Giuseppe Bastianini | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of Dalmatia | |
| In office 7 June 1941 – 14 February 1943 | |
| Preceded by | Athos Bartolucci |
| Succeeded by | Francesco Giunta |
| Ambassador ofItaly toUnited Kingdom | |
| In office 14 October 1939 – 10 June 1940 | |
| Preceded by | Dino Grandi |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Ambassador ofItaly toPoland | |
| In office 25 August 1932 – 11 June 1936 | |
| Preceded by | Luigi Vannutelli Rey |
| Succeeded by | Pietro Arone di Valentino |
| Member ofChamber of Fasces and Corporations | |
| In office 23 March 1939 – 5 August 1943 | |
| Appointed by | Benito Mussolini |
| Member ofChamber of Deputies | |
| In office 24 May 1924 – 21 January 1929 | |
| Constituency | Umbria |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1899-03-08)8 March 1899 |
| Died | 17 December 1961(1961-12-17) (aged 62) |
| Party | PNF |
Giuseppe Bastianini (8 March 1899 – 17 December 1961) was an Italian politician and diplomat. Initially associated with the hard-line elements of thefascist movements he later became a member of the dissident tendency.
Bastianini was born inPerugia. At an early age he became a local fascist leader inUmbria where he garnered a reputation as a member of the hard-lineintransigenti wing of the movement.[1] Following the seizure of power Bastianini was appointed head of theFasci Italiani all'Estero, a movement aimed at co-ordinating the activities of Italian fascists not currently living in Italy. He called on members to seek to diffuse properItalian fascist ideas wherever they were living. This group gained a considerable following amongst Italian expatriates in the mid-1920s.[2] Indeed, in 1925 he submitted a report to theFascist Grand Council claiming to have groups in 40 countries worldwide.[3]
Bastianini's activities brought him into conflict with Italian diplomats, who felt that his movement was overtly politicising their work. For his part Bastianini called for a complete reform of the diplomatic service, insisting that the only true Italians were also fascists and that therefore all diplomats should be convinced fascists.[4] In the endBenito Mussolini pursued a middle ground by dismissing diplomats who had not declared for theNational Fascist Party but also limiting the power of Bastianini's movement, which was taking on many of the functions of foreign affairs for itself, to ideological instruction, sport and charity work by restoring power to the Italian consuls.[5] Bastianini resigned from his position as head of theFasci Italiani all'Estero in late 1926.[6]
Somewhat inevitably following his drive to replace established diplomats with fascists Bastianini entered the diplomatic service himself. In 1927 he became Consul General in theTangier International Zone. From 10 August 1928 to 14 November 1929 he wasItalian envoy to Lisbon. In 1932 he becameItalian ambassador to Poland and as a consequence he was one of those who helped to convince Mussolini to delay entry into theSecond World War, knowing thatRoman Catholic Poland was a country admired by many Italians.[7] It was around this time that he also served as ambassador to theUnited Kingdom.[8]
In 1941 Bastianini was appointedGovernor of Dalmatia.[9] In this role Bastianini oversaw the deportation of a number of the region's Jews, including many refugees fleeing the German-occupied areas ofYugoslavia, to concentration camps in Italy.[10] Bastianini also established a policy of Italianisation, changing place names fromCroatian toItalian, insisting that the press had to publish in Italian and bringing in a number of teachers from Italy to take lessons in Dalmatian schools.[11] To those Croats who resented the changes he offered one piece of advice: emigrate.[11]
Bastianini would spend the latter part of his period as governor in conflict with elements of the Italian military, in particular GeneralsQuirino Armellini andMario Roatta. Armellini had concentrated his troops inSplit, a move Bastianini feared would breed fear and resentment amongst the inhabitants. Roatta declared that the civilian administration must have no saw in troop deployment although he and Bastianini eventually reached a compromise whereby local authorities would be consulted before large scale troop movements. Bastianini also managed to secure the removal of Armellini, with whom he did not get along.[12] Bastianini was recalled in January 1943 after a government reshuffle inRome and was replaced as governor the following month byFrancesco Giunta.[13]
He was appointed undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry in February 1943, effectively replacingGaleazzo Ciano.[14] Mussolini himself was the officialForeign Minister although his ill health and plethora of other roles meant that Bastianini effectively acted as minister.[15] In his role he suggested two possible approaches that he felt could help to frustrate theAllied invasion of Italy, although neither seemed likely to occur. On the one hand he felt that Mussolini could getAdolf Hitler to negotiate a settlement with theSoviet Union and thatGerman forces could then be redeployed in Italy, a tactic that he felt would force the western Allies to accept a compromise peace settlement. His other idea was for Mussolini to convince Hitler to allow Italy to leave the war altogether and declare neutrality. Both suggestions however had no hope of success as Hitler would never be convinced and Mussolini had no desire to attempt to convince him.[14] Bastianini sold the notion of Mussolini as the man who could end the war to the governments ofBulgaria,Romania andHungary as these minorAxis powers were also desperate for an exit as they were facing destruction at the hands of the advancingRed Army.[16]
Mussolini's refusal to even attempt to reason with Hitler at the meeting held inFeltre with the German dictator on 19 July 1943 saw him challenged by Bastianini,Dino Alfieri and GeneralVittorio Ambrosio for his failure to try to get Italy out of the war. The incident damaged Mussolini's credibility and provided impetus toDino Grandi, who soon launched an attempt to oust Mussolini.[17] Bastianini was present at theFascist Grand Council meeting held onJuly 25, 1943 at which the mood was decidedly anti-Mussolini as Grandi made his play.[18] Although he was not overly enthusiastic about the plot Bastianini stated that Mussolini had ruined Italy through his inaction and so gave Grandi his support.[19] Nonetheless he refused to follow the likes ofGiuseppe Bottai in being openly condemnatory ofIl Duce, preferring to continue to promote his aim of seeing Italy negotiating a separate peace as quickly as possible.[20]
Bastianini died inMilan, aged 62.
Media related toGiuseppe Bastianini at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor of Dalmatia 7 June 1941 – 14 February 1943 | Succeeded by |
