JimZ

Granted Ed! No doubt that Italian bombs did a lot to quell the pro-Italian sentiment that could be witnessed in the decades that preceeded the war!!! Pisani never witnessed the suffering, destruction and death inflicted on the Maltese by the Italian and German raids. Notwithstanding any arguments for or against, the facts remain that his loyalties and ideals were misplaced. Indeed, I do agree that there are more complex undertones to this story, not only during the war but more also present day. Kev - I'll gladly look up those names to learn more about these spies. But a hypothethical question if I may - Had the balance of war shifted in favour of Germany, wouldn't those very same spies that you mentioned have been considered as heroes by the Germans? It is such a fine line that these people walk and for the very same dark deed (and irrespective of which side they spy for), only the tides of war will finally bring to their name or memory, glory or shame! Jim

Hi Peter, Very nice!!! Any chance you can post pics of the inside of the helmet? Does the helmet have its original chin strap? Jim

Yeah... Australian Math We're probably missing out on something. But figures apart - Although I love the display, I think that the use of replicas somehow foes not do honour to the shrine! IMHO! I have once stood infront of a collection or WW1 trios at a friend's house. I was humbled by the odd 40 or 50 groups he owned. But I think, that if I had to stand infront of all these replicas, it somehow not do it for me! Jim

Hiya Kev! Oh he is definitely guilty as charged! No dispute at all! But then again, he chose to depart from country and family. Perhaps if he does deserve any form of honour this is indeed the sole business of the Italian Govenrment and to be conferred on him in Italy and not in Malta. Over 60 years have passed since. The debate goes on and the story still remains something of a hot potato! On my end and speaking as a Maltese national, I would not like to see him glorified for what was in my opinion an act of treason. But I also like to think that as an intelligent man, he was more than just a puppet, who chose his cause (albeit IMHO a wrong one) and stuck to it until the end. Jim

And of course, look out for the following one in the Imperial War Museum! Jim

But Maggiore Tesei is known for having invented the Slow Moving Torpedo known as the "Maiale" (Pig) A full write up including some technical data can be seen on http://www.regiamarina.net/arsenals/slc/sl...echnical%20Data Also for full pics of a restored Italian Maiale please check http://www.psubs.org/museum/gosport_maiale.html

The bridge where Tesei crashed his torpedo The bridge (or lack) of as it stands today

Teseo Tesei Preparations for the attack Pic source: http://www.regiamarina.net/xa_mas/malta/malta_us.htm

A walk in the National War Museum of Malta as well as the Italia Naval Museum in Venice reveals two of the weopons that have always fascinated me. These are the human torpedoes! Having waged a war against Malta, the Italians used a number of weopons which were supposed to keep a low profile and yet, have a devastating effect on their target. The first type of human torpedo is the one used in 1941 by Maggiore Teseo Tesei. towards the end of July 1941, the 10th Flottilla planned an attack on the Maltese harbour. An aerial bombardment was to distract the gun emplacements around the harbour and the boats would sneak in and launch their attack on the fortifications and on the ships within the harbour. The plan in itself was daring and brave but had a few flaws. The arial bombardment was nothing more than a solitary plane attacking the defences, and unknown to the Italians, the radar installed on the Island picked up the incoming flottilla of boats. Moreover, most of the ships that were planned as targets were not in the harbour leaving the Italians with nothing of substance to attack! The plan in itself was already doomed, only that Maggiore Tesei plowed hid craft into the bridge spanning the entrence to the breakwater. The blast of the torpedo pulled part of the bridge down, obstructing the remaining boats that had not already been destroyed from entering the harbour. A disaster indeed! One of these crafts was found beached nearby and is now on display at the local war museum.

I'll ty to get some articles translated as most of what has been written about Pisani was by the Italians. The Brits and Maltese after then have always shrugged him off and failed to give him any importance (which I believe he does deserve). On the other hand, he is sometimes getting the wrong sort of prominence by modern day pro fascist right wingers which does not really help his case. Although Pisani is pictured in uniform, Pisani was landed on the Island in civvie clothing with the idea of passing on information for a potential Italian Invasion. Being conversant in Maltese and English, he was to mingle with the locals and pass on vital information. Of course that constitutes spying and as far as the British were concerned, treason that was punishable by death. Whereas his loyalty as a Maltese should have lay with the crown, Pisani had nevertheless revoked his passport and citizenship and was, in all effects in Malta as an Italian citizen and spy. That makes Pisani guilty as charged. No argument. What is however disappointing is to see how this gentleman's Maltese family as well as the Maltese government to this date tread with great caution when Pisani is mentioned and they have denied him modern day posthumous honours that the Italian Government wanted to bestow on him. Pisani remains a recipient of the Italian Medaglia d'Oro al Valore Militare. Looking back at Maltese history, there was always an element of anti british sentiment and the latter did indeed persisted until the successful demand for indepedence in the 60's. With hind sight, Pisani just represented a pro italian (and alas, fascist) movement and he personally took things a step further by taking action about this. As history would have it, he played his hand too early. Jim

