Ettore Ovazza

Ettore Ovazza
Ettore Ovazza
Born	March 21, 1892 (age 134); Turin, Italy
Died	October 11, 1943 (aged 51)
Occupation(s)	Financier, banker
Known for	Early backer of Benito Mussolini, founder of La nostra bandiera

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Ettore Ovazza, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Ettore Ovazza (21 March 1892 – 11 October 1943) was an Italian financier and banker who played a significant role as an early backer of Benito Mussolini, with whom he shared a close personal relationship. A devoted advocate of Italian fascism, he established the anti-Zionist publication La nostra bandiera (Our Flag). Even after the German forces occupied Italy during World War II, Ovazza remained steadfast, anticipating the restoration of his standing. Following the collapse of Fascism and Mussolini's regime, Ovazza and his family were executed by SS units near the Swiss frontier in 1943.

Early life and family

Originating from a prosperous Jewish banking lineage in Turin, Italy, Ovazza was one of three brothers. His father was a prominent leader within the Turin Jewish community. Although the family observed customs such as Passover, they were well assimilated into the upper echelons of Italian society. His father and siblings all served voluntarily during World War I.

World War I

After completing his law studies, Ovazza relocated to Germany with aspirations for a diplomatic career but enlisted as an officer when hostilities commenced in 1914. He endured defeat at the Battle of Caporetto. His wartime correspondence, published in 1928, received considerable acclaim for its patriotic tone. The postwar period in Turin was marked by social upheaval during the Biennio Rosso, generating apprehension within the Ovazza family.

Between war years

From the beginning, Ovazza was a dedicated fascist and took part in the March on Rome in 1922. In 1929, he was part of a delegation comprising Jewish war veterans who met with Benito Mussolini to affirm their community’s loyalty to Italy. Mussolini’s favorable response further solidified Ovazza’s commitment to Fascism.

As Nazi racial theories gained traction, some Italian Fascists began adopting anti-Jewish positions despite Mussolini’s opposition to such ideologies. In 1934, following arrests of Jews in Turin accused of anti-fascist activities, Ovazza deepened his dedication to Fascist Italy. He launched La nostra bandiera (Our Flag) to emphasize Jewish participation in World War I and secured leadership roles within Turin's Jewish Fascist organizations.

When Italy launched its campaign against Abyssinia in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Ovazza volunteered for service but was declined. Despite escalating antisemitism, he continued to receive distinctions: in 1935 for contributions related to Libya’s colonial administration and in 1936 as a member of the honorary guard at the royal tomb at Superga.

World War II

The enactment of the Italian racial laws in 1938 had a profound effect on Ovazza’s family and business interests. These discriminatory laws prohibited Jews from marrying Italians classified as Aryan, attending public schools, teaching, or holding government positions. They also curtailed Jewish ownership of land and limited employment capacities. By 1939, Jews faced exclusion from most professions, dissolution of their organizations, and many chose conversion or emigration. This legislation effectively terminated Ovazza’s banking activities. He was expelled from the Fascist party while his brother was removed from military service.

Although his brothers urged him to leave Italy, Ovazza chose to stay, hoping Mussolini would rescind these measures. He wrote an earnest letter to Mussolini expressing his disbelief and steadfast loyalty: "I cannot consider changing religion, because it would be a betrayal – and we are fascists... I turn to You – DUCE – so that... you do not exclude that healthy Italian part from the destiny of our Nation."

Death

After Italy capitulated to the Allied forces in 1943, Ovazza moved to the Valle d'Aosta with the intention of entering Switzerland. However, he was apprehended by the SS and executed alongside the majority of his family members; only his daughter Carla survived by taking refuge in Paris. Their remains were burned in Intra, Italy.

Legacy

A fictionalized narrative of his life was penned by his grandnephew, Alain Elkann. His great-grandnephew is John Elkann, who is Alain Elkann's son.

