Nazario Sauro

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Nazario Sauro (September 20, 1880—August 10, 1916) was an Austrian-born Italian irredentist and sailor.

[edit] Life

Born in Capodistria (today Koper), nowadays in Slovenia, he took to sailing from a very young age, and became the captain of a cargo ship when he was only 20. Later, in 1910, Sauro became an employee of the shipping company Zuttiati, connecting ports in Istria and Dalmatia to San Giorgio di Nogaro and Cervignano del Friuli.

When World War I erupted, Sauro's Italian nationalism made him capture an Austrian vessel which he then sailed to Venice, joining other refugees who had gathered in the city and were pressuring Italy to join the conflict on the Entente side. When Italy did join the effort in 1915, he was a voluntary in the Italian Navy, and assigned to a torpedoing unit, acomplishing over 60 missions over a period of 14 months. In June 1916, he was promoted Sub-Lieutenant on the Giacinto Pullino submarine, and awarded a Silver Medal.

On July 30 of that year, Sauro's ship was sent over to carry out sabotage in Austrian Fiume, but it crashed into a rock in the Kvarner Gulf. The crew was intercepted by the Austrian destroyer Satellit, and made prisoner. Sauro was recognized and placed on trial for his previous act of treason, and, after facing a military tribunal in Pola (nowadays in Croatia) was sentenced to death and hanged.

He is remembered as a hero of Italy. Two ships of the Italian Navy were named in his honour: