Ciano, Galeazzo, Conte di Cortellazzo 1903-44
Italian politician and diplomat

Born in Livorno, Tuscany, the son of an admiral, he took part in the March on Rome and had a successful diplomatic career from 1925 to 1930, when, after marrying Mussolini's daughter, he was rapidly promoted to Under-Secretary for Press and Propaganda and a seat on the Fascist Grand Council. In 1936 he became Foreign Minister. He negotiated the Axis Agreement with Germany and supported the Italian invasion of Albania (1939) and the Balkans (1940-41), but was unenthusiastic about the invasion of France, especially after Hitler's unilateral and early declaration of war. Dismissed as Foreign Minister (February 1943), Ciano was one of those who called for the Duce's resignation in July 1943. He fled to Germany after his father-in-law's arrest but was blamed by Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop for Mussolini's defeat and was executed.