Carmelo Borg Pisani Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Carmelo Borg Pisani

Born	(1915-08-10)10 August 1915 Senglea, Malta
Died	28 November 1942(1942-11-28) (aged 27) Paola, Malta
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Nationality	Maltese, British (till 1940)
Occupation	Spy, SIM
Years active	1941–1942

Carmelo Borg Pisani (born August 10, 1915 – died November 28, 1942) was a Maltese artist. He saw himself as Italian and supported the Italian political movement called Fascism. He was born in Senglea, Malta. He was put to death at Corradino prison in Malta because he fought for the Axis Powers as an Italian soldier during World War II.

The Italian government considers him an "Italian citizen." He received Italy's highest military award, the "Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare alla memoria" (Gold Medal of Military Valour), from the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III.

Italy's Highest Military Award
His Life and Mission
- Secret Mission to Malta
- Trial and Execution
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Italy's Highest Military Award

Carmelo Borg Pisani is the only Maltese person to receive Italy's "Gold Medal of Military Valour." He is also the only person not born in a territory that was officially part of the Kingdom of Italy to get this special award.

The medal's citation describes his bravery:

Maltese unredeemed and, as such, exempt from military service, repeatedly sought and was granted to be enlisted, despite a severe physical imperfection. As "Black Shirt" he participated in the Greek campaign, during which contracted an illness that should have been under way for surgical procedure, which he did not do for not being away from the battlefield even for a few days. Awarded to the official appointment of the maritime militia artillery, insistently he asked to be used in a risky enterprise of war, to which he prepared in the long months of training and study, in perfect peace of mind and in full awareness of the severity of hazards. Captured by the enemy, reaffirmed in front of the British court martial of Malta his Italian nationality and came under the lead of the firing squad shouting "Long live Italy in Malta". He is a shining example of heroism, faith, sacrifice and virtue military, which is linked to the purest traditions of irredentism. Malta, 1942

This quote explains that even though he was Maltese and didn't have to join the army, he really wanted to. He joined the "Black Shirts" and fought in Greece. He even put off surgery so he wouldn't leave the battlefield. He bravely took on a dangerous mission. When he was caught by the British, he told them he was Italian. He was executed while shouting "Long live Italy in Malta." The medal recognized his courage and sacrifice.

His Life and Mission

Carmelo Borg Pisani came from a respected Catholic family in Malta. He studied art and won a scholarship to study in Rome, Italy. While in Italy, he became a strong supporter of Fascism and the idea that Malta should be part of Italy.

He believed that Malta's culture was being harmed by British rule. He felt that the best way to help Malta was to remove the British. He said:

Malta is not British but for usurpation and I am not a British subject were it not because of this usurpation. My real fatherland is Italy. And so it is for it that I must fight. (Malta non è inglese che per usurpazione ed io non sono suddito britannico che per effetto di questa usurpazione. La mia vera Patria è l’Italia. È dunque per lei che devo combattere). Carmelo Borg Pisani

When World War II began on June 10, 1940, Pisani was still studying art in Rome. He had just asked to become an Italian citizen.

To achieve his goals, Pisani joined the Fascist party in Italy. He also joined the "Black Shirt" movement, which was a group of Fascist supporters. He even fought with Italian forces in Kefalonia, Greece. He officially became an Italian citizen in 1940. In 1941, he joined the Italian Navy.

Secret Mission to Malta

On May 18, 1942, Pisani was sent on a secret mission to Malta. He was meant to be the first spy for the Axis Powers on the island. This mission was part of Benito Mussolini's plan for Italy to take control of Malta. Mussolini believed that Malta rightfully belonged to Italy because of its culture and language.

Map of Malta in the XVI century, when Italian was declared the official language by the Knights of Malta, showing Dingle (the landing place chosen by Carmelo Borg Pisani for his 1942 secret mission)

Pisani landed at the Dingli Cliffs in Ras id-Dawwara. He moved his supplies into a cave he knew from his childhood. However, bad weather and rough seas washed away all his belongings within two days. He had no choice but to signal a British patrol boat for help. After being rescued, he was taken to a military hospital.

At the hospital, one of his childhood friends, British Captain Tom Warrington, recognized him. Pisani was then moved to Corradino prison. He was questioned and accused of treason, which means betraying one's country.

Trial and Execution

His trial began on November 12, 1942. The public was not allowed in the courtroom. This was to prevent any strong reactions from Maltese Fascists. However, by this time, most Fascists in Malta had already been sent away or deported.

During the war, Malta's usual legal rules were paused. So, there was no jury for Pisani's trial. The judges also did not consider that he had given up his British citizenship and become an Italian citizen. His fighting with the Italian Army against Greece (a British ally) actually made his situation worse.

On November 19, 1942, he was found guilty. He was sentenced to death for plotting against the British government and for treason. He was executed just nine days later.

A few days after his death, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy personally awarded him the "Gold Medal of Military Valour." The King considered Carmelo Borg Pisani an Italian soldier with Italian citizenship.

Pisani's Gold Medal

Today, some people in Malta believe his trial was unfair. Others argue that he should have been treated as a prisoner of war because he was an Italian citizen. Norman Lowell, a leader of a small political group in Malta, calls him a national hero.

Mussolini called him a "Maltese Martyr." In November 1943, Mussolini created a special army unit in his honor called the "Battaglione Borg Pisani." Other Maltese people who supported Italy fought in this unit.

Carmelo Borg Pisani is still considered Italian by the Italian government. His "Gold Medal for military valor" is still valid. His grave is still inside the Corradino prison where he was executed. He wrote a message inside his jail cell: "I vili ed i servi non sono graditi al Signore" (The cowards and the servants are not esteemed by the Lord).