1930. Ministry of War Decree, signed by King Vittorio Emanuele III

1930. Ministry of War Decree, signed by King Vittorio Emanuele III and the Minister of War Affairs Pietro Gazzera.

Size 67 x 41 cm

ROME November 6, 1930. Ministry of War Decree, signed by King Vittorio Emanuele III and the Minister of War Affairs Pietro Gazzera. Pietro Gazzera (Bene Vagienna, 11 December 1879 - Ciriè, 30 June 1953) was an Italian politician and soldier. Born in Bene Vagienna in the province of Cuneo, he participated in the Italian-Turkish war and in the First World War during which he was assigned to the operations department of the supreme command. In this capacity he is among the signatories of the Armistice of Villa Giusti. Under Fascism he was appointed Minister of War by Mussolini, a position he held from 1929 to 1934, then designated army commander and from 1934 a senator. During the Italian East African Campaign, which took place during the Second World War, he was superior commander of the armed forces in East Africa and responsible for the southern chessboard, including the governorate of Galla and Sidama. In July 1940, General Pietro Gazzera occupied the fort of Gallabat and Kurmuk in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. From 23 May to 6 July 1941, following the surrender of the Duke of Aosta he was governor of Italian East Africa and viceroy of Ethiopia. His troops were also joined by those of General Carlo De Simone who had withdrawn from Addis Ababa.