Tullio Tamburini
Encyclopedia
Tullio Tamburini was an Italian
soldier, adventurer and fascist
official.
Born in Prato
, Tamburini had been a schoolteacher in Florence
but was sacked from his job. He then made his way as a petty criminal before serving in the Italian Army
during the First World War without distinction. Attached to the 'mopping-up units' after the war, he was accused of looting
whilst in the course of his duties.
He joined the fascio in Florence in 1922 and was appointed consul in the local militia the following year. From early on he was associated with the intransigenti tendency within fascism, favoring the violence of the squadrons as a means to achieve fascism. As a squadron leader he garnered a reputation for extreme violence and in October 1925 he was dismissed and sent to Tripolitania
for this reason. At the time Florence had become a by-word for the excesses of fascist violence and as a result Mussolini removed a number of leading party men in the city as he sought to normalize Italy under his control. He was brought back in September 1926 as part of a delegation to the League of Nations
before being given command of the Milizia Nazionale Forestale, an arm of the Blackshirts
devoted to forestry
.
Back in favour, Tamburini was given the role of prefetto of Avellino
in 1936, switching to the same position in Ancona
in 1939, then Trieste
in 1941. Following the establishment of the Italian Social Republic
Tamburini was appointed chief of police on 1 October 1943. Tamburini was unable to leave his old ways behind in his new position and in January 1944 he was charged with illicit enrichment, a charge that led to his dismissal in April. Tamburini soon became a figure of suspicion for the Germans
, who believed him to be in secret contact with the Allies
, and in February he was sent to Dachau concentration camp by General Karl Wolff
.
In the end Tamburini was only briefly in Dachau and soon returned to Italy, although he was then sent to prison in his homeland for his involvement in the fascist regime. He was amnestied in September 1946 and emigrated to Buenos Aires
the following year.
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, adventurer and fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
official.
Born in Prato
Prato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
, Tamburini had been a schoolteacher in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
but was sacked from his job. He then made his way as a petty criminal before serving in the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
during the First World War without distinction. Attached to the 'mopping-up units' after the war, he was accused of looting
Looting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
whilst in the course of his duties.
He joined the fascio in Florence in 1922 and was appointed consul in the local militia the following year. From early on he was associated with the intransigenti tendency within fascism, favoring the violence of the squadrons as a means to achieve fascism. As a squadron leader he garnered a reputation for extreme violence and in October 1925 he was dismissed and sent to Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
for this reason. At the time Florence had become a by-word for the excesses of fascist violence and as a result Mussolini removed a number of leading party men in the city as he sought to normalize Italy under his control. He was brought back in September 1926 as part of a delegation to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
before being given command of the Milizia Nazionale Forestale, an arm of the Blackshirts
Blackshirts
The Blackshirts were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II...
devoted to forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
.
Back in favour, Tamburini was given the role of prefetto of Avellino
Avellino
Avellino is a town and comune, capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains 42 km north-east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento.-History:Before the Roman conquest, the...
in 1936, switching to the same position in Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
in 1939, then Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
in 1941. Following the establishment of the Italian Social Republic
Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic was a puppet state of Nazi Germany led by the "Duce of the Nation" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs" Benito Mussolini and his Republican Fascist Party. The RSI exercised nominal sovereignty in northern Italy but was largely dependent on the Wehrmacht to maintain control...
Tamburini was appointed chief of police on 1 October 1943. Tamburini was unable to leave his old ways behind in his new position and in January 1944 he was charged with illicit enrichment, a charge that led to his dismissal in April. Tamburini soon became a figure of suspicion for the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, who believed him to be in secret contact with the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, and in February he was sent to Dachau concentration camp by General Karl Wolff
Karl Wolff
Karl Friedrich Otto Wolff was a high-ranking member of the Nazi Schutzstaffel , ultimately holding the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS. He became Chief of Personal Staff to the Reichsführer and SS Liaison Officer to Hitler until his replacement in 1943...
.
In the end Tamburini was only briefly in Dachau and soon returned to Italy, although he was then sent to prison in his homeland for his involvement in the fascist regime. He was amnestied in September 1946 and emigrated to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
the following year.