Augusto Turati (16 April 1888 – 27 August 1955) was an Italian journalist 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. Born in Parma, after moving to Brescia as a young man, Turati worked on newspapers and became one of the editors at the liberal ''Provincia di Brescia''; he attended law classes, but never graduated. An irredentist and advocate of Italy entering World War I, he volunteered for the front in 1915. In 1918, he returned to Brescia as head editor of the same newspaper. In 1920, he joined the '' Fasci Italiani di Combattimento'' - a year later, the National Fascist Party (''Partito Nazionale Fascista'', or PNF). Active in trade unionism for the régime-backed corporatist enterprises, Turati was a secretary for the Brescia '' Fascio''. In 1926-1930, he was secretary of the PNF, helping in the consolidation of

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in 194 ...

's rule. He doubled this task with leadership positions in sports: a Federtennis president, a Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera one, and leader of the Italian National Olympic Committee (jobs held in 1928-1930). In 1928 he and

Lando Ferretti Lando Ferretti (2 May 1895 in Pontedera, Province of Pisa – 8 January 1977 in Rome) was an Italian journalist, politician and sports administrator. Journalism After studying law and letters at the University of Pisa Ferretti became a journalis ...

founded a sports magazine, ''

Lo Sport Fascista ''Lo Sport Fascista'' was a monthly sports magazine which was published in Milan, Italy, during the fascist rule as the official organ of the fascist government. The magazine was in circulation between 1928 and 1943. History and profile ''Lo Sp ...

''. In 1930-1931, he was a member of the International Olympic Committee. Turati was also the inventor of a short-lived and supposedly uniquely Italian team sport which he called volata. Between 1924 and 1934, Turati served in the Italian Chamber of Deputies; in 1931-1932, he was the editor-in-chief of ''

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 ...

''. Accused of intrigues against other members of the PNF, Turati was demoted from official positions, and was confined on Rhodes (an Italian possession at the time) in 1933. Redeemed in 1937, he was released and assigned the task of carrying out a massive

agricultural Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating Plant, plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Sedentism, sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of Domestication, domesticated species created food ...

experiment in Ethiopia (part of Italian East Africa). He had to return to Italy after the project failed the next year. Turati moved away from the political scene, and worked as a legal consultant. He was however opposed to Italy's entry into World War II, as well as to the Nazi-protected

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 ...

; at the end of the war, he nevertheless faced trial, but was acquitted on all charges. He died in Rome.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turati, Augusto 20th century in Ethiopia 20th-century Italian journalists 20th-century Italian male writers 20th-century Italian politicians 1888 births 1955 deaths Italian fascists Italian magazine founders Italian male journalists La Stampa editors Politicians from Parma Writers from Parma Tennis executives