Terzilio Cardinali (1913–1944) was an Italian fighter known for his role in Albanian resistance. He was born on July 25, 1913, in

Terranuova Bracciolini Terranuova Bracciolini is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Arezzo in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about northwest of Arezzo. Terranuova Bracciolini borders the following municipalities: Castel ...

. A baker by profession, as an anti-fascist he participated in clashes with

Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in ...

's Fascist gangs in his youth. When Italy capitulated on September 8, 1943, he was a sergeant in the Arezzo Division. After an appeal by Albanian partisans to continue their war against Germans, Terzilio together with other Italian soldiers formed the

Antonio Gramsci Battalion The Antonio Gramsci Battalion was formed on 9 November 1943 from captured Italian soldiers who wished to continue the war by resisting Nazi German forces in Albania. In the beginning its forces amounted to 137 men who chose their own leaders: Ter ...

. He was elected by his fellows as the commander of the battalion, a post he maintained up to July 8, 1944, when he was killed among fierce fights in Strelce, Dibër region. For his deeds he was decorated with Gold Medallion of Honor by Albanian and Italian government. Today a street in Rome is named after him as are several in Albania notably Rruga Tercilio Kardinali in Peshkopi, Albania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cardinali, Terzilio 1913 births 1944 deaths Italian military personnel killed in World War II People from the Province of Arezzo Italian soldiers Italian resistance movement members Recipients of the Gold Medal of Military Valor