Vittorio Ambrosio

Infobox Military Person
name=Vittorio Ambrosio
lived=1879-1959


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
allegiance=Italian
branch=
serviceyears=1915 - 1944
rank=Chief of Staff
unit=
commands=
battles=Italo-Turkish War
World War I
World War II
awards=
relations=
laterwork=Inspector-General of the Army

Vittorio Ambrosio (1879-1959)citebook|last=Tucker|first=Spencer C.|title=Who's Who In Twentieth-Century Warfare|year=2001|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0415234972|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=zeN37uwbr3YC&pg=PA6&dq=Vittorio+Ambrosio&as_brr=3&sig=Iz3H7fo8K_dBS0iFhG3Riw7_66A|page=6] citebook|last=Baudot|first=Marcel|title=The Historical Encyclopedia of World War II|year=1980|publisher=Facts on File Inc.|isbn=0-87196-401-5|pages=11] was an Italian General who served in the Italo-Turkish War, World War I, and World War II. During WWII, Ambrosio served an instrumental role in the fall of Mussolini and the eventual Italian renunciation of its alliance with Germany.

Before World War II

Ambrosio started his military career as in 1896 when he joined the "Military School of Modena" then in early years of XX Century he was named officier in the cavalry. During the Tripolitanian war which lasted until 1912 he sereved with the rank of "Tenente" in regiment "Cavaleggeri Di Lucca". In World War I he served as a divisional until after World War I when he was promoted to Commander of the Second Army which was located on the Yugoslav border in 1939.

World War II

Ambrosio's early actions in World War II, included leading the Italian offensive in Yugoslavia in 1941. In January of 1942, he was promoted to Chief of Staff and was later appointed Chief of Staff of the general armed forces for the Italian Army in February 1943.

As Chief of Staff, Ambrosio planned to return Italian troops from Ukraine and the Balkans. In May 1943 after a devastating loss at Tunis and the Allied invasion of Sicily Ambrosio attempted to convice Mussolini to pull Italy out of the war and separate from Germany.cite book |last=Gallo |first=Patrick|title=For Love and Country|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=nGLcu_QQB6cC&printsec=toc&dq=%22Vittorio+Ambrosio%22&as_brr=3#PPA364,M1|accessdate=06-13-2007|date=February 28, 2003|publisher=University Press of America|location=Lanham, Maryland|language=English|isbn=978-0761824961 |pages=46 ] When Mussolini became unable to stand against Adolf Hitler, Ambrosio helped as he was removed from power. After Mussolini was removed from power, Ambrosio served under Pietro Badoglio's military government and in September 1943 helped negotiate an armistice with the allies. The negotiations took longer than expected and allowed the Germans time to occupy much of Italy.

Ambrosio was eventually demoted to Inspector-General of the army by Pietro Badoglio in November 1943 on insistence of the allies who did not trust him.

References