Gino Ficalbi (21 April 1891 – 1973) was an Italian general during World War II.

Gino Ficalbi
Born(1891-04-21)21 April 1891
Died1973 (age 82)
Allegiance Kingdom of Italy
Service/branch Royal Italian Army
RankBrigadier General
Commands held27th Infantry Regiment "Pavia"
202nd Coastal Division
Battles/wars
Awards

Biography edit

He was born in 1891 and after enlisting in the Royal Italian Army, fought in World War I as a captain in the 8th Infantry Regiment, being wounded in action and awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor during the fighting on the Bainsizza plateau in October 1917.[1][2] In 1936 he was promoted to colonel and made commander of the 27th Infantry Regiment "Pavia".[1]

In April 1942 he was promoted to brigadier general, assuming command of the infantry of the 4th Infantry Division Livorno, stationed in Sicily. On 1 April 1943 he assumed command of the 202nd Coastal Division, also stationed in Sicily and tasked with the defense of the coast between Sciacca and Mazara del Vallo.[1][3][4]

In July 1943 the Division was destroyed during the Allied invasion of Sicily, and on 24 July Ficalbi was captured and taken to the Wilton Park Estate, England, where he was held as a prisoner of war until October 1944.[1][5][3][6] He was then released and returned to service within the Italian Co-belligerent Army, becoming deputy commander of the Territorial Military Command of Florence.[7]

He died in 1973.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Biography of Brigadier-General Gino Ficalbi (1891 – ), Italy". generals.dk. Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ a b "Regio Esercito - 202a Divisione Costiera". www.regioesercito.it. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  4. ^ Zaloga, Steven J. (January 20, 2013). Sicily 1943: The debut of Allied joint operations. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781780961286. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Gooch, John (September 3, 2020). Le guerre di Mussolini dal trionfo alla caduta. Newton Compton Editori. ISBN 9788822748980. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Amedeo Osti Guerrazzi, Noi non sappiamo odiare. L'esercito italiano tra fascismo e democrazia, pp. 15-49-75
  7. ^ "I RAPPORTI FRA GLI ALLEATI NELLA COBELLIGERANZA". Issuu. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)