Giovanni Esposito

Giovanni Esposito (May 18, 1882 – June 3, 1958) was an Italian general during World War II and a recipient of the Gold Medal of Military Valor. He commanded the 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria" in 1941–1942, and the territorial defense of Trieste from 1943 to 1945, joining the Italian Social Republic.

Biography Early years Esposito was born in Loreto Aprutino on May 18, 1882, the son of Giovanni Esposito di Zopito and Apollonia Acerbo.

He enlisted in the Royal Italian Army as a trainee sergeant assigned to the 36th Infantry Regiment. On October 31, 1904 he entered the Royal Military Academy of Modena and on September 14, 1906 he was appointed second lieutenant, assigned to the 5th Alpini Regiment, where he was promoted to lieutenant in September 1909.

After the outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War, on December 16, 1911 he landed in Derna with the "Edolo" Alpini Battalion, leading a bayonet charge. During a battle on December 27, while marching to re-enter the redoubts, he went back alone to rescue a wounded Alpino who was about to be captured by the enemy. During the battle of March 3, 1912 near the "Lombardia" redoubt, his battalion withstood an assault by superior Turkish-Arab forces; he distinguished himself during this action, keeping fighting even after being wounded in the leg and until he was hit again in the abdomen. For this he was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor. After recovering from his wounds, in October 1913 he began to attend the Army School of War, and was then promoted to captain and assigned to the 2nd Alpini Regiment.

Interwar years After the war he joined the staff officer corps, and after promotion to colonel he assumed command of the 56th Infantry Regiment "Marche", subsequently transferring to that of the 8th Alpini Regiment deployed on the eastern frontier, and from January to September 1936 he commanded the Zara garrison (Comando Truppe del Presidio di Zara). From 1937, having been promoted to brigadier general for exceptional merit, he assumed command of the 28th Infantry Division "Vespri", and in 1939, after a period in command of the Milan Corps of the Guardia alla Frontiera, he transferred to that of the newly formed 57th Infantry Division "Lombardia", stationed in Pola.

In July 1941 the "Pusteria" were transferred to Montenegro, participating in the repression of the uprising that had broken out at dawn on July 14. The division went into action on July 16, together with Blackshirt units, attacking the partisan stronghold of Linbotin. The repression was brutal, leading to the rapid capitulation of the rebels. The columns of the Alpini and other Italian units fought relentlessly between the Adriatic Sea and Lake Scutari, and in a few days the encircled garrisons were freed and roads made safe. The "Pusteria" then set up headquarters in Pljevlja, where in early December 1941 in the Battle of Pljevlja it repelled a heavy partisan attack led by Arso Jovanović.

Having been reinstated in his rank in 1956, he died in Rome on June 3, 1958.