87:
549:
Maletti, who was killed emerging from his dugout. They were slaughtered and their vehicles destroyed by the
British in less than ten minutes. The Italian artillery fought on valiantly, firing on the Matildas and recording many hits, some at point-blank range - but none penetrated their 70 mm of armour. The remaining Italian tanks were captured intact, and the Libyan infantry, left practically defenceless, quickly surrendered. The British had captured Nibeiwa and destroyed the only front-line Italian armoured unit in less than five hours.
107:
561:
should be revised. On
December 8 Maletti had already correctly alerted the nearby 2nd Libyan Division that the unusual low-level flying activity by the RAF was probably intended to mask the movement of armoured units and at 06.30 December 9th (well before the beginning of the actual main assault) he
417:
Monastery, including all 297 monks and 23 lay people who served the monastery, and the many pilgrims who had come to celebrate the patron saint of the monastery. The soldiers then looted the monastery carrying off crowns and robes of several of
Ethiopia's past Emperors, and numerous manuscripts that
553:
Walker's indication that none of the
Italian artillery were able to penetrate the armour of the Matilda tanks is confirmed by the war diaries of the British Armoured regiments and the British official histories which show that only a single Matilda was knocked out. Research by Sadkovich erroneously
548:
suddenly appeared from the opposite side of the camp. They struck twenty-three unmanned M11/39 tanks of the
Maletti Group, which had been deployed to guard the unmined entrance to the camp. The Italians were caught completely off guard and many did not even reach their tanks, including General
562:
was already in contact with the commanders of both the 1st and 2nd Libyan
Divisions reporting the British preparatory movements. In reality Maletti was killed at about 09.00 AM, while directing the fire from a 47/32 anti-tank guns section on the northern sector of the Nibeiwa strongpoint.
31:
398:
which was sent to attack a group of retreating
Ethiopians. His pursuit ended when the Ethiopians were joined by a relief column and then turned on Maletti. Both sides claimed victory after some confused fighting.
543:
light tanks. It was earmarked for early destruction in the assault, which commenced at 05:00hr with what appeared to be no more than another raid on the eastern side of the camp. At 07:00, however, forty-eight
870:
900:
895:
875:
531:
The initial
British assault would fall on Nibeiwa Camp, where the only available Italian armoured unit was based, and it achieved complete surprise.
334:) and, in November of that year, Maletti returned to Italy for a short period of time. In 1931, may be after his participation in the campaign aiming
535:, or Maletti Group, under General Maletti, was an ad hoc formation consisting of 2,500 Libyan soldiers and 2 Armoured Battalion, with thirty-five
890:
578:
508:. After initially becoming lost whilst making his way to the staging area, he advanced into Egypt and occupied fortified positions near
460:
413:
Between May 18 and May 22, 1937, Italian and Libyan troops under the command of
Maletti massacred between 1700 and 2100 people at the
880:
554:
says that the
Maletti Group's anti-armour guns were able to destroy 35 out of 57 Matildas prior to their own destruction.
741:. Le Operazioni in Africa Settentrionale (in Italian). Vol. I. Roma: Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore Esercito.
583:
819:
788:
727:
259:
865:
467:
became the focus of the Italian forces in Libya. Maletti was diverted from his intended command and returned to
885:
860:
660:
566:
219:
223:
169:
835:
690:
437:
369:
323:
276:
247:
142:
50:
505:
186:
805:. Ballentine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, Battle Book Number 22. Ballantine Books.
515:
On 9 December 1940, Maletti was killed in action at the fortified Nibeiwa Camp when British forces
774:. Ballentine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, Battle Book Number 4. Ballantine Books.
181:
391:
359:
291:
452:
235:
163:
214:(24 May 1880 – 9 December 1940) was an Italian General and war criminal who participated in
855:
850:
315:
364:
In May 1934, Maletti again returned to Italy. But, in January 1935, he was transferred to
8:
403:
372:. He fought throughout the campaign on the "southern front" under the overall command of
482:
432:
365:
327:
251:
112:
815:
784:
742:
723:
520:
380:
191:
70:
720:
Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts : Mussolini's elite armoured divisions in North Africa
702:
444:
376:
339:
231:
195:
92:
74:
54:
706:
798:
486:
456:
448:
271:
266:
844:
746:
516:
490:
427:
414:
395:
146:
130:
509:
468:
227:
175:
763:
The Civilizing Mission: A History of the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935-1936
307:
215:
157:
545:
283:
710:
255:
523:. The destruction of the Maletti Group is described by Walker in
373:
343:
30:
314:. With only a few brief postings elsewhere, Maletti remained in
536:
477:
540:
464:
335:
311:
871:
Italian military personnel of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War
812:
Legacy of Bitterness; Ethiopia and Fascist Italy, 1935-1941
691:"Of Myths and Men: Rommel and the Italians in North Africa"
436:). In 1939, he was intended to assume command of the
901:
Royal Italian Army personnel killed in World War II
836:Link to photograph and other details (in Italian).
