Ettore Bastico

Ettero Bastico (April 9, 1876 - December 2, 1972) was an Italian soldier.

Bastico was born in Bologna on April 9, 1876. He fought in World War I and was promoted to rank of general in 1928. He commanded troops during war agaisnt Abyssinia in 1936, and during Spanish civil war he commanded Italian valunteer troops fighting with Spanish nationalists. On July 19, 1941, he was named governor of Libya and became supreme commander of all Italian troops on North Africa. He also had nominal command over German troops commanded by Erwin Rommel. As Rommel was the de facto commander of Axis forces in Africa, this was changed in 1942, and Bastico retained control over the Italian troops stationed in Libya (this excluded the Italian troops fighting in Egypt and later in Tunisia).

He was promoted to rank of marshal on August 12, 1942. After the fall of Libya to Allies he was relived from his duty. Bastico spent rest of the war waiting orders. After the end of World War Two, he devoted himself to the study of military history. Bastico died on December 2, 1972 in Rome.