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Mario Carloni | |
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 General Mario Carloni wearing an alpini hat while in command of theRSIMonterosa Division prior to thebattle of Garfagnana, December 1944. | |
| Born | 27 December 1894 |
| Died | 30 January 1962 (aged 67) |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Italy Italian Social Republic |
| Branch |  Royal Italian Army National Republican Army |
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| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | |
GeneralMario Carloni (27 December 1894 – 30 January 1962) was an Italian soldier who fought inWorld War I andWorld War II. He started his career in 1912 joining as a volunteer in the 5th Reg. ofBersaglieri inSenigallia. In 1940 he reached the rank of colonel.[1]
During the Second World War he fought inGreece,Russia and in theItalian Campaign. His son Bruno died on the Russian Front in 1942. Following the Italian Armistice in 1943, after a brief time imprisoned by the Germans, he joinedMussolini'sItalian Social Republic and was appointed as commander of the4th "Monte Rosa" Alpine Division.
In December 1944 he led the German and Italian RSI troops in thebattle of Garfagnana defeating the 92nd US "Buffalo" Division. On 1 March 1945 he was promoted to the rank of general of division and assigned to the1st Division "Italia". On 29 April he surrendered to theBrazilian Expeditionary Force after thebattle of Collecchio.
In 1946, Carloni was prosecuted by the U.S. Army for themurder of Lieutenant Alfred Lyth, an American pilot killed by Monte Rosa soldiers, after his capture. He was acquitted, but was held in Italian custody atForte Boccea inRome. Carloni was released without any charges on 19 May 1951, but was demoted in rank to Colonel, and stripped of all his awards given to him by theItalian Social Republic between 1943 and 1945.[2]