14 Facts About Ettore Bastico

Ettore Bastico was an Italian field marshal who served as the commander of Axis forces in North Africa from 1941 to 1943 during World War II.

When he came of age, Bastico joined the Italian Army and fought in World War I In 1928, Bastico was promoted to brigadier.

Ettore Bastico was promoted to major general on 29 May 1932 and in 1935, he commanded the 1st CC.

In 1935, Ettore Bastico was the commander of the III Corps in Ethiopia and on 10 February 1936 he was promoted to lieutenant general.

In 1937, during the later stages of the Spanish Civil War, Ettore Bastico replaced Mario Roatta as the commander-in-chief of the Italian volunteer corps in Spain, the Corpo Truppe Volontarie.

From mid-1937, Ettore Bastico's force fought in the Battle of Santander, a decisive victory for the Nationalists.

In October 1937, Ettore Bastico received the rank of general, "generale di corpo d'armata designato d'armata," the highest rank that could be assigned if Italy was not officially at war.

Shortly after, Ettore Bastico was appointed commander of the new motorized Sixth Army, known at the "Army of the Po," stationed in the Po Valley area.

In 1939, Ettore Bastico was named senator of the Kingdom of Italy.

When Italy entered World War II, Ettore Bastico was Governor of the Italian Aegean Islands and he was promoted to full general on 7 August 1940.

On 19 July 1941, Ettore Bastico was named Governor-General of Italian Libya and commander-in-chief over all Axis forces in North Africa.

Ettore Bastico was made the commandant of the Giado concentration camp, established in February 1942 to intern Libyan and Italian Jews.

Ettore Bastico was promoted to Marshal of Italy on 12 August 1942, largely to avoid him being junior in rank to Rommel, who was promoted to field marshal on 22 June.

Ettore Bastico died in Rome at 96, after spending his last years studying history.