Arconovaldo Bonaccorsi

Arconovaldo Bonaccorsi (1898 – 2 July 1962) was an Italian Fascist soldier, politician and lawyer. Nicknamed "Conte Rossi", he played a prominent role in organising the Falangist conquest of the island of Majorca during the Spanish Civil War. Born in Bologna in 1898, Bonacorsi was a fanatical and idealistic fascist from the first moment he met Benito Mussolini after World War I. In 1922 he participated in the March on Rome as leader of the fascists from Bologna. He graduated from the prestigious Universita di Bologna as an attorney in 1928, and soon began defending Italian fascists. In the early 1930s he married and had three children. His moment of glory came when Mussolini sent him to the Balearic Islands at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Arriving in Majorca in August 1936, he became known as 'Conde Rossi' ("The Red Count"), a name derived from his red beard. He was soon able to galvanize Nationalist forces on the island, leading them in a decisive victory over the Republicans at Manacor. Gilberto Oneto, an Italian journalist, wrote the following about Bonaccorsi and the Italians in Majorca: The nationalist revolt, suppressed in all of Catalonia, has happened successfully only in the island of Mallorca, but the Republicans are going to occupy it. The Italian government has a strong interest (not just strategic) in the Balearic Islands. Action is needed urgently. Need someone skilled enough, smart, determined and ruthless, and they remember the beefy bolognese squadrista Bonaccorsi. On 26 August 1936 he landed at Palma, calling himself Count Aldo Rossi ("Conde Rossi" or el Conde de Leon y Son Servera for Spanish). Resolutely takes command of the disorganized local nationalist forces, puts together 2.500/3.500 men between soldiers, legionaries of Tercio, volunteers, soldiers of the Guardia Civil and Falange, and deals with strong decision against the Republican forces (6000 to 10,000 men) landed 10 days prior to Manacor, commanded by General Alberto Bayo, a theorist of guerrilla warfare and the future "ideal teacher" of Fidel Castro.