Bruno Malaguti

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Bruno Malaguti (5 December 1887 – 2 December 1945) was an Italian general who served in both World Wars.

He was born in Finale Emilia and graduated from the Military Academy of Modena in 1909. In World War I he fought as a Bersaglieri officer, including at Col di Lana (1915–1917) and later on the Western Front with the II Army Corps on the Meuse and Argonne. He was wounded several times and promoted for merit. After the war he worked with the Inter-Allied Commission in Germany.

In 1928 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and in 1934 he commanded the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment. In 1937 he became Deputy Chief of Staff of an Army Corps. In 1940 he was promoted to brigadier general and served as Chief of Staff of the Army of the Po. In 1941 he went to North Africa as Deputy Chief of Staff of the North Africa General Headquarters. In 1942 he was promoted to major general and became Chief of Staff of the 8th Army (ARMIR) on the Eastern Front.

After the ARMIR was destroyed in early 1943, Malaguti returned to Italy and took command of the 52nd Infantry Division “Torino,” which was being rebuilt after heavy losses. The division was stationed near Gorizia in the Julian March.

When Italy signed the Armistice in September 1943, Malaguti helped defend the line against German attacks from 9 to 11 September and withdrew on 12 September. Before leaving, he ordered the release of political prisoners from prisons and concentration camps. He was then arrested by the Germans and held in Stalag XX-A in Toruń, Poland. In March 1944 he was handed over to the Italian Social Republic and imprisoned in Verona, Venice and Brescia. In January 1945 he was tried by the RSI and sentenced to death, but he was freed by Italian partisans on 25 April 1945.

He was taken to Rome, but his health, weakened by captivity, led to his death on 2 December 1945. His awards included three Silver Medals for Military Valor, a Bronze Medal for Military Valor, the War Cross for Military Valor, the War Merit Cross (three times), and several other Italian and allied honors.