Emilio De Bono

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Emilio De Bono (March 19, 1866–January 11, 1944) was an Italian General who fought in World War I and helped organize the Fascist Party. He participated in the Fascist Grand Council of 1943 which toppled Benito Mussolini. He was later executed by the Germans for his role in the Council.

Emilio was born in Cassano d'Adda, Italy on March 19th 1866. He entered the Italian Army in 1884 as a Second Lieutenant and had worked his way up to general Staff by The Italo-Turkish War of 1911. He would later to go on to fight in World War I, where he made a name for himself against the Austrians in Gorizia (1916) and Grappa (October 1918). In 1920 he was discharged with the rank of Major General.

In the early 1920's he helped organize the Fascist Party and in 1922 he was one of the four organizers for the March on Rome, which would signal the start of the Fascist Regime. In the period following this Emilio served as Chief of Police, Commander of the Fascist Militia and Governor of Tripolitania, a region of Libya, in 1925. In 1929 he was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs. Emilio continued to play an active part in the Military and became the Supreme Commander of the Italian operation against Ethiopia in 1935. He was soon relieved by Mussolini with the more talented General Pietro Badoglio taking his place. As compensation he was promoted to Marshal of Italy on November 16, 1935.

In 1942 he was appointed Minister of State. On July 24-25, 1943 Emilio De Bono participated in the Fascist Grand Council and was one of those who voted against Benito Mussolini, which would lead to his downfall. When Mussolini regained power in late 1943 he exacted his revenge and had Emilio arrested and tried for treason. He was executed by Firing Squad with Galeazzo Ciano on January 11, 1944.