1. Giovanni Messe was an Italian field marshal and politician.
16 Facts About Giovanni Messe
1. 2.
Giovanni Messe is considered by many to have been the best Italian general of the war.
3.
Giovanni Messe saw action in the Italian conquest of Libya and in the First World War.
4.
From this date until 1935, Giovanni Messe commanded a unit of Bersaglieri and held the rank of colonel.
5.
In September 1935, Giovanni Messe assumed command of a motorised brigade in Verona, with the rank of brigadier general.
6.
From 15 November 1940, Giovanni Messe commanded the Special Army Corps during the Greco-Italian War of late 1940 and early 1941 and achieved some success against Greek forces commanded by Alexandros Papagos.
7.
In other circumstances, the armoured warfare experience Giovanni Messe possessed might have caused him to be given a command alongside Erwin Rommel in North Africa.
8.
Giovanni Messe never thought that this force was properly outfitted or supplied for the extreme conditions of the "Russian Front".
9.
In February 1943, Giovanni Messe was appointed as the new commander of the Italo-German Tank Army formerly commanded by Erwin Rommel.
10.
Giovanni Messe fought a defensive campaign against the advancing British and allied forces, and was defeated at the Mareth Line.
11.
On 12 May 1943 Giovanni Messe was promoted to the rank of marshal of Italy.
12.
Giovanni Messe served in this post with distinction until the war's end and then retired from the military in 1947 after 46 years of distinguished service.
13.
Giovanni Messe wrote a book about his experiences, titled Come fini la guerra in Africa.
14.
Giovanni Messe's military popularity remained with him in civilian life and from 1953 to 1955, Messe was a democratically elected representative in the Italian Senate.
15.
Giovanni Messe was president of the Italian Veterans Association, a post which he held until his death.
16.
Giovanni Messe died on 18 December 1968, at the age of eighty-five.