661:"MALETTI Pietro. Medaglia d'oro al valor militare"
605:, I. Campbell, Addis Ababa University Press, 2010.
426:In June 1938, Maletti was promoted to the rank of
842:
402:After Ethiopia was defeated, Maletti stayed in
16:Italian General in World War I and World War II
896:Recipients of the Gold Medal of Military Valor
579:Military history of Italy during World War II
265:In 1898, Maletti volunteered for the Italian
781:The Italian Army 1940-45 (2): Africa 1940-43
739:Sidi el Barrani, giugno 1940 – febbraio 1941
765:. New York: Dial Press. pp. 383 pages.
500:In September 1940, Maletti commanded this
475:). In Libya, he took command of a special
29:
876:Italian military personnel of World War I
736:
688:
557:Also Walker's statement that Maletti was
342:in January that year, he was promoted to
814:. Lawrenceville: The Red Sea Press Inc.
301:
809:
797:
891:People from Castiglione delle Stiviere
843:
778:
769:
760:
717:
310:but, in August 1917, he was sent to
326:there. In 1926, he was promoted to
290:) and, in 1914, he was promoted to
275:). In 1904, he was admitted to the
13:
783:. Men-at-Arms. Osprey Publishing.
754:
443:On 10 June 1940, Italian dictator
14:
912:
829:
282:In 1909, Maletti was promoted to
695:The International History Review
379:. Maletti earned a promotion to
105:
85:
421:
234:during the early stages of the
881:Italian war crimes in Ethiopia
653:
644:
635:
626:
617:
608:
596:
584:Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
322:, or ASI) until 1934 to quell
320:Africa Settentrionale Italiana
143:28th "Aosta" Infantry Division
1:
707:10.1080/07075332.1991.9640582
689:Sadkovich, James. J. (1991).
682:
667:. Presidenza della Repubblica
567:Gold Medal of Military Valour
539:medium tanks and thirty-five
241:
220:Italian colonization of Libya
410:, or AOI) until April 1937.
370:Italian invasion of Ethiopia
7:
572:
559:caught completely off guard
519:during the early stages of
418:have never been recovered.
353:
246:Pietro Maletti was born in
224:Second Italo-Abyssinian War
170:Second Italo-Abyssinian War
10:
917:
803:Beda Fomm: Classic Victory
438:28 Infantry Division Aosta
357:
277:Military Academy of Modena
248:Castiglione delle Stiviere
51:Castiglione delle Stiviere
810:Sbacchi, Alberto (1997).
772:The Rape of Ethiopia 1936
737:Montanari, Mario (1985).
650:Montanari (1985), pag.306
603:The Plot to Kill Graziani
506:Italian invasion of Egypt
408:Africa Orientale Italiana
152:
136:
126:
118:
98:
80:
60:
37:
28:
21:
722:. Marlborough: Crowood.
589:
306:Maletti participated in
779:Jowett, Philip (2001).
718:Walker, Ian W. (2003).
641:Montanari (1985), p.206
632:Montanari (1985), p.204
623:Sadkovich (1991), p.293
525:Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts
182:Western Desert Campaign
866:Italian mass murderers
799:Macksey, Major Kenneth
770:Barker, A. J. (1971).
551:
533:Raggruppamento Maletti
495:Raggruppamento Maletti
489:which was called the "
394:, Maletti commanded a
392:Battle of Genale Doria
360:Battle of Genale Doria
886:Italian war criminals
861:Italian Army generals
761:Barker, A.J. (1968).
529:
473:Africa Settentrionale
433:Generale di divisione
302:World War I and Libya
236:North Africa Campaign
164:Pacification of Libya
119:Years of service
316:Italian North Africa
140:2nd Colonial Brigade
565:He was awarded the
463:. British-occupied
461:signed an armistice
404:Italian East Africa
385:Generale di Brigata
483:motorized infantry
366:Italian Somaliland
332:Tenente Colonnello
328:Lieutenant-Colonel
252:Province of Mantua
113:Royal Italian Army
521:Operation Compass
504:group during the
381:Brigadier-General
324:Libyan resistance
209:
208:
192:Operation Compass
187:Invasion of Egypt
908:
825:
806:
794:
775:
766:
750:
733:
714:
709:. Archived from
676:
675:
673:
672:
657:
651:
648:
642:
639:
633:
630:
624:
621:
615:
612:
606:
600:
447:declared war on
445:Benito Mussolini
377:Rodolfo Graziani
340:Rodolfo Graziani
260:Kingdom of Italy
232:killed in action
200:
111:
109:
108:
100:
93:Kingdom of Italy
91:
89:
88:
67:
55:Kingdom of Italy
47:
45:
33:
19:
18:
916:
915:
911:
910:
909:
907:
906:
905:
841:
840:
832:
822:
791:
757:
755:Further reading
730:
685:
680:
679:
670:
668:
659:
658:
654:
649:
645:
640:
636:
631:
627:
622:
618:
613:
609:
601:
597:
592:
575:
517:counterattacked
424:
362:
356:
304:
244:
196:
173:
167:
161:
145:
141:
106:
104:
86:
84:
69:
65:
64:9 December 1940
49:
43:
41:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
914:
904:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
839:
838:
831:
830:External links
828:
827:
826:
820:
807:
795:
789:
776:
767:
756:
753:
752:
751:
734:
728:
715:
713:on 1997-05-17.
