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Philippo TsappiItalian Navy officer
Date of Birth: 25.11.1896
Country:  Italy |
Content:
Biography of Filippo Zappi
Filippo Zappi was an officer in the Italian Navy and a participant in the polar expedition led by Umberto Nobile aboard the airship "Italia" in 1928. He served as the airship's navigator. Zappi began his military career during the Italo-Turkish War and obtained his officer rank and dirigible pilot license during World War I.
Diplomatic Career
After returning from the expedition on the airship "Italia," Zappi pursued a diplomatic career. From 1929 onwards, he served as a consul in various European countries and China. He later became the ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Finland. Zappi was appointed as Italy's first ambassador to Saudi Arabia after the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1947.
Controversial Fame
Zappi gained questionable notoriety due to his involvement in Nobile's expedition on the airship "Italia." Five days after the airship's crash, on May 30th, Nobile allowed a group of three expedition members – Malmgren, Mariano, and Zappi – to make their own way to safety at their own risk. On July 12th, the surviving Mariano and Zappi were rescued by Soviet sailors aboard the icebreaker "Krasin." Witnesses reported that Zappi had warm clothing, including Malmgren's, and two extra sets of clothes, and he was in good physical condition, while Mariano was undressed and weakened.
According to Zappi, Malmgren passed away approximately a month before the arrival of the "Krasin" and gave him the warm clothing before his death. Shortly after this story was published in newspapers, a version emerged suggesting that Zappi survived because he consumed Malmgren. However, this accusation was neither confirmed nor disproven. Nobile, who did not believe the claims of cannibalism, wrote in his memoirs that Zappi had been "cruelly slandered."
