Amedeo De Cia (23 December 18837 April 1971) was an Italian general during World War II.
Biography
Early life
Amedeo De Cia was born in Gerace Marina on 23 December 1883, the son of Giovanni De Cia, an administrative inspector of the Kingdom of Sardinia of Venetian ancestry, and of the noblewoman Elvira Palermo of the Princes of Santa Margherita. In 1898 his family moved to Genoa, and there he completed his high school studies by enrolling in the engineering faculty of the local university. Following his mother's death, he abandoned his studies to pursue a military career. He attended the Royal Military Academy of Modena and graduated with the rank of infantry second lieutenant in 1905. After attending the Application School in Parma, in 1907 he entered service with the 76th Infantry Regiment of the "Napoli" Infantry Brigade, stationed in Genoa; in 1909 he was assigned to the "Ivrea" Battalion of the 4th Alpini Regiment.
Career
Italo-Turkish War
Following the outbreak of the Italo-Turkish war, in 1911, he left for Libya as platoon commander of the 40th Alpini Company, distinguishing himself in Derna, during the defense of the "Lombardia" Redoubt on March 3, 1912, for which he was awarded the Bronze Medal of Military Valor. After returning to Italy he was promoted to the rank of captain, and in 1914 he was assigned as company commander to the 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno". After the entry of the Kingdom of Italy in the First World War on 24 May 1915, his regiment was deployed in the upper Isonzo valley and fought in the battles of the Isonzo. On 4 June De Cia distinguished himself during the attack on the ridge of Mount Mrzli-Mount Sleme, earning a second bronze medal for military valor. On the following 15 June he was once again transferred to the Alpini Corps, taking command of the 11th Company of the "Mondovì" Battalion, temporarily detached from the "Val Ellero" Battalion. During the attack for the conquest of Mount Kucla he was seriously injured by a bullet in his chest, after which he was hospitalized for several months; he returned to service in March 1916, at the command of the 118th Company of the "Monte Clapier" Alpini Battalion, engaged in Val Fella (Carnic Alps).
In May-June 1916 his battalion, deployed on the Tonezza plateau north of Arsiero, took part in the fighting to stop the Austro-Hungarian offensive launched by General Conrad von Hötzendorf. From the month of July he participated in the counterattacks that lead to the reconquest of part of the lost territory; during this period he was awarded two Silver Medals for military valor and was mentioned on the Order of the Day of the French Army for his valiant behavior. In April 1917 he was promoted to the rank of major and given command of the "Bassano" Alpini Battalion, but had to relinquish command of the battalion due to a serious ankle sprain shortly before the battle of Mount Ortigara, in which the battalion was almost completely destroyed. After the battle he helped to rebuild the battalion, which was once again deployed on the Asiago plateau under his command. After the battle of Caporetto his unit fought on Monte Sisemol, in the Melette, helping to stop the Austro-German offensive. In January 1918 he participated in an offensive on the Asiago plateau which resulted in the conquest of the Col d'Echele, which earned him a third silver medal for military valor. After a period of rest in the rear between the area of Vicenza and Mussolente, in June his battalion participated in the Second Battle of Monte Grappa, and in October in the battle of Vittorio Veneto. On 27 October 1918 his battalion, together with a French one, first crossed the Piave at Pederobba, forming a bridgehead over the river. Due to the destruction of a walkway, the two units remained isolated for two days resisting enemy counterattacks until reinforcements arrived. The attack resumed on the 30th, and after a fierce clash in the village of Settolo, De Cia entered in Valdobbiadene at the head of his men. For this action he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Savoy.