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Emilio De Bono
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emilio De Bono (March 19, 1866 – January 11, 1944) was an Italian general who fought in World War I and helped organize the Fascist Party. He participated in the Fascist Grand Council of 1943 which toppled Benito Mussolini. He was later executed by Mussolini's second, German-supported government for his role in the Council.
De Bono was born in Cassano d'Adda. He entered the Italian Army in 1884 as a Second Lieutenant and had worked his way up to General Staff by the Italo-Turkish War of 1911. He would later to go on to fight in World War I, where he distinguished himself against the Austrians in Gorizia (1916) and Monte Grappa (October 1918). In 1920 he was discharged with the rank of Major General.
In the early 1920s he helped organize the Fascist Party and in 1922 he was one of the four organizers for the March on Rome, which would signal the start of the fascist regime. In the period following this De Bono served as Chief of Police, Commander of the Fascist Militia and Governor of Tripolitania, in Libya, in 1925. De Bono was tried for his role in the assassination of the leftist politician Giacomo Matteotti, but was surprisingly acquitted.
In 1929 he was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs. De Bono continued to play an active part in the military and became the Supreme Commander of the Italian operation against Ethiopia in 1935. When he had conquered Massaua and was nearing Adowa, he was relieved by Mussolini, with the less prudent General Pietro Badoglio taking his place. As compensation he was promoted to Marshal of Italy on November 16, 1935.
De Bono opposed the Italian entrance in World War II. In 1942 he was appointed Minister of State. On July 24-25, 1943, Emilio De Bono participated in the Fascist Grand Council and was one of those who voted against Benito Mussolini, which would lead to the latter's downfall. When Mussolini returned to power at the he head of the Italian Social Republic, he had De Bono arrested and tried for treason. De Bono was executed by firing squad at Verona, together with Galeazzo Ciano, on January 11, 1944.