Maurilio Coppini – Italian Consul in occupied Odessa (1942-1944): activities and main milestones of his biography

Abstract

The article examines the activities of the famous Italian diplomat Maurilio Coppini in Odessa during 1942-1944. The main milestones of his biography are revealed. Thus, Coppini was born in 1900 in Florence. Having begun his career in 1925, he served in Moscow, Belgrade, Helsinki and Munich, where he received excellent diplomatic training. In particular, in 1926 he was sent to Moscow. From 1928 to 1931 he was in Kharkov. From 1931 to 1932 Maurilio Coppini worked in Belgrade. From 1933 to 1934 he was trained in Rome, and from 1935 to 1940 he served in Helsinki. From 1940 to 1941, he held the post of Consul General of Italy in Munich. In 1942, by decision of the Italian government, Coppini was transferred to a consular post in Odessa. Maurilio Coppini's main task in Odessa was to protect the rights of Italians, return Italian property, open a number of commercial enterprises, organize courses in the study of the Italian language and culture, and prepare reports to his government. Maurilio Coppini remained as Italian Consul in Odessa until April 1944, when Odesa was liberated from the Romanian-German occupiers. And unexpectedly for himself, he found himself in Vienna. In 1947, he was appointed Consul General of Italy in Zurich, where his obligations were significant, but administrative in nature. Coppini was a very keen observer and a tireless correspondent. There was no important subject on which he did not report, adding comments and opinions of rare insight. These included Swiss neutrality, elections, military preparations, etc. In 1958 he was transferred to Tokyo. Just a year after his arrival he was tasked with preparing the visit to Rome of Japanese Prime Minister Kishi, who held important talks with Prime Minister Senyi and Foreign Minister Pella, and was also received by the head of state. Coppini's reports at the time illustrate Japan's relations with Europe, with NATO, with Asian security, with Chinese communism and with the countries of the Third World. Of course, without neglecting domestic political aspects, including the new significance of the Crown Prince's engagement, the characteristics of the Japanese far right, political elections, etc. Coppini returned to Rome in the spring of 1964, about a year before his retirement in March 1965. He died on 24 January 1986.