The 7 February 1909 was born at Piacenza Amedeo Guillet, by Alfredo, Colonel of the Royal Carabinieri, and Frank Gandolfo. His family was aristocratic backgrounds source Piedmontese House of Savoy. The Baron Amedeo Guillet was educated at’ Modena Military Academy and became a brilliant Cavalry officer. He led a carefree life that led him to important international social groupings. While training with the Olympic team of horse racing for the Olympics 1936 l’ Italy began his colonial expansion in’ East Africa. The sense of duty and loyalty to the Crown and a fervent patriotism departed the luxury of a comfortable life to venture into a path without certainties. With l’ landing in the Horn of Africa in’ August 1935, for Amedeo began its history in that continent that lasted eight years. The 3 October 1935 began the colonial war and Amedeo was put in charge of 200 Libyan fighters called spices, mercenaries arrived with their horses, armed themselves and paid 10 livres per day. To be able to command realized that she should know the’ Arabic, then joined the Koranic school children and learned l’ Arabic. With these basics, He was able to establish a relationship of mutual respect with his militiamen. He never lost a chance to underline his proverbial luck. He distinguished himself in hand-to-hand combat on’ plateau Selaclacà, saved by a bullet strayed from his saddle, He was injured hand but also acquired its first medal winner (fresco). While in may 1936 the Italians came to Addis Ababa and conquered l’ Ethiopia Amedeo was called to go to Libya. He was hired by Italo Balbo tasked to train horses for the ceremony on the occasion of’ arrival in Libya by Mussolini. In the second part of the 1936 He had to return to Italy to be operated with one hand. He would have had to spend ten days became then a month's convalescence to Naples where he met Beatrice, a beautiful girl fell in love. He wished to marry her, While fascism had introduced the matrimonial law. If Amedeo was married would be automatically increased by grade. In order not to fall into the’ misunderstanding of a wedding to do this, He preferred not to marry her despite his feelings. Guillet decided that full military honours would have been able to get to the merits of the war and not behind a woman, for this reason in’ summer of 1937 went to fight in Spain at the head of a team of daring. L’ Spanish adventure marked the first in a series of camouflage that characterized the life of Guillet. Wearing breeches and boots Amedeo Guillet changed identity becoming Alonso Gracioso and led the’ assault on San Pedro del Romeral, which paved the way to the conquest of Santander. Francisco Franco that firm awarded him medals and decorations, wounded in the leg but then had to return to Africa. He was seen in a hospital in Tripoli where he met a Libyan student of medicine, but being a Jew for new racial laws would have to leave his studies. Amedeo found intolerable this solution and it activated successfully at Italo Balbo to save the girl. Meanwhile within him began to question the dogma of’ Fascist Italy in the name of a higher justice. It was the time to participate in person at a very delicate mission in Eritrea. The Duke d’ Aosta gave l’ commissioned to create a militia to defend the population from the phenomenon of banditry. One day he helped villagers find of livestock stolen and as a sign of gratitude the chieftain received him into his hut. There he met the boss's daughter, Khadija, of sixteen. A very determined young man. Amedeo broke into the girl's heart. When he took his leave from the village chief some followed him to fight with him, among them Khadija. For a time he was rather refractory to gestures of affection of girlfriend. One day one of the spices a good friend of Guillet died in a fight and at night was overcome by sadness. Khadija cried with him and went back to bed while Amedeo, the girl took place on the carpet. Softened, the brought in her bed. Thus began a romantic relationship between the two. Meanwhile the war leading departed from his principles assimilated into general Academy and his beliefs began to falter. He had to fight against rebels led by Negus d’ Ethiopia, and l’ order from Rome was to kill them once captured. He heard her to comply with that order and proposed to captured to fight at his side. His speech was very clear, who wants to come to, but who betrays will be killed. And even on that occasion had the’ approval of the Duke of’ Aosta. In two months also provided an armed gang on horseback. Meanwhile, the 10 June 1940 the Italy went to war. The situation in Africa was made for complicated, the British were having the better of the Italian troops. Nell’ April 1941 the situation in Italy was already