Galeazzo Ciano

Gian Galeazzo Ciano, 2nd Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari (1903–1944) was an Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Benito Mussolini's son-in-law. A fighter pilot during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, Ciano returned home a hero and succeeded Mussolini as Foreign Minister. He was present at the Munich Conference in 1938, but played a nominal role. Initially supportive of Italy's participation in the Axis alliance, he grew disenchanted as World War II turned against his country. He helped oust his father-in-law from power in 1943, but subsequently fell into Mussolini's clutches the following year, when Mussolini created a rump government in northern Italy. Ciano was executed by firing squad.

Galeazzo Ciano in Worldwar
Galeazzo Ciano's failure to participate in a 1942 London conference of human powers combatting the Race signaled to all present that Italy would no longer resist the aliens. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull pointed out Ciano's absence. Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov was privately amused by Hull's jibe.