Count Galaezzo Ciano rose to prominence in the fascist government of Benito Mussolini after he married Mussolini's daughter Edda in 1930. It was Ciano who helped propel Italy into World War II after the fall of France. However, Ciano also took a leading role in the ouster of Mussolini, for which he ultimately paid with his life.

Born in Livorno, Italy, Ciano early on became a follower of Mussolini and participated in the 1922 march on Rome, which catapulted the fascists to power. After pursuing law studies at the University of Rome, Ciano worked as a journalist, then entered the Italian diplomatic corps. He was posted to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, and he served as consul general in Shanghai and as Italy's minister to China. He made a politically advantageous marriage to Edda Mussolini in 1930, which brought him appointment as chief of the press bureau (1933), undersecretary of state for press and propaganda (1934), and, finally, membership on theFascist Grand Council, the inner party that made all policy decisions.

Handsome and dashing, Ciano cut the kind of romantic figure that was especially appealing to fascists. In Italy's war of conquest against Ethiopia, Ciano led a bomber squadron during 1935-36. After the war, he was named minister of foreign affairs on June 9, 1936, and was likely being groomed by Mussolini as his heir apparent and successor.

If anything, Ciano was more aggressive than Mussolini. He urged the Duce to conclude an alliance with Germany, although he distrusted Adolf Hitler, especially after the invasion of Poland in September 1939, which was undertaken without first consulting Italy per the terms of the alliance Ciano had concluded with his German counterpart, foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. Acting on his misgivings, he now advised Mussolini not to declare war, but to adopt a policy of non-interference and non-belligerence. However, when France fell and Germany seemed unstoppable, Ciano counseled Mussolini to enter the war. Both he and Mussolini anticipated a quick general German victory, and both believed Italy could make painless territorial gains. . .

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