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Galeazzo Ciano

Surname Ciano Given Name Galeazzo Born 18 Mar 1903 Died 11 Jan 1944 Country Italy Category Government Gender Male

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseGian Galeazzo Ciano was born in Livorno, Italy, and later became Benito Mussolini's son-in-law. He received a law degree and worked for the Italian government as the Italian Consul in Shanghai, China. After Mussolini's rise to power, he became the Italian dictator's minister of press and propaganda, and later foreign affairs. He was also a friend of Humbert, son of the Italian King Vittorio Emanuele III, which left him in a position as the liaison between the royal family and the government. He did not like the Nazi government of Germany, and worked to prevent a close alliance between Rome and Berlin, but had failed. In Apr 1939, he was named the viceroy of Albania, and was considered a cruel occupier. In 1940, Hitler became suspicious of him, and as a result he was removed from Albania and instead sent to Vatican City as the ambassador. On 25 Jul 1943, at the meeting of the Fascist Grand Council, Ciano was one of those who voted to remove Mussolini from power, and that meeting eventually led to the fall of Mussolini's government and the Italian surrender on 3 Sep. However, when Mussolini fled to northern Italy and became a puppet ruler of a German-sponsored state there, Ciano followed him. He was arrested by the Germans in Oct 1943, and was tried for high treason for his vote against Mussolini at the Fascist Grand Council. He was sentenced to death by firing squad on 8 Jan 1944 and was executed three days later without interference from his father-in-law Mussolini.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: May 2006

Famous Quote(s)

"Mussolini is quite humiliated because our troops have not moved a step forward. Even today they have not succeeded in advancing and have halted in front of the first French fortification which put up some resistance."

» Diary entry, 21 Jun 1940

» Diary entry, 21 Jun 1940 "Never has a military operation been undertaken so much against the will of the commanders."

» 1 Sep 1940

Galeazzo Ciano Timeline

Photographs

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