Gian Galeazzo Ciano, 2nd Count of Cortellazzo and Buccari (18 March 1903 – 11 January 1944) was an Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Benito Mussolini's son-in-law. A fighter pilot during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, Ciano returned home a hero and succeeded Mussolini as Foreign Minister. He was present at the Munich Conference in 1938, but played a nominal role. Initially supportive of Italy's participation in the Axis alliance, he grew disenchanted as World War II turned against his country. He helped oust his father-in-law from power in 1943, but subsequently fell into Mussolini's clutches the following year, when Mussolini created a rump government in northern Italy. Ciano was executed by firing squad.