684:
681:
678:
677:
652:
643:
634:
625:
616:
607:
594:
593:
591:
588:
587:
586:
581:
574:
571:
455:. On 22 June,
423:
420:
358:Main article:
355:
352:
303:
300:
272:Regio Esercito
243:
240:
212:Pietro Maletti
207:
206:
205:
204:
203:
202:
189:
154:
150:
149:
138:
134:
133:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
102:
96:
95:
82:
78:
77:
68:(aged 60)
62:
58:
57:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
23:Pietro Maletti
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
913:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
848:
846:
837:
834:
833:
823:
821:0-932415-74-1
817:
813:
808:
804:
800:
796:
792:
790:1-85532-865-8
786:
782:
777:
773:
768:
764:
759:
758:
748:
744:
740:
735:
731:
729:1-86126-646-4
725:
721:
716:
712:
708:
704:
700:
696:
692:
687:
686:
666:
662:
656:
647:
638:
629:
620:
614:Walker, p. 62
611:
604:
599:
595:
585:
582:
580:
577:
576:
570:
568:
563:
560:
555:
550:
547:
546:Matilda tanks
542:
538:
534:
528:
526:
522:
518:
513:
511:
507:
503:
498:
496:
492:
491:Maletti Group
488:
484:
480:
479:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
450:
446:
441:
439:
435:
434:
429:
428:Major General
419:
416:
415:Debre Libanos
411:
409:
405:
400:
397:
396:flying column
393:
390:Prior to the
388:
386:
382:
378:
375:
371:
367:
361:
351:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
299:
297:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
273:
268:
263:
261:
257:
253:
249:
239:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
201:
199:
193:
190:
188:
185:
184:
183:
180:
179:
178:
177:
172:
171:
166:
165:
160:
159:
155:
151:
148:
147:Maletti Group
144:
139:
135:
132:
131:Major General
129:
125:
121:
117:
114:
103:
97:
94:
83:
79:
76:
72:
63:
59:
56:
52:
40:
36:
32:
27:
20:
811:
802:
780:
771:
762:
738:
719:
711:the original
698:
694:
669:. Retrieved
665:quirinale.it
664:
655:
646:
637:
628:
619:
610:
602:
598:
564:
558:
556:
552:
532:
530:
524:
514:
510:Sidi Barrani
501:
499:
494:
481:grouping of
476:
472:
469:North Africa
442:
431:
425:
422:World War II
412:
407:
401:
389:
384:
363:
347:
331:
319:
305:
295:
287:
281:
270:
264:
245:
228:World War II
211:
210:
197:
176:World War II
174:
168:
162:
156:
153:Battles/wars
66:(1940-12-09)
856:1940 deaths
851:1880 births
701:: 284–313.
457:France fell
308:World War I
216:World War I
158:World War I
48:24 May 1880
845:Categories
683:References
671:2023-01-17
348:Colonnello
284:Lieutenant
267:Royal Army
242:Early life
81:Allegiance
44:1880-05-24
747:868634287
230:. He was
122:1898–1940
801:(1971).
573:See also
368:for the
354:Ethiopia
296:Capitano
256:Lombardy
137:Commands
99:Service/
449:Britain
374:General
344:Colonel
292:Captain
288:Tenente
198:†
71:Nibeiwa
818:
787:
745:
726:
537:M11/39
502:ad hoc
478:ad hoc
453:France
338:under
226:, and
222:, the
218:, the
194:
110:
101:branch
90:
590:Notes
541:L3/35
487:tanks
465:Egypt
336:Kufra
312:Libya
75:Egypt
816:ISBN
785:ISBN
743:OCLC
724:ISBN
699:XIII
485:and
459:and
451:and
127:Rank
61:Died
38:Born
703:doi
497:).
493:" (
387:).
350:).
298:).
262:.
847::
697:.
693:.
663:.
569:.
512:.
440:.
279:.
258:,
254:,
250:,
238:.
73:,
53:,
824:.
793:.
749:.
732:.
705::
674:.
527::
471:(
430:(
406:(
383:(
346:(
330:(
318:(
294:(
286:(
269:(
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
