Rodolfo Graziani was born near Frosinone on August 11, 1882. He served in WW1 and the colonies. He was a Major General by 1930. In 1935, he commanded the Italian Army Group advancing from Somalia to Ethiopia. In 1936, he was appointed Viceroy of Ethiopia and promoted Marshal on May 9, 1936. In 1939, he was named Chief of Staff of the Italian Armed Forces and in 1940 Commander of the Italian Forces in Libya. Relieved in 1941, he did not see any further action until Italy changed sides in 1943.

Graziani was the only Marshal to stay loyal to Mussolini and was appointed Minister of Defence of the RSI. He also commanded the mixed Italo-German "Armee Ligurien". Arrested in 1945, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 1950, but released in the same year. He died in Rome on January 11, 1955.

Written By: Stefan Schlemmer