Umberto Utili
Encyclopedia
Umberto Utili was an Italian general known as commander of Primo Raggruppamento Motorizzato of the Regio Esercito.
and to the Russian Campaign. At the time of the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces (8 September 1943) he was in Apulia
just as Allied troops started their advance towards North. In late January
1944 he was appointed command of the Primo Raggruppamento Motorizzato (the early Italian Co-Belligerent Army
) which, under his leadership was widened in size and became the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione, attached to the British 8th Army.
After the battles sustained in early 1944, Lieutenant General
Utili proposed an upgrade of Italian forces. The Allies accepted and the strength of Italian units (by then called Gruppi di Combattimento) was brought up to 25,000 men. Immediately after the war he commanded the 3 Army Corps in Milan
(the direct predecessor of the modern NATO Rapid Deployable Italian Corps
).
He died in 1952 and was buried in the Mignano Monte Lungo
Military Cemetery, where 975 Italian soldiers, who were killed fighting on the Allied side, also lie.
Knight of the Military Order of Italy
4 August 1942.
Officer of the Military Order of Italy
26 October 1945.
Biography
He took part to the Greco-Italian WarGreco-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...
and to the Russian Campaign. At the time of the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces (8 September 1943) he was in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
just as Allied troops started their advance towards North. In late January
January
January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day...
1944 he was appointed command of the Primo Raggruppamento Motorizzato (the early Italian Co-Belligerent Army
Italian Co-Belligerent Army
The Italian Co-Belligerent Army , or the Army of the South , was the army of the Italian Royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies during World War II....
) which, under his leadership was widened in size and became the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione, attached to the British 8th Army.
After the battles sustained in early 1944, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Utili proposed an upgrade of Italian forces. The Allies accepted and the strength of Italian units (by then called Gruppi di Combattimento) was brought up to 25,000 men. Immediately after the war he commanded the 3 Army Corps in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
(the direct predecessor of the modern NATO Rapid Deployable Italian Corps
NATO Rapid Deployable Italian Corps
The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy is a corps headquarters of the Italian Army. It was established in November 2001 as a High Readiness Force of NATO. The staff of NRDC-IT is located in Solbiate Olona, a few kilometers northwest of Milan...
).
He died in 1952 and was buried in the Mignano Monte Lungo
Mignano Monte Lungo
Mignano Monte Lungo is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 70 km northwest of Naples and about 45 km northwest of Caserta....
Military Cemetery, where 975 Italian soldiers, who were killed fighting on the Allied side, also lie.
Honors and awards
Knight of the Military Order of ItalyMilitary Order of Italy
The Military Order of Italy is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815...
4 August 1942.
Officer of the Military Order of Italy
Military Order of Italy
The Military Order of Italy is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittorio Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy in 1815...
26 October 1945.
See also
- Battle of Mignano Monte LungoMignano Monte LungoMignano Monte Lungo is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 70 km northwest of Naples and about 45 km northwest of Caserta....
- Italian Co-Belligerent NavyItalian Co-Belligerent NavyThe Italian Co-Belligerent Navy , or Navy of the South or Royal Navy , was the navy of the Italian royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies in southern Italy after the Allied armistice with Italy in September 1943...
- Italian Co-Belligerent Air ForceItalian Co-Belligerent Air ForceThe Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force , or Air Force of the South , was the air force of the Royalist "Badoglio government" in southern Italy during the last years of World War II. The ACI was formed in southern Italy in October 1943 after the Italian Armistice in September...
- Vincenzo Dapino
- Military history of Italy during World War IIMilitary history of Italy during World War IIDuring World War II , the Kingdom of Italy had a varied and tumultuous military history. Defeated in Greece, France, East Africa and North Africa, the Italian invasion of British Somaliland was one of the only successful Italian campaigns of World War II accomplished without German support.In...