hopelessly compromised. The Italians defeated left Asmara to Britain. Lieutenant Guillet no more orders and references from his superiors unexpected decisions. Despite the Commander-in-Chief had signed the surrender Guillet did not stop. His idea was to drive the enemy. Resist for tying up the part of the’ enemy army and not let it go to Libya to fight against the Italians on that front already devastated. Feeling abandoned by the high military hierarchy for Amedeo came time to switch identities. He undressed the Italian military uniform, to dress Arab dresses. Changed name to Ahmed Abdallah Al Rachatamethee, to explain his presence in Africa said that a Yemeni stuck there after the collapse of’ Italian Empire. He was also a spiritual transformation, believe in God and pray with the Catholic ritual or indifferent to Muslim. For he was made the comparison with a figure of legend Lawrence d’ Saudi. Then came the moment when Amedeo decided a steep maneuver. Hidden his troops in a dry river bed Creek attacked by surprise the English infantry knowing that the enemy tanks they couldn't respond so as not to affect his infantry. You came to create such a mess that the battle lasted several hours and won. From that moment began to circulate the news that enterprise, the press began to speak of the devil Commander, his nickname. The British secret service in the person of Max Harari were fascinated by the report on Guillet although began hunting all’ man for Lieutenant in Italian 1941. Maj. Harari took to gather information on any aspect of Guillet. His size was a thousand pounds. Amedeo always disguised as Arabic was deftly English headquarters to denounce the Lieutenant Guillet, to mislead and pocketed the money of his own size. One evening hearing an Italian music Amedeo was seized with homesickness, but his home had been already been surrounded by British troops. Amedeo leaped from the window and began fleeing to the Hill, Despite the howls of the English that the intimassero to surrender. A shot in the air and then a Sergeant English took aim, but to save his life he was a farm worker saying that’ man was only a Muslim deaf that he was going to pray. Amedeo felt everything and came up the Hill and collapsed bowing in prayer. Wounded and tired in those days knew he couldn't continue the staging. Recommended by its decided to dissolve the gang to flee to Yemen, neutral country friend of’ Italy. He had to leave even through tears Khadija. Only one of his men accompanied him, the Yemenite Daifallah. Reached Massawa you put in a slum and start to do menial jobs. Did l’ waterseller, He sold l’ water at a penny the ghirba Bernardo, and curiously succeeded in making friends and earning more than from second lieutenant in Italy. In a short time could be paid so the transfer in Yemen. Guillet and Daifallah agreed with smugglers for a ride, but after a day of browsing the smugglers for fear of being sued by two for a round of guns stolen and hidden on the ship, they threw the two at sea. Slipping past the sharks the two reached by swimming Buri peninsula and deep into the desert. Tired and thirsty landed near a well where they encountered nomadic shepherds instead of helping them beat them and left them bleeding under the desert sun. Desperate continued their journey, losing the route. One night thinking I was close to death and convinced they have a mystic Vision tried salvation. It was not quite so. Al Sayed Ibrahim al Yemani was a merchant who went to town. As a good Samaritan rescued the two, turned its back and took them to his house. Fed them and proposed to marry her daughter and live them Guillet. For a moment he was tempted after all the pain suffered, but then from Piedmont stubborn decided to apportion. In Massaua posing as a Yemeni mental patient, he achieved a smooth passage for the Yemen. In December 1941 He arrived in the port of Odeida. There he realized he could do the Yemenite in Ethiopia but not in Yemen. Port officer became suspicious and sent him to jail accusing him of being a British spy. Ironically it was the English to save his life. Just became aware of’ arrest of Guillet asked Yemen to extradite him immediately. Yemenis you became suspicious about why that prisoner squashed was so important to the British. The King of Yemen, l’ Imam Yahya, You intrigued and invited him to the Palace by being tell his story. The King was impressed and his horse's ability saved the life. Not only freed him by giving him a special tasks, “Great Blacksmith at Court”, but struck a friendship with the young Italian and appointed him tutor to his children. Amedeo remained one year employed by receiving a salary from Colonel. The urge to leave was still the best. The Italian Red Cross at that time