1882-1955. Italian general. He was commander
in chief of Italian forces in N Africa during
World War II, but was defeated by the British
field marshal Wavell 1940, and subsequently
superseded. Later, as defence minister in the
new Mussolini government, he failed to
reorganize a republican Fascist army, was
captured by the Allies in 1945, tried by an
Italian military court, and finally released
in 1950.