Carmelo Borg Pisani
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Carmelo Borġ Pisani (August 10, 1915–November 28, 1942) was a Maltese nationalist and Fascist. He was born in Cottonera, Malta and executed at Corradino prison in Malta at 7:34 A.M. for treason and spying for the Axis Powers.[citation needed]
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[edit] Early life
Born into a very well respected Catholic and Nationalist Maltese family, Pisani enrolled as a student at the Umberto Primo art lyceum, where he won a scholarship to study in Rome. When war was declared on June 10, 1940, Pisani was still attending the University of Arts in Rome.[citation needed]
[edit] During World War II
Pisani believed that Malta's Latin soul was being destroyed by British rule. He also believed that the best opportunity to restore Malta to its original state was to remove the British. To this end, Pisani, along with many other Maltese students, joined the Fascist party of Italy and the Black Shirt (Camicie Nere) movement. This led him to participate in the Italian occupation of Kefallinia (also Cefalonia) in Greece with the Compagnia Speciale del Gruppo CC.NN. da sbarco della 50a Legione.[citation needed]
On May 18, 1942, Pisani was sent on a secret mission aimed to be the first Axis spy on the island of Malta. He disembarked at the Dingli cliffs in Ras id-Dawwara, and transferred all his rations to the cave, which he knew well from his youth. The unusually inclement weather and the rough sea, however, washed all his possessions away within 48 hours and he was forced to wave a British patrol boat. Upon rescue, he was brought to the Military Hospital at Mtarfa.[citation needed]
There, Pisani was recognized by one of his childhood friends, Cpt. Tom Warrington. He was transferred to Corradino prison, interrogated, and accused of treason. On November 12 1942, he stood trial. The public was excluded to avoid a possible hostile reaction from the Maltese Fascists, however, by this time, the fascists in Malta were either interned in Uganda or deported to Italy.[2] Since the Maltese Legal Code was suspended during the war, a popular jury was not convened. In addition, the judges did not consider his renouncement of British citizenship and passport, acquisition of Italian citizenship, and his participation in combat with the Italian Army. In fact, his participation in combat only served to weaken his position since he fought against Greece, an ally of the United Kingdom. On November 19 1942, he was sentenced to death for conspiring against His Majesty's government and for treason. His execution followed in nine days.[citation needed]
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Legacy
Some claim that he was a hero who fought for an independent Malta. Others say he was a puppet of Mussolini.
[edit] Trial and conviction
Some claim his trial was unfair and partial. Others also say he was a prisoner of war, and thus, entitled to different treatment.
[edit] Footnotes
^ Herbert Ganado relates the story of his capture differently (cf. Herbert Ganado - Rajt Malta Tinbidel, Book III, chap II pp.18-20, Interprint, 1977. There also is an English translation of the Book by Michael Refalo). There is a book by Lawrence Mizzi which specifically deals with this Pisani episode. Much less is known about the other Maltese which came close to a similar fate and were put to trial in 1946. Herbert Ganado describes these "Conspiracy Trials" (Book III, Chap. XXXI), in which seventeen Maltese were accused on charges of treason. Most of them were students living in Italy at the beginning of the war. Eleven of them could have been given the death penalty, however none of the accused received this sentence. One also has to remember when reading, that Herbert Ganado was very pro Italian.[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- Site which claims Pisani as a hero. It quotes Dom Mintoff, who served several times as the Prime Minister of Maltese government during British and independent times. (English and Maltese)