Works

E. Ovazza, Il diritto internazionale e la conflagrazione bellica. La proprietà privata. Turin: Tipografia Baravalle e Falconieri, 1915.
L. Perigozzo, O bionda creatura (canto e piano), text by E. Ovazza. Turin: Perosino, 1915.
E. Ovazza, L'uomo e i fantocci. Verità in tre momenti. Milan: Modernissima, 1921.
E. Ovazza, Ghirlande (liriche). Milan: Modernissima, 1922.
E. Ovazza, In margine alla storia. Riflessi della guerra e del dopoguerra (1914-1924), preface by V. Buronzo. Turin: Casanova, 1925.
L. Perigozzo, Quattro impressioni, text by E. Ovazza. Bologna: Bongiovanni, 1925.
E. Ovazza, Diario per mio figlio. Turin: Sten, 1928.
E. Ovazza, Lettere dal campo (1917-1919), with notes and preface by D.M. Tuninetti. Turin: Casanova, 1932.
E. Ovazza, Politica fascista. Turin: Sten, 1933.
E. Ovazza, Sionismo bifronte. Rome: Pinciana, 1935.
E. Ovazza, L'Inghilterra e il mandato in Palestina, preface by A. Pozzi. Rome: Pinciana, 1936.
E. Ovazza, Sita (poemetto indiano), woodcut by B. Bramanti. Florence: Rinascimento del Libro, 1937.
E. Ovazza, Il problema ebraico. Risposta a Paolo Orano. Rome: Pinciana, 1938.
E. Ovazza, Guerra senza sangue (Da Versaglia a Monaco). Rome: Pinciana, 1939.

Bibliography

Roberta Raspagliesi, "Fascist Jews Between Politics and the Economy: Five Biographical Profiles," in Michele Sarfatti (ed.), Italy's Fascist Jews: Insights on an Unusual Scenario, CDEC Foundation, Milan, 2017.
Alexander Stille, Benevolence and Betrayal: Five Italian Jewish Families Under Fascism, Summit Books, New York, 1992.
G. Valabrega, "Prima notizie su 'La Nostra Bandiera'," in Ebrei, fascismo, sionismo, Argalia, Urbino, 1974.
P. Spagnolo, "Aspetti della questione ebraica nell'Italia fascista," in Annali del Dipartimento di scienze storiche e sociali, 1986–87.
A. Stille, Uno su mille. Cinque famiglie ebraiche durante il fascismo, Mondadori, Milan, 1991.
L. Klinkhammer, Stragi naziste in Italia. La guerra contro i civili (1943-1944), Donzelli, Rome, 1997.
L. Ventura, Ebrei con il duce. "La Nostra Bandiera", 1934-1938, Zamorani, Turin, 2002.
E. Holpfer, "L'azione penale contro i crimini in Austria," in La Rassegna Mensile di Israel, LXIX (2003).
G.S. Rossi, La destra e gli ebrei. Una storia italiana, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2003.
M. Angeletti, Ettore Ovazza (1892-1943), un ebreo ad oltranza, University of Trento thesis, 2005.
P. Lazzarotto & F. Presbitero,Sembra facile chiamarsi Ovazza, Edizioni Biografiche, Milan, 2009.
Vincenzo Pinto,"Fedelissimi cittadini della Patria che è Madre comune," in Nuova Storia Contemporanea, XV(5), 2011.

External links

Ettore Ovazza and Nella Sacerdote Ovazza hosted by CDEC
Ettore Ovazza, Riccardo Ovazza, and Elena Ovazza available at CDEC
Fascismo e questione ebraica [Literally "Fascism and the Jewish Question"] on Italian Wikipedia
I grandi fascisti ebrei accessible via Jacopobarbarito
The Jewish Fascist published on Toritto
Italian Shoah Names: Ettore Ovazza profile found at Nomi della Shoah
The prophetic denunciation by Jewish fascists against Zionism authored by Italian fascism historians at Biblioteca Fascista de ilCovo
Quest. Issues in Contemporary Jewish History. Journal of the Fondazione CDEC available at Quest. Issues in Contemporary Jewish History
The Shoah in Italy: Themes, Challenges, and Historiography accessible on Novecento.org
Stories Out Of The Silence featured in Newsweek
L'uomo e i fantocci preserved at Internet Archive
Faces of Memory. Photographs of Jews deported from Italy hosted by CDEC