Graziani
The Life of Luigi Capello
Luigi Capello was an Italian military officer born on July 15, 1864 in Bardolino, to a family of notaries. He was the fourth of eight children - three boys and five girls. The family moved to Valgatara in Valpolicella. Luigi Capello became a cadet at the Military School on March 20, 1881, and became a second lieutenant in 1882. In 1885, he was sent to Eritrea upon the establishment of the Regio corpo truppe coloniali d'Eritrea. After participating in the Eritrean war of 1887, he was assigned to the III Battaglione d'Africa.
Military Career
Returning to Italy in 1895 with the rank of captain, he was assigned to the 6th Alpine Regiment, then transferred to the 2nd Alpine Regiment and from there to the Staff Corps of the Division of Ancona (1895-1897). After a brief period at the Ministry of War in Rome, he was assigned to serve at the command of the Military Division of Verona (1899-1906). Between 1906 and 1908, he was an instructor at the Army War School of the Regio Esercito in Turin.
The Messina Earthquake
Luigi Capello was in Messina, where he was serving as Chief of Staff of the Military Division, on December 28, 1908, when the 1908 earthquake struck and destroyed much of the city. He organized the construction of barracks and the clearance of rubble, so much so that the City Council of Messina granted him honorary citizenship. On July 1, 1909, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel for exceptional merits.
World War I
Luigi Capello was appointed commander of the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment stationed in Naples on April 5, 1914, where he received the news of the outbreak of World War I. In October, the regiment moved to Ancona, from where, after the 1915 Marsica earthquake in Avezzano on January 10, 1915, they moved towards the affected areas and, in the harsh winter, arranged and organized aid for the 12 towns that were equipped with barracks and saw bakeries and grocery stores reconstructed in just 45 days.
On March 1, the regiment returned to Ancona, but 20 days later the order came to depart for the eastern front, on the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, establishing themselves in Nimis and Attimis in preparation for Italy's entry into the war (1861-1946). Capello was promoted to colonel and became Chief of Staff of the V Army Corps (Regio Esercito). He immediately distinguished himself for his strong determination, participating in the attack against the Battle of Col Basson on July 25.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Luigi Capello was an Italian military officer who dedicated his life to serving his country and defending its citizens. He demonstrated courage and skill in difficult situations, especially during the Messina earthquake and World War I. The importance of his figure lies in his ability to represent an example of sacrifice and dedication for future generations.
