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Guglielmo Nasi | |
|---|---|
 Generale Guglielmo Nasi | |
| Born | 21 February 1879 Civitavecchia,Lazio,Kingdom of Italy |
| Died | 21 September 1971(1971-09-21) (aged 92) Modena,Emilia-Romagna,Italy |
| Allegiance |  Italy |
| Service |  Royal Italian Army |
| Years of service | 1912–1945 |
| Commands | Chief of Staff for the Colonial Troops in Africa Vice-Governor ofCyrenaica Governor ofHarar Governor ofShewa Vice-Governor ofItalian East Africa |
| Battles / wars | First World War Second Italo-Ethiopian War World War II |
| Awards |  Colonial Order of the Star of Italy Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Military Order of Savoia Order of Vittorio Veneto Silver Medal of Military Valor (4 times) Maurician medal Military Career Medal (10 years) Commemorative MedalWorld War I 1915 - 18 (4 years of campaign) Commemorative Medal to the Italian Unity Commemorative Medal to the Allied Victory |
| Other work | UN Commissar for Somalia |
Guglielmo Ciro Nasi (21 February 1879 – 21 September 1971) was an Italian general who fought inItalian East Africa duringWorld War II.
Nasi was born inCivitavecchia,Latium. In 1912 he was sent to Libya as a Captain with the 8th Artillery Regiment and the following year was decorated for valour at the action at Safsaf. He fought in the First World War and ended the conflict as a Lieutenant-Colonel. From 1924–1928, he was the military representative of the ItalianRegio Esercito (Royal Army) inParis.
In 1928, Nasi was sent to the Italian colonies as Chief-of-Staff for the Colonial Troops and was Vice-Governor ofCyrenaica in 1934–1935, Governor ofHarar from 1936–1939, and Governor ofShewa in 1939–1940. He also served as a Vice-Governor ofItalian East Africa from 1939. Nasi promoted a moral reformation of the military and civil administration and he showed notable skills in dealing with indigenous chiefs.
In April 1936, during theSecond Italo-Abyssinian War, Nasi commanded the left column of three columns duringGeneraleRodolfo Graziani′s advance on the southern front. Most of Nasi's troops were Libyans.
After the beginning ofWorld War II, Nasi led theItalian conquest of British Somaliland in August 1940. He invaded British Somaliland and with the advantage of air cover and tanks, forced the defending British and Commonwealth forces to evacuate by sea toAden after defeating the main body of the British army at theBattle of Tug Argan from 11 to 15 August.
During theEast African Campaign, Nasi led the last stand of an Italian garrison inEast Africa. On 6 July, afterDuke Amedeo of Aosta andGeneralePietro Gazzera surrendered, Nasi became the actingGovernor-General of Italian East Africa. In early 1941, during the British counter-offensive, Nasi was forced to retreat to the stronghold ofGondar. While he held out long after other Italian strongholds had fallen, Nasi finally surrendered his stronghold of Gondar on 28 November 1941.
Nasi was sent toKenya as aprisoner of war. After the death of Duke Amedeo, he was responsible for the 60,000 Italian prisoners kept there. Nasi returned to Italy in 1945. Four years later, he was appointed as Commissar for Somalia when the latter was assigned toUnited Nations suzerainty. Nasi died atModena in 1971.
Although Nasi was listed as a war criminal by the post-warEthiopian government, Italian historianAngelo Del Boca, usually very severe in judging the behaviour of the Italian army in the colonies, considers him the best officer of theRegio Esercito in East Africa. Solomon Getahun supports this view of Nasi, noting that his behaviour towards the inhabitants of Gondar and the adjoining territories helped him to sustain the fight against both British and Ethiopian forces as long as he did.[1] Near Gondar a mount is still namedMount Nasi.[citation needed]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | (acting)Governor-General ofItalian East Africa 6 July – 27 November 1941 | Succeeded by (none) |
| Preceded by | Vice-Governor of Cyrenaica (honorary) June 1934 – April 1935 | Succeeded by (none) |
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