15 Facts About Salvo D'Acquisto

Salvo Rosario Antonio D'Acquisto was a member of the Italian Carabinieri during the Second World War.

When it became clear that the Germans intended to kill them, Salvo D'Acquisto "confessed" to being solely responsible.

Salvo D'Acquisto was executed by firing squad, but the civilians were released unharmed.

Salvo D'Acquisto was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valour.

Salvo D'Acquisto was given the title Servant of God by Pope John Paul II.

Salvo D'Acquisto was born in Naples, the eldest of eight children, three of whom died as infants and another as a child.

Salvo D'Acquisto left school at the age of 14, as was customary for working-class boys at the time.

Salvo D'Acquisto volunteered to join the Carabinieri in 1939 and left for Libya the following year, a few months before the start of the Second World War.

Salvo D'Acquisto returned to Italy in 1942 to attend officer school.

Salvo D'Acquisto graduated as a vice-sergeant and was assigned to an outpost in Torre in Pietra, a little rural centre on the Via Aurelia not far from Rome.

The next morning, Salvo D'Acquisto, having gathered some information, tried in vain to explain that the deaths were an accident, but the Germans insisted on their version of events and demanded reprisals, according to a standing order issued by Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring.

Salvo D'Acquisto then "confessed" to the alleged crime, declared that he alone was responsible for the "murder" and that the civilians were innocent, and demanded that they be released right away.

The process of beatification of Salvo D'Acquisto took place on 4 November 1983 and ended on 25 November 1991 with the consequent transmission of the documents to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

On 15 October 1987, Gaudenzio Dell'Aja was appointed by Cardinal Corrado Ursi, Archbishop of Naples archbishop delegate of the ecclesiastical tribunal for the canonical recognition of the mortal remains of Salvo D'Acquisto, which was carried out on 18 October 1987, at the Basilica of Santa Chiara in Naples, in the first chapel on the left, near the entrance.

An Italian war drama film, Fiamma che non si spegne, directed by Vittorio Cottafavi and starring Gino Cervi, was inspired by his sacrifice, as was an Italian biographical drama film, Salvo D'Acquisto, directed by Romula Guerrieri and starring Massimo Ranieri.