Career
A specialist of aerial warfare, Riccardi frequently worked with senior German naval officers on the defense of the Italian peninsula. Born to Adolph Riccardi and Ifigenia Rasini Di Mortigliengo in Pavia, Italy, (although other sources claim Saluzzo), Riccardi entered the Italian military academy to become a successful career soldier. Heading the Cabinet to the Ministry of Navy from 6 February until 13 May 1925, Riccardi was finally made an admiral on 8 September 1932.
Riccardi"s first major engagement took place at the Battle of Taranto, from 11 November to 12 November 1941.
Succeeding Admiral Domenico Cavagnari as chief of staff of the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) on 11 December 1940, Riccardi became de facto commander of the existing Ministries for wartime aviation and naval forces. Riccardi did this in addition to his position as the Department of the Navy"s Undersecretary of State.
Meeting with representatives of the Nazi Germany"s Kriegsmarine, Riccardi led the Italian Royal Navy delegation, along with Raffaele de Courten, Emilio Brenta, and Carlo Giartosio during the Conference of Merano, from 13 February to 14 February 1941. Riccardi was forced to surrender both positions on 25 July 1943, following the downfall of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini"s fascist regime.
Under the new Pietro Badoglio administration, Raffaele de Courten officially succeeded Riccardi as Naval Minister and, after 1945, the position came up in the new Ministry of Defense.