Gentlemen, For those of you who have not yet realised there is finally a new sub-forum in GMIC for the militaria and history of Mediterranean States. This means that the various countries bordering the Mediterranean and not having their own sub forum, can place 'homless' threads within this section. If it is Militaria or History and is connected with the Mediterranean, we are glad to read about it. I hope this section manages to attract a good following over time and I hope that we can share some of the military and historical wealth that the Mare Nostrum has to share with the rest of the world. Thanks for the platform Nick Jim

Great photos Christophe! But I do not get the math! This wall contains 4,000 service medals. Each represents 100 Victorians who have served Australia in war or peacekeeping, and six who have died. 4000 x 100 = 400,000 Victorians who served Australia....... 4000 x 6 = 24,000 who died And I am usually good with numbers! Also, the medals do seem to be in a rather new condition. Is Ed right in saying these are all REPROS? If that is the case I am disturbed at the idea of putting repros in such a memorial??? And if not.... if these are originals, my more disturbing question is - have groups been split to keep the medals in the what is very obviously, a display organised by medal type and not by group. I am puzzled! Jim

Probably happy that these boxes fell off the truck ..... and they know that the folks in GMIC are just the people to sell them to!!!! He he!!! Jim

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. 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. 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. 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. All would have gone well had Pisani not been 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. 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. Some claim that he was a hero who fought for an independent Malta. Others say he was a puppet of Mussolini. Some claim his trial was unfair and partial. Others also say he was a prisoner of war, and thus, entitled to different treatment. In recent years, Italy wanted to bestow further posthumous honours on Pisani for his services to Italy during the war. His family declined. Views remain split as to whether this man was a patriot, traitor or just a spy. What is sure is that his mission was totally unsucessful and almost totally doomed from its start! Jim

Hi Dan! Indeed your answer is confirmed correct. These Russian girls have quite a few interesting stories to tell! Regards, Jim

As I am sure my previous answer is correct I'll put this question up! You know, I can hardly think of you going into Easter without a question gnawing away at your heads!!! I just hope this question lasts long enough to see it through Easter Enjoy! Jim WHO AM I??? What was my full maiden name and later, my married name? When and where was I born and when and where did I die? What was my rank? Briefly what is the famous story that would take me to the front lines? What was I doing when I received my fatal wound and what decoration did I receive for this action? Hint: I died aged 39, only 7 days after my birthday

mmm.... hardly enough! He's also here, http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/bund38.htm with pic ... http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/por.../alexloehr1.jpg Catch ya shortly with something abit more.... erm... USSRish Jim

Info source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_L%C3%B6hr Other interesting article: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/kokkalis/GSW1/GSW1/16%20Gumz.pdf This guy comes from the wrong side of the Soviet and Eastern Block .... apart from being born and executed within. Jim

Alexander L?hr (May 20, 1885?February 26, 1946) was an Austrian Air Force commander during the 1930s, and after the Anschluss a Luftwaffe commander during the Second World War. He was born in Turnu-Severin, Romania and executed by firing squad in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He served as Platoon Commander of a Pioneer battalion in the 85th Infantry Regiment of the Austro-Hungarian army in World War I. By 1921 L?hr had reached the rank of Oberstleutnant. Between 1921 and 1934 he held many staff positions in the military, including Director of the Air Force in the Federal Armies Ministry. In 1934, he was made Commander of the small Austrian Air Force, a position which he held until the Anschluss in 1938. On March 15, 1938, he was transferred to the Luftwaffe where he became commander of the Luftwaffe in Austria. By then he had been promoted to Generalleutnant. He held many posts within the Luftwaffe including the leadership of the 12th Army between 2 July 1942 and July 11, 1942. He was its Commander-in-Chief through to December 1942. In 1943, he was Commander-in-Chief of South East (1 January to 23 August 1943) and at the same time Commander-in-Chief of Army Group E up to the end of the war. L?hr was imprisoned by the Yugoslavs from May 15, 1945 to 26 February 1946. He was found guilty of war crimes for the mass-murders of Yugoslav civilians and executed on 26 February 1946. Happy Easter Jim

Not as long as Zhirinovsky may have something to say about that Jim

No clue on my end Kev! I can sort of follow the language.... but when I could not read the upper part I asked my other half .... who hinted its just the same but in Kazhaki! So not as much help as I'd hoped she'd be! I've never come across anything of the sort so far - but then again, I hardly look beyond military ODMs - I am so narrow minded Jim

Thanks Tony! That poster was bought by an Irish guy who collected all things Irish! So of course the Tipperary bit did it for him! Its the only non positive feedback (neutral) I ever got when there was no reason at all for that! She was a good lass for as long as she stayed with me and I hope she did find a good home after all. But I suspect she may have not taken much of a fancy to him which explained why he left a neutral! Jim

Even stranger how in a thread entitled "Hero of Russia", we wind up speaking about Bush and Putin Jim

You gotta love these badges..... they keep you going round in circles 'Young shaver' and 'skin' .... is that Navy talk or some Cornish slang? Jim

Badge reads - "AlmaAty Joint Technical School" Alma Aty being the Capital of Kazhakistan I believe That is from the russian text at the bottom of the badge. As for the top .... I suspect the same thing its written - perhaps in Kazakhi? Jim