Mario Gorlier

First World War with the 3rd Alpini Regiment, participating in the conquest of Mount Krn and earning two Silver and one Bronze Medal of Military Valor.^[1][2][3][4] After promotion to lieutenant colonel on 1 December 1926, he was assigned to the general staff; on 16 March 1936, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and given command of the 2nd Alpini Regiment,^[5][6][7] and from 8 September 1939, he was transferred to the command of the Motorized Army Corps for special assignments, as a trusted collaborator of General Giovanni Messe.^[8]

Sixth Army, later taking on the task of organizing a defensive line on the mountains of Cefalù.^[15][16] On 15 August 1943, he was appointed commander of the 6th Alpine Division "Alpi Graie", stationed in Liguria.^{[17][18][19][20]} After the armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, his troops defended La Spezia and delayed the German forces enough to allow the Italian fleet to set sail for Malta; he then evaded capture by the Germans and lived in hiding until the end of the war.^[21][22]