Mario Traverso (24/09/1916 - 04/01/2011)
He died on January 4 last day in Milan, Italy of natural causes at the age of 94, the leader of the last load cavalry's successful history, Lieutenant Mario Traverso .
Born in Naples, Traverso came from a family with a tradition in textiles. He learned English from an Irish governess and joined the University of Naples in 1934. Received his Ph.D. in Business at the University of Bari in 1939, then working at Otis elevator manufacturer. However, with the approach of war, He joined the cavalry corps in Rome, and was approved at the top of its class for Savoia Cavalry.
In July 1941, the Savoia Cavalry, as part of the 3rd Division Celere Prince Amedeo Duke of Aosta " was sent to the Soviet Union as part of the Italian Expeditionary Corps. Not finding opportunities to use their potential in that year, men and animals of the regiment suffered severely in the harsh winter, with temperatures of -50 ยบ C. However, during the summer of 1942, the Savoia covered the northern flank of the German offensive toward the Don River, 200 km northwest of Stalingrad. Near Isbushenski , On Aug. 23, found a Soviet rearguard of 2,000 men, supported by machine guns and mortars. The regiment commander, Colonel Alessandro Bettoni ordered the camp by night and by morning decided to prepare the attack. Bettoni decided it was time to act and Traverso, squadron commander of machine guns, was the first to attack the positions of 812 th Infantry Regiment Siberian , covering the center with a burst of enemy fire. Then, using their red ties and white gloves, the 2nd Squadron performed a perfect strike to the left of the Soviet position, attacking the Siberian with their sabers drawn.
Bettoni ordered then a frontal attack by the 4th Squadron field covered with sunflowers, using grenades to disperse the enemy, who started a rout. The Italians then concluded the action with a load of 3 Squadron against the Soviet right flank. Siberian 150 were killed and another 500 captured against the loss of 40 men of Savoia. It was the last cavalry charge of the successful history, and the last time the Savoia held an offensive action. Traverso and colleagues had to retreat after the Soviet offensive of December 1942 against the Italian positions on the Don, and after 2000 km traverse arrived in Gomel, Belarus, where the transport started back in Italy.
After signing the Armistice Italian in September 1943, Traverso ordered the dispersal of the unit he commanded, and headed north to Milan, where he revived the family's textile company with a cousin. After the war, his business grew and expanded the company Traverso to Australia, England and Japan became a consultant to chemical companies producing synthetic fibers and finally retired in 2003.
Traverso saved the regimental flag the Savoia Cavalry after the Battle of Isbushenski, recovering from the hand of a dead comrade. He led the get back to Italy and kept it at home, only to be revealing his inauguration a few years ago. A delegation of the regiment attended the funeral and handed the flag over the coffin during the burial , then withdrawing it to finally expose it in the regimental museum.
Savoia Cavalry Officers of the Soviet Union.
See also:
>> Sabres by Savoia
>> Death Note: Amedeo Guillet
>> La Leggenda del Comandante Diavolo
>> The last goodbye to Amedeo Guillet
>> Nikolajewka Battle - Part 1 , Part 2
0 comments:
Post a Comment