Luigi Corsi

He was born in La Spezia on April 4, 1898, the son of a naval officer, and entered the Naval Academy of Livorno at a young age, being commissioned as ensign in 1916. He took part in the First World War on surface vessels, being promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1917 and to lieutenant in 1918. After the end of the war he assumed command of the destroyer Confienza, with which in 1923 he participated in the occupation of the island of Corfu during the crisis between Italy and Greece. After promotion to lieutenant commander, in 1932 he received the command of the destroyer Espero, with which he spent a period in China (from February to October 1932), protecting Italian citizens and interests during the Sino-Japanese conflict.^[1][2]

In 1933 he was promoted to commander, and during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War he held the position of Chief of Staff of the 1st Naval Squadron; after the end of the war he became deputy commander and director of studies of the Naval Academy, as well as commanding officer of the training ship Amerigo Vespucci from 17 June 1936 to 13 May 1937. In 1939 he was promoted to captain, and on 1 March 1940 he assumed command of the heavy cruiser Zara. At the command of his ship he took part in the battle of Punta Stilo, on 9 July 1940 (for which he was awarded a War Cross for Military Valor), as well as in convoy operations and in sorties against British operations Hats and MB. 5. Zara later became the flagship of the commander of the 1st Cruiser Division, Admiral Carlo Cattaneo, and in this capacity took part in the battle of Cape Matapan.^[1][2]