Indro Montanelli Italian journalist and historian Date of Birth: 22.02.1909 Country: Italy

1. Indro Montanelli: A Legendary Italian Journalist and Historian
2. Early Life and Career
3. War Correspondent and Soldier
4. World War II
5. Partisan and Prisoner of War
6. Post-War Career
7. Return to "Corriere della Sera"

Indro Montanelli: A Legendary Italian Journalist and Historian

Indro Montanelli, an esteemed Italian journalist and historian, left an enduring mark on the world of journalism. With a career spanning seven decades, Montanelli witnessed and reported on major historical events, including interviews with Albert Einstein and Adolf Hitler.

Early Life and Career

Montanelli graduated from the University of Florence with a degree in law. His thesis, critical of Mussolini's electoral reforms, sparked his passion for journalism. He started contributing to publications like "Il Selvaggio" and "Universale," which supported the fascist regime. In 1935, he was forced to flee to Paris due to censorship.

War Correspondent and Soldier

During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Montanelli joined the Italian army. However, he was disillusioned by the brutality he witnessed. His letters home, published in "Corriere della Sera" without his knowledge, criticized the campaign's violence.

Montanelli also covered the Spanish Civil War, providing unbiased accounts that diverged from the government's propaganda. This led to his dismissal from Spain and a ban on his journalistic activities.

World War II

In 1939, Montanelli was assigned to report on the German invasion of Poland. Anticipating the war's eastward spread, he traveled to Kaunas, Lithuania. After the Soviet annexation of the country, he moved to Finland to cover the Winter War.

Partisan and Prisoner of War

Returning to Italy in 1944, Montanelli joined an anti-fascist partisan movement but was captured by the Germans. Sentenced to death, he escaped while being transferred to prison.

Post-War Career

Montanelli resumed his work at "Corriere della Sera" and gained prominence for his coverage of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. However, the newspaper's shift toward leftist politics led to his dismissal in 1973.

He founded "Il Giornale" in 1974, advocating for an anti-communist stance. In 1977, he survived an assassination attempt by the Red Brigades.

Return to "Corriere della Sera"

In the mid-1990s, Montanelli left "Il Giornale" over conflicts with its owner Silvio Berlusconi. He returned to "Corriere della Sera" in 1995, where he continued writing until his death in 2001.