After Benito Mussolini's removal in 1943, de Courten combined professional command with political responsibility. He replaced Arturo Riccardi as chief of the naval staff while also becoming Minister of the Navy. When the armistice was announced in September, he persuaded fleet commander Carlo Bergamini to comply with its clauses and refrain from scuttling the ships. He then joined King Victor Emmanuel III and Prime Minister Pietro Badoglio in their flight from the capital to Brindisi. Preserving the fleet became part of Italy's transition to co-belligerence with the Allies.
Chapter · 3:36-4:06
Keeping the fleet from scuttling in 1943
After Mussolini's fall, de Courten combined the Navy Ministry and naval staff roles and urged the fleet to comply with the armistice rather than scuttle its ships.