felt as, “Denied” after the victory. After a turbulent period of four years Fiume was eventually annexed to Italy in 1924. He also took part in the Fascist March on Rome
.
In 1926 Father Giuliani wrote a book about his experience in World War I entitled “The Arditi”. The book was published in Milan by Fratelli Treves Editori and included a brief History of the Third Army Corps Arditi.
In 1936 during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia he enthusiastically enlisted in the Army again, seeing this war against Ethiopia as an opportunity for a new religious crusade against heretics and infidels, and as a tool to export European civilization. Father Giuliani was assigned to the troops under the command of General Diamanti. He fell during the the battle of the Uarieu Pass (see First Battle of Tembien
), while attempting to rescue wounded soldiers. In 1936, as a tribute to his sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor
. The citation concludes: ‘A blow of a scimitar, brandished by a barbarian hand, cut short his terrestrial existence: ending the life of an apostle and beginning that of a martyr.’
In 1937 the book, “the Cross and Sword” with his letters and articles written during the Ethiopian campaign was published in Turin.
In 1939 the Italian Royal Navy commissioned a submarine of the Liuzzi class with its name. After the Italian armistice on September 1943 the submarine was seized by the Japanese and given to the Germans, and commissioned into the German Navy as UIT.23. The newly UIT 23 was later sunk by the HMS Tally-ho .
Roberto Rossellini
's movie, ”The Man with the Cross” released on 1942 was loosely based on Reginaldo Giuliani's life.
Several Italian towns have streets or squares named after Father Reginaldo Giuliani:
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...
writer.
When 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...
broke out Father Giuliani enlisted in the Italian Army as Chaplain and fought in the trenches with the Third Army Corps Arditi
Arditi
Arditi was the name adopted by Italian Army elite storm troops of World War I. The name derives from the Italian verb Ardire and translates as "The Daring Ones"....
, the special Unit of the WW1 Italian Army; for gallantry in action, he was awarded two bronze medals and a silver medal. After the war, he took part with the “Catholic Legionnaires”, in the seizure of Fiume under Gabriele d'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio
Gabriele D'Annunzio or d'Annunzio was an Italian poet, journalist, novelist, and dramatist...
, the city on the Dalmatian coast, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that Italy felt as, “Denied” after the victory. After a turbulent period of four years Fiume was eventually annexed to Italy in 1924. He also took part in the Fascist March on Rome
March on Rome
The March on Rome was a march by which Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party came to power in the Kingdom of Italy...
.
In 1926 Father Giuliani wrote a book about his experience in World War I entitled “The Arditi”. The book was published in Milan by Fratelli Treves Editori and included a brief History of the Third Army Corps Arditi.
In 1936 during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia he enthusiastically enlisted in the Army again, seeing this war against Ethiopia as an opportunity for a new religious crusade against heretics and infidels, and as a tool to export European civilization. Father Giuliani was assigned to the troops under the command of General Diamanti. He fell during the the battle of the Uarieu Pass (see First Battle of Tembien
First Battle of Tembien
The First Battle of Tembien was a battle fought on the northern front of what was known as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. This battle consisted of attacks and counterattacks by Italian forces under Marshal Pietro Badoglio and Ethiopian forces under Ras Kassa Haile Darge...
), while attempting to rescue wounded soldiers. In 1936, as a tribute to his sacrifice he was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
. The citation concludes: ‘A blow of a scimitar, brandished by a barbarian hand, cut short his terrestrial existence: ending the life of an apostle and beginning that of a martyr.’
In 1937 the book, “the Cross and Sword” with his letters and articles written during the Ethiopian campaign was published in Turin.
In 1939 the Italian Royal Navy commissioned a submarine of the Liuzzi class with its name. After the Italian armistice on September 1943 the submarine was seized by the Japanese and given to the Germans, and commissioned into the German Navy as UIT.23. The newly UIT 23 was later sunk by the HMS Tally-ho .
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
's movie, ”The Man with the Cross” released on 1942 was loosely based on Reginaldo Giuliani's life.
Several Italian towns have streets or squares named after Father Reginaldo Giuliani:
- Chieri (Turin)
- Aramengo (Asti)
- Cameri (Novara)
- La Spezia
- Milan
- Cernusco (Milan)
- Inzago (Milan)
- Monza
- Liss (Monza and Brianza)
- Busto Arsizio (Varese)
- Saronno (Varese)
- Cavaria con Premezzo (Varese)
- Bolzano
- Venice (Mestre)
- Padua
- Montagnana (Padova)
- Florence
- Latina
- Rome
- Capri (Naples)
- Sorrento (Naples)
- Canosa di Puglia (Bari)
- Molochio (Reggio Calabria)