Galeazzo Ciano (1903–44) was an Italian diplomat and politician, best known as Benito Mussolini’s son-in-law and Foreign Minister of Fascist Italy (1936–43.) His tenure shaped Italy’s foreign policy during World War II, but his eventual opposition to Mussolini led to his execution.
Born in Livorno, Italy, Ciano was the son of Admiral Costanzo Ciano, a founding member of the National Fascist Party. He participated in the March on Rome (1922) and later served in the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–36) before becoming Foreign Minister.
Initially a strong supporter of Italy’s alliance with Nazi Germany, he later grew disillusioned with Mussolini, particularly after Italy’s military failures. In July 1943, he voted to remove Mussolini, leading to his arrest and extradition to Mussolini’s new regime in Salò. He was executed by firing squad in January 1944.
Ciano’s most famous work, Diario 1937–43 (1946, Diaries 1937–43,) offers firsthand accounts of Fascist Italy’s inner workings. His writings were later analyzed in Galeazzo Ciano: The Fascist Pretender (2021) by Tobias Hof, critically assessing his political career.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Galeazzo Ciano
As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan.
—Galeazzo Ciano
Topics: Loss, Victory, Defeat, Losers, Losing
Leave a Reply