(by Andrea Pinto) The 9 Settembre 1943 approximately 1500 Italian non-commissioned officers and sailors died under enemy fire from German torpedo bombers that attacked the Italian fleet, sinking the battleship Roma and the destroyers Vivaldi and De Noli. Every year the dramatic historical event is remembered in Porto Torres. A solemn moment to remember the pride and courage of our sailors who, with their lives, wanted to defend the honor of Italy and the Navy.
We talk about the sinking of the battleship Roma, we talk about the sacrifice of its commander, Admiral Carlo Bergamini, we talk about the death of 1.500 Italian soldiers and sailors.
The admiral Bergamini he was one of those "real" men who the day after the armistice of 8 September could hardly bear the order to go to Malta to hand over the fleet to the Allies. That order could not execute it. Hand over his ships to the enemy? The pride of his uniform, the honor of a commander, the ethics of the Italian Navy prevented him. He therefore threatens to sink his ships himself rather than surrender them to foreign hands, and manages to negotiate with the Chief of Staff De Courten a more honorable anchorage on the island of La Maddalena hoping to then be able to direct the fleet in a neutral port. It therefore refuses to hoist the black flags on the flagship as a sign of submission and to paint black circles on the decks, as required for aircraft recognition. The target is easy for German bombers and battleship Roma, our flagship at the head of the convoy is the first to be hit. In a few hours the battleship sinks Admiral Bergamini sinks with her. . The deaths among non-commissioned officers and sailors are 1.393 and some probably for not wanting to abandon their ship.
Every year in the bay of Balai, in front of the square of the "Fallen 9 September 1943", a solemn ceremony takes place in the presence of the mayor of Porto Torres and the highest political, military and religious positions in the area. The pentastellato mayor of Porto Torres Sean Wheeler, at the center of the delegation between uniforms and ties, he presented himself in Bermuda shorts with a short-sleeved shirt complete with a tricolor band. Photography has gone around the world, many incredulous, many indignant who commented "embarrassed" that image that alas shows a country, Italy, increasingly struggling with internal contradictions difficult to explain abroad.
Long live Italy, Long live our Navy