Ettore Baldassarre

Ettore Baldassarre (27 April 1883 – 26 June 1942) was an Italian general during World War II.

Biography

Baldassarre was born in Trani, Apulia, on April 27, 1883, the son of Michele Baldassarre and Amalia Manganaro. In his youth he moved with his family to Messina, where he obtained his high school license. After enlisting in the Royal Italian Army, he enrolled in the Royal Military Academy of Artillery and Engineers in Turin, graduating as an artillery second lieutenant in 1903. After promotion to lieutenant in 1905, he was assigned to the 3rd Fortress Artillery Regiment, subsequently attending the Application School in Turin, obtaining the highest score achieved until then in the final exam. From October 1911 he served in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War, returning to Italy in October 1912, having been promoted to captain and decorated with a Bronze Medal of Military Valour.

In November 1914 he was placed in command of the balloon service of the artillery branch, distinguishing himself during the First World War during the battles on the Isonzo, on the Karst Plateau and on the Asiago plateau. After promotion to major he became commander of a group of heavy field artillery, and at the end of the war he was artillery commander of the Third Army, promoted to lieutenant colonel for exceptional merits. According to historian Ian Walker, "the loss of these three important officers" [Baldassarre, Piacenza and Raffaelli] was a major blow to the Italians, particularly that of Baldassarre, who had led them successfully through the battles of May and June"; according to Samuel Mitcham, Baldassarre "was one of the few Italian generals whom Rommel truly respected. He called him a 'brave and efficient commander', and genuinely mourned his death".