Filippo Anfuso (1 January 1901 – 13 December 1963) was an Italian writer,
diplomat
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
and
Fascist
Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...
politician.
Biography
Anfuso was born in
Catania
Catania (, , Sicilian and ) is the second largest municipality in Sicily, after Palermo. Despite its reputation as the second city of the island, Catania is the largest Sicilian conurbation, among the largest in Italy, as evidenced also by ...
. His writing career started with a volume of short stories and poetry he published in 1917. Anfuso subsequently joined as a reporter with the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio in his attempt to seize
Fiume
Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
for Italy (1919–1921). He returned to write for ''
La Nazione
''La Nazione'' is one of the oldest regional newspapers in Italy, and was established on 8 July 1859. The paper is based in Florence.
History and profile
''La Nazione'' was founded by Bettino Ricasoli, interim head of the Tuscan government. The ...
'' and ''
La Stampa
''La Stampa'' (meaning ''The Press'' in English) is an Italian daily newspaper published in Turin, Italy. It is distributed in Italy and other European nations. It is one of the oldest newspapers in Italy.
History and profile
The paper was fou ...
'', reporting from various foreign countries. A friend of
Galeazzo Ciano
Gian Galeazzo Ciano, 2nd Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari ( , ; 18 March 1903 – 11 January 1944) was an Italian diplomat and politician who served as Foreign Minister in the government of his father-in-law, Benito Mussolini, from 1936 until 19 ...
, the two passed the exam for a career in
diplomacy
Diplomacy comprises spoken or written communication by representatives of states (such as leaders and diplomats) intended to influence events in the international system.Ronald Peter Barston, ''Modern diplomacy'', Pearson Education, 2006, p. 1 ...
at the same time (in 1925).
Anfuso was appointed to the Italian Consulate in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
(1927), then to the missions in
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
(1929),
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
(1931), the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
(1932), and
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
(1934). In 1936, Anfuso was seconded to
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War ...
's side during the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
. He was decorated for merit. In 1938, after Ciano was appointed
Minister of Foreign Affairs
A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
, Anfuso became Ministry head of staff.
Stefano Baldi
Stefano Baldi is an Italian ambassador and author. Since January 4, 2021, he is the Permanent Representative of Italy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2016 to 2020, he was the Ambassador to Bulgaria.
B ...
(27 May 2007) Scheda biografica Filippo Anfuso . Retrieved 9 December 2021.
In 1942 he became Minister in charge of the Italian Legation in Budapest. In 1943, after Mussolini escaped to
Northern Italy
Northern Italy ( it, Italia settentrionale, it, Nord Italia, label=none, it, Alta Italia, label=none or just it, Nord, label=none) is a geographical and cultural region in the northern part of Italy. It consists of eight administrative regions ...
with
Nazi
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
backing, Anfuso served as a
diplomat
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
for the newly founded
Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic ( it, Repubblica Sociale Italiana, ; RSI), known as the National Republican State of Italy ( it, Stato Nazionale Repubblicano d'Italia, SNRI) prior to December 1943 but more popularly known as the Republic of Salò ...
, representing it in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
. As Ambassador in Berlin, he took care of the problems related to the presence in Germany of thousands of Italian servicemen deported after the 1943 Armistice. His role in trying to protect some Jews persecuted by the Nazis was mentioned during the
Serafino Mazzolini
Serafino Mazzolini (9 June 1890 – 23 February 1945) was an Italian lawyer, fascist politician, and journalist.
Early life
Mazzolini was born in Arcevia, in the Marche. He founded a nationalist group in Macerata, and soon became editor of ...
as
undersecretary
Undersecretary (or under secretary) is a title for a person who works for and has a lower rank than a secretary (person in charge). It is used in the executive branch of government, with different meanings in different political systems, and is al ...
for the Republic's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
On 12 March 1945 the Rome High Court of Justice tried Anfuso and condemned him to death in absentia. He was found guilty of having cooperated with the Germans after the armistice on 8 September 1944, and was sentenced to be shot in the back."Monarchist AIM In Italy;
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT". 13 June ''The Times'' (London, England) Issue: 52647.
When the war ended in Italy's defeat, Anfuso had made his way to France, but was soon recognized and arrested there. He spent two years in prison, and after having been fully cleared by the French courts, he then exiled himself to
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
.
Anfuso requested and received a new trial. In 1949 the Perugia court of assize completely exonerated him."Signor Filippo Anfuso". 16 December 1963 ''The Times'' (London, England) Issue: 55885.
In 1950, he returned to Italy, going back to journalism and publishing several books. Having adhered to the
Neo-fascist
Neo-fascism is a post-World War II far-right ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. Neo-fascism usually includes ultranationalism, racial supremacy, populism, authoritarianism, nativism, xenophobia, and anti-immigration sent ...
Italian Social Movement
The Italian Social Movement ( it, Movimento Sociale Italiano, MSI) was a neo-fascist political party in Italy. A far-right party, it presented itself until the 1990s as the defender of Italian fascism's legacy, and later moved towards national ...
, he represented it in the
Italian Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies ( it, Camera dei deputati) is the lower house of the bicameral Italian Parliament (the other being the Senate of the Republic). The two houses together form a perfect bicameral system, meaning they perform identical funct ...
. Anfuso died on 13 December 1963, aged 62, while speaking on the floor in the
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
.
Family
On 13 April 1944, in Berlin, Germany, Anfuso married Kornélia "Nelli" Tasnady-Szüts (died 1995, Rome). In 1948, they had a daughter, Carmelina (died 2000, Rome, without issue), and, in 1951, a son, Francesco (died 1968, Abruzzi).
Works
* 1949, ''Du Palais de Venise au Lac de Garde'', Calmann-Levy, Paris
* 1950, ''Roma, Berlino, Salò (1936-1945)'', Garzanti, Milano, 1950
* 1951, ''L'innocenza del mezzogiorno e altri racconti'', Garzanti
* 1951, ''Rom-Berlin im diplomatischen Spiegel'', Pohl, München, Essen, Hamburg
* 1952, ''Die beiden Gefreiten - Ihr Spiel um Deutschland und Italien'', Pohl, München
* 1957, ''Da Palazzo Venezia al lago di Garda 1936-1945'', Cappelli, Bologna, 1957
* 1959, ''Da Jalta alla luna'', Tipografia Tambone, Roma, 1959
* 1962, ''Fino a quando?'', Edizioni del Borghese, Milano, 1962
* 1964, ''Discorsi ai sordi'', Ediltaroma, Roma, 1964