Italy
Armando Diaz
1861–1928 Chief of the Italian General Staff, 1917–1919
Born in Naples to a family of soldiers and magistrates, Diaz graduated first in his class at the War School and spent about 16 years in the army staff offices in Rome. He was wounded at Zanzur in Libya in 1912 while commanding the 93rd Infantry Regiment. After the defeat at Caporetto, the king and Prime Minister Orlando named him chief of the army general staff on 8 November 1917, in place of Luigi Cadorna. Diaz reorganized the Supreme Command, improved the soldiers' food, rest and leave, and directed the victory on the Piave in June 1918 and the final offensive at Vittorio Veneto. He served as Minister of War under Mussolini from 1922 to 1924, became a Marshal of Italy in November 1924, and died in 1928.