Pietro Maletti

Pietro Maletti (born 24 May 1880; died 9 December 1940) was an Italian military officer who participated in World War I, the Subjugation of Italian North Africa, the Italo-Abyssinian War, and World War II. He was killed in action during the early stages of the North Africa Campaign.

Early life

Pietro Maletti was born in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Province of Mantua, Lombardy, Kingdom of Italy. In 1898, Maletti volunteered for the Italian Royal Army ("Regio Esercito"). In 1904, he was admitted to the Military Academy in Modena.

In 1909, Maletti was promoted to Lieutenant ("Tenente") and, in 1914, he was promoted to Captain ("Capitano").

World War I and Libya

Maletti participated in World War I but, in August 1917, he was sent to Libya. With only a few brief postings elswhere, Maletti remained in Italian North Africa ("Africa Settentrionale Italiana", or ASI) until 1934 to quell Libyan resistance there. In 1926, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel ("Tenente Colonnello") and, in November of that year, Maletti returned to Italy for a short period of time. In 1931, he was promoted to Colonel ("Colonnello").

Ethiopia

In May 1934, Maletti again returned to Italy. But, in January 1935, he was transferred to Italian Somaliland for the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. He fought throughout the campaign on the "southern front" under the overall command of General Rodolfo Graziani. Maletti earned a promotion to Brigadier-General ("Generale di Brigata").

After Ethiopia was defeated, Maletti stayed in Italian East Africa ("Africa Orientale Italiana", or AOI) until April 1937. He assumed the command of the 2nd Colonial Brigade.

World War II

In June 1938, Maletti was promoted to the rank of General ("Generale"). In 1939, he was intended to assume command of the 28th "Aosta" Infantry Division.

On 10 June 1940, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declared war on Britain and France. On 22 June, France fell and signed an armistice. British-occupied Egypt became the focus of the Italian forces in Libya. Maletti was diverted from his intended command and returned to North Africa ("Africa Settentrionale"). In Libya, he took command of a special "ad hoc" grouping of motorized infantry and tanks which was called the "Maletti Group" ("Raggruppamento Maletti").

In September 1940, Maletti commanded this "ad hoc" group during the Italian invasion of Egypt. After being lost initially making his way to the staging area, he advanced into Egypt and occupied fortified positions near Sidi Barrani.

On 9 December 1940, Maletti was killed in action at the fortified Nibeiwa Camp when British forces counterattacked during the early stages of Operation Compass. Writer Ian W. Walker describes the destruction of Maletti Group in his book "Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts". The following is quoted from a review of that book: [Walker, p. 62] quote|The initial British assault would fall on Nibeiwa Camp, where the only available Italian armoured unit was based, and it achieved complete surprise. "Raggruppamento Maletti", or Maletti Group, under General Maletti, was an ad hoc formation consisting of 2,500 Libyan soldiers and 2 Armoured Battalion, with thirty-five M11/39 medium tanks and thirty-five L3/35 light tanks. It was earmarked for early destruction in the assault, which commenced at 05:00hr with what appeared to be no more than another raid on the eastern side of the camp. At 07:00, however, forty-eight Matilda tanks suddenly appeared from the opposite side of the camp. They struck twenty-three unmanned M11/39 tanks of the Maletti Group, which had been deployed to guard the unmined entrance to the camp. The Italians were caught completely off guard and many did not even reach their tanks, including General Maletti, who was killed emerging from his dugout. They were slaughtered and their vehicles destroyed by the British in less than ten minutes. The Italian artillery fought on valiantly, firing on the Matildas and recording many hits, some at point-blank range - but none penetrated their 70 mm of armour. The remaining Italian tanks were captured intact, and the Libyan infantry, left practically defenceless, quickly surrendered. The British had captured Nibeiwa and destroyed the only front-line Italian armoured unit in less than five hours.

ee also

* Military history of Italy during World War II
* Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)

Footnotes

References

*
*cite book|first=A. J.| last=Barker| authorlink= | coauthors=| series=Ballentine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, Battle Book Number 4| title=The Rape of Ethiopia 1936| publisher=Ballantine Books|date=| origdate=1971| isbn=
*cite book|first=Philip| last=Jowett| authorlink=| coauthors=| series=Men-at-Arms| title=The Italian Army 1940-45 (2): Africa 1940-43| publisher=Osprey Publishing|date=| origdate=2001| isbn=1-85532-865-8
*cite book|first=Major Kenneth| last=Macksey| authorlink=Kenneth Macksey| coauthors=| series=Ballentine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, Battle Book Number 22| title=Beda Fomm: Classic Victory| publisher=Ballantine Books|date=| origdate=1971| isbn=
*cite book|first=Ian W. | last=Walker| title=Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts : Mussolini's elite armoured divisions in North Africa| publisher=Crowood| date=2003| location=Marlborough| | isbn=1-86126-646-4