The son of a small farmer, he participated in the First World War initially as a private in the telegraph troops of the Royal Italian Army and later as a cavalry second lieutenant.

After the war he enrolled in the faculty of economic and commercial sciences of the University of Trieste, but was unable to complete his studies.

He joined the Fascist movement in 1920, participating in Trieste in the protests against the Italian Army’s intervention against the Regency of Carnaro (during which he was slightly wounded and arrested), and later in the march on Rome.

He thus participated in the meeting of the Grand Council on 25 July 1943, voting in favor of the order of the day that resulted in the downfall of the regime (he would later have motivated this choice by explaining that he intended "to relieve the Duce of many responsibilities" and that he "had the clear impression that there was a split between the Party, the people, and the army, and that the morale of the nation was shaken.

Despite his belated "repentance", in early October 1943 he was arrested by the Italian Social Republic and locked up in Regina Coeli prison - the first of the "traitors of 25 July" to be captured.