Italian Government
Anniversary of Salvo D'Acquisto's Sacrifice
"He was 22 years old. He chose to die to save 22 lives.
On September 23, 1943, Carabinieri Deputy Brigadier Salvo D’Acquisto offered himself to the Nazis to save 22 innocent hostages. A gesture that still teaches us today what it truly means to wear a uniform: to serve, to protect, and to put others before oneself.
Eighty-three years after that heroic act, his example continues to speak to and inspire the men and women of the Carabinieri and the entire Defense Department.” So said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on the anniversary of Salvo D’Acquisto’s sacrifice.
On September 23, 1943, Salvo D’Acquisto, a young Deputy Brigadier of the Carabinieri,
chose to put the lives of others before his own, offering himself to the Nazis in exchange for the release of 22 innocent hostages.
He was shot in Palidoro (Rome). For his sacrifice, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor, and in February 2025, he was recognized as Venerable by the Catholic Church.
