La "Prima Armata" italiana in Tunisia" (How the war in Africa ended. The "First Army" of Italy in Tunisia). His military popularity remained with him in civilian life and from 1953 to 1955, Messe was a democratically elected representative in the Italian Senate. He was also president of the Italian Veterans Association, a post which he held until his death. His life was profiled in a biography written by Luigi Argentieri titled "Messe—soggetto di un'altra storia" (Messe—subject of another history) published in 1997. Giovanni Messe died on 18 December 1968, at the age of eighty-five. Silver Medal of Military Valor – Gorizia, 21–23 May 1917