The general who signed an incomplete transition
On 3 September 1943, beneath an olive tree at Cassibile, he signed the armistice on Italy’s behalf.
Giuseppe Castellano was an Italian army general and staff officer whose career began in the First World War. After taking part in the political-military move that removed Mussolini in July 1943, he became Badoglio’s envoy to negotiate with the Allies. He signed the Cassibile armistice on Italy’s behalf, ending the kingdom’s hostilities with the Allies but exposing the asymmetry of the terms and the confusion of Italy’s command. After the war he commanded forces in Sicily and published memoirs defending his account of the transition.
Career Timeline
- 1915–1918First World War, artillery captain
- 1941–1942Yugoslavia campaign, promoted to brigadier general
- 1942Army General Staff, aide to Vittorio Ambrosio
- 1943High Command, head of planning and operations
- 1943.07Involved in the plan to arrest Mussolini
- 1943.08–09Badoglio government envoy, negotiated and signed the armistice with the Allies
- 1944.10–1946.06Commander of the Aosta Internal Security Division in Sicily
- 1947Retired from the army