The Cervi Brothers (

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

: ''Fratelli Cervi'') were the seven sons of Alcide Cervi (1875-1970) and Genoeffa Cocconi (1876-1944), born in

Campegine Campegine ( Reggiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about northwest of Reggio Emilia. Campegine borders the following municipalities ...

Emilia-Romagna egl, Emigliàn (man) egl, Emiglièna (woman) rgn, Rumagnòl (man) rgn, Rumagnòla (woman) it, Emiliano (man) it, Emiliana (woman) or it, Romagnolo (man) it, Romagnola (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title ...

. The brothers and their father became renowned for their activities in the organized resistance to Italian fascism. After the

Italian Social Republic The Italian Social Republic ( it, Repubblica Sociale Italiana, ; RSI), known as the National Republican State of Italy ( it, Stato Nazionale Repubblicano d'Italia, SNRI) prior to December 1943 but more popularly known as the Republic of Salò ...

was founded by

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 194 ...

in the north of Italy, the brothers were among many members of the resistance that suffered a crackdown by the fascist authorities. In November 1943, their house was surrounded by military forces and they surrendered after running out of ammunition during the ensuing firefight. They were taken to prison in the nearby city of

Reggio Emilia Reggio nell'Emilia ( egl, Rèz; la, Regium Lepidi), usually referred to as Reggio Emilia, or simply Reggio by its inhabitants, and known until 1861 as Reggio di Lombardia, is a city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has abou ...

along with their father. In December, a fascist secretary was killed by a lone gunman in

Bagnolo in Piano Bagnolo in Piano ( Reggiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about northeast of Reggio nell'Emilia. Bagnolo in Piano borders the foll ...

. In retaliation, all seven Cervi brothers, along with Quarto Camurri, were taken to the shooting range in Reggio Emilia and shot. Alcide Cervi, who was suffering from bad health, was able to escape some time later after the Allies bombed the prison. Their story was told, among others, by him. He survived the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and died in 1970. The seven brothers were named Gelindo (b. 1901); Antenore (b. 1906); Aldo (b. 1909); Ferdinando (b. 1911); Agostino (b. 1916); Ovidio (b. 1918); and Ettore (b. 1921). They had two sisters, Diomira and Rina. Aldo Cervi is survived by a son, Adelmo, who was seven months old when his father was executed. La famiglia Cervi

Tributes

For their actions of resistance, the brothers were posthumously awarded the

Silver Medal of Military Valor The Silver Medal of Military Valor ( it, Medaglia d'argento al valor militare) is an Italian medal for gallantry. Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on 21 May 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, ...

, and their surname, Cervi, can be found in street names around Italy. A school in

Collegno Collegno (; pms, Colegn ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about west of Turin. It occupies an alluvial plain at the end of the Val di Susa, between Rivoli and Turin, at ...

, near

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

, is named in their honour. Multiple songs have been written in tribute to the brothers: * ''Compagni Fratelli Cervi'' (anonymous) * ''Sette fratelli'' ( Mercanti di liquore and

Marco Paolini Marco Paolini (born March 5, 1956) is an Italian stage actor, theatre director, dramaturge and author. Personal background Paolini is the son of a railroad engineer and a housewife from Belluno, Italy. In the 1970s, he moved to Treviso and s ...

) * '' La pianura dei sette fratelli'' (

Gang A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either individually or collectivel ...

, also by

Modena City Ramblers Modena City Ramblers (also known as M.C.R.) is an Italian folk rock band founded in 1991. Their music is heavily influenced by Celtic themes, and can be compared to folk rock music. The band has sold over 500,000 albums. Known for their left-wing ...

in Appunti partigianiAppunti partigiani
/ref>) * '' Campi Rossi'' ( Casa del Vento) * ''Papà Cervi raggiunge i sette figli'' ( Eugenio Bargagli) There is also the 1968 film

The Seven Cervi Brothers '' The Seven Cervi Brothers'' ( it, I sette fratelli Cervi) is a 1968 Italian drama film directed by Gianni Puccini. The film recounts the last days of life during the resistance of the anti-fascist Cervi Brothers. The director Puccini died a few ...

(''I sette fratelli Cervi''), directed by

Gianni Puccini Gianni Puccini (9 November 1914 – 3 December 1968) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He wrote for 32 films between 1940 and 1967. He also directed 18 films between 1951 and 1968. Selected filmography * ''Ossessione'' (1943) * ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cervi Brothers Resistance members killed by Nazi Germany Italian resistance movement members