From the end of World War I and through the interwar Period, Gariboldi rose in the ranks and held various staff, regimental and brigade level commands.
General Rommel with Governor-General Gariboldi (on Rommel's right), Libya 1941
From 1939 to 1941, Gariboldi served as an army commander in MarshalItalo Balbo's "Supreme Command – North Africa". When Italy declared war in June 1940, Gariboldi commanded the Italian Fifth Army stationed on the border with French Tunisia. He ultimately commanded both armies located in Libya. After the Battle of France ended, the Fifth Army became a source of men, parts and supply for the Italian Tenth Army on the border with Egypt.
In December 1940, when the British launched Operation Compass, Gariboldi was in temporary command of the Tenth Army because General Mario Berti was on sick leave. Ultimately, he was given command of the Tenth Army after it had been virtually destroyed, and Berti's replacement, General Giuseppe Tellera, had been killed in action.
On 25 March 1941, Gariboldi was promoted to Governor-General of Libya and replaced Marshal Rodolfo Graziani. By 19 July, Gariboldi himself was relieved because of his alleged lack of cooperation with Rommel. General Ettore Bastico took his place.
Russia
From 1942 to 1943, Gariboldi commanded the Italian Army in Russia (Armata Italiana in Russia, or ARMIR, or Italian 8th Army). He was in command of the Italian Army in Russia during the destruction of that army during the Battle of Stalingrad.
Italy
In 1943, Gariboldi was in Italy when King Victor Emmanuel III and Marshal Pietro Badoglioousted the dictator, Benito Mussolini, and then signed an armistice with the Allies. Like many other members of the Italian military, Gariboldi was made a prisoner of war (POW) by the Germans. In 1944, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a traitor. Later in 1944, Gariboldi was released from prison by the Allies.
Death and legacy
Gariboldi died in Rome in 1970.
His son, Mario Gariboldi, followed his father in a military career.
^Adolf Hitler, Max Domarus (ed). Hitler: Speeches and proclamations, 1932-1945. Bolchazy-Carducci, 2004. P. 2777.
Bibliography
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN978-3-7909-0284-6.
