Alberto Mannerini

Alberto Mannerini (Naples, 22 February 1891 – Rome, 7 February 1962) was an Italian general during World War II. After the war he served as Commander-General of the Carabinieri from 1950 to 1954.

Biography

He was born in Naples on February 22, 1891, the son of Giovanni Mannerini and Santa Pigliacelli. On 7 November 1909 he entered the Royal Military Academy of Infantry and Cavalry of Modena, graduating on 23 February 1913 as second lieutenant, assigned to the 6th Alpini Regiment. He was immediately sent to Libya, where he participated in operations against the Senussi insurgency in 1913-1914.

During the course of the First World War, he held various commands within the 7th Alpini Regiment, being promoted to lieutenant and later to captain. In June 1916 he captured Cima Caldiera from the Austro-Hungarians on the Asiago plateau, for which he was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor, and a year later he participated in the battle of the Ortigara. Between 1917 and 1918 he commanded the "Monte Pelmo" Alpini Battalion, participating in the battle of Vittorio Veneto, and by the end of the war he had been awarded two silver medals, a bronze medal and a war cross for military valor. In early 1943 he raised a division-sized "Saharan group" named after him (Raggruppamento Sahariano "Mannerini"), composed of the remnants of units that had been destroyed during the retreat from Libya (some 6,000 men, including the seven surviving Saharan companies, GAF troops, PAI personnel, colonial troops and cavalry units), which fought under his command during the Tunisian campaign, in the battle of the Mareth Line and in further clashes with the Long Range Desert Group. He was captured near Gabes on 29 March 1943 and remained in Allied captivity until 1945; upon returning to Italy, on 14 June 1945, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Military Order of Savoy.

He then held various positions within the Ministry of Defense, being promoted to major general on March 29, 1948, and appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army in the following June. On 9 May 1950 he was promoted to lieutenant general, and from the following 25 May and until 4 May 1954 he held the prestigious position of Commander-General of the Carabinieri.

On 2 June 1956 he was awarded the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He died in Rome on February 7, 1962.