provided a ship to reach’ Italy. Reached Massawa and once again had to try to escape to the British. His friends of the harbour had not forgotten him and helped him sneak furtively on ship. The captain of the ship at first believed to be Arabic did not want him, then Amedeo explained the situation and then got to hide in the asylum of the ship all the way. The 2 September 1943 arrived in Rome. L’ Italy was different from what he had left. The first thing he did was to reach the army command in Rome, but here he discovered that in the meantime by Lieutenant had become Greater and who had sought in vain to tell them without finding it. At that time Amedeo maintained its presence in Italy hidden to the family and to Beatrice, He wanted to keep the promise he made to his fellow soldiers in Africa. He chose the most amazing, to continue to fight. The war Office authorized Guillet in his plan, or reach’ Ethiopia and lift people to him and continue the war. A few days after the’ Armistice changed that, the British became allies of’ Italy. And then it all ended. Went looking for the King who in the meantime had moved to Brindisi. The King received him and after having thanked him for his service left him to civilian life. Since then Guillet felt face an appointment too many times postponed, the one with Beatrice. The first thing he did was to tell her about his past relationship with Khadija. Beatrice cried, but he also acknowledged that maybe she wouldn't have been able to do the same good African girl. The 21 September 1944 Amedeo and Beatrice married in Naples, they had two sons Paolo and Alfredo. Only 37 years Guillet was promoted to full General. He agreed to cooperate with military intelligence. He was able to save some important files to end of war. At the end of 1945 for work he returned to Eritrea, but he also had an assignment given to him by his wife. The request was to revise Khadija and giving her a bracelet with a solitary to thank her for all she had done for him, and recognizing that if the African girl had come first in the life of Amedeo deserved her spot. The two met in a tea room, It was a very intense moment. Both aware that this was l’ last time you would be seen. Stetterò few hours holding hands without speaking, then Khadija clenched his bracelet and greeted him without looking back with pride and dignity. The really of Guillet isn't over. In the 1950s, Amedeo Guillet leveraging l’ experience gained became a diplomat. Ambassador d’ Italy in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco and in India. Fortune continued to accompany him as when he survived unscathed in two crashes on the same day. It was a direct witness and unharmed of two coups in Yemen and Morocco. The Mission for him became to promote dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims. Curious aspects of his life we must mention the fact that Amedeo had in his house the relic of a thorn from the Crown of Christ, and he owned in his stable l’ last descendant of Muhammad's horse. In Italy he was almost a stranger, While in England he was honored even by those who fought as the major Max Harari. L’ British secret agent Vittorio Dan Segre, who gave chase to war became over the years, his friend and biographer. In November 2000 Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, conferred the highest Italian honour, the Grand Cross’ Military order of the Republic. In 91 years Amedeo returned to Africa to retrace some steps of his war. Eritreans welcomed him as the first Patriot dell’ Eritrean independence. He was received by the President of Eritrea with the honors of a head of State. Then came the time to revise a key man for him. The merchant Al Sayed Ibrahim al Yemani. The man did not recognize elder Italian and Heartsick for the collapse of the well could not buy him a drink. Nevertheless told him a story that over the years he has repeated to anyone who had encountered, or when he saved from the desert two Yemenis dying, How became attached to one of them. He concluded by stating that for him were sent by Allah that often tests the faith of his followers laying on their journey special meetings and miraculous. Amedeo is immediately recognized in that tale, but he did not want to destroy the portrait of two drifters sent by God. Amedeo told him that sooner or later the two pilgrims would reappear perhaps to adjust its well. He finally retired paid workers who that same night they fixed the old pit. Amedeo Guillet died on 16 June 2010 in Rome. His legend remains unknown, Ironically, in his own country, l’ Italy. A man who was soldier, guerrilla, secret agent, diplomat, longshoreman and Ostler. A man who has gone through a century with courage passion and a lot of humanity.
Hector Parker
