born April 3, 1881, Pieve Tesino, near Trento, Tyrol, Austria-Hungary
died Aug. 19, 1954, Sella di Valsugana, Italy
Italian prime minister (194553).
He served in the Austrian parliament (191119) and sought the annexation of his native region of Tyrol to Italy. He later served in the Italian parliament (192127) as one of the founders of the Italian Popular Party . After 16 months' imprisonment as an antifascist, he became a Vatican librarian in 1929. In World War II he was active in the Resistance, and after the fall of the fascist regime he became leader of the newly formed Christian Democratic Party. As prime minister (194553), he enacted a new constitution, instituted land reform, and oversaw Italy's postwar economic reconstruction. Under his leadership Italy joined NATO, and he helped organize the Council of Europe and the European Coal and Steel Community .