Prince Junio ​​Valerio Borghese. Borghese. The black prince of the torpedo people. How new weapons were born

Thanks to his noble origin, all roads were open to the young prince Valerio Borghese. He chose the sea, becoming a cadet at the Royal Naval College. In 1933, Valerio Borghese set off on his first long voyage to the shores of North America on the training sailing ship Columbus. Upon completion of his studies, Borghese had a brilliant career as a submarine officer.

Summer 1943 The Italians were defeated on all fronts. Against the background of a number of failures, the loss of dominance in the Mediterranean became especially noticeable for Italy. The surface fleet, leaving Taranto, went to the northern bases and lost control over a vast area of ​​water. Absolute numerical superiority of the enemy

constrained the actions of large ships, whose destiny was defensive operations. During this difficult time, Prince Valerio Borghese was appointed commander of the 10th flotilla of the MAS*, on which the command of the Italian Navy placed special hopes. Over the past three years, the assault weapons of this formation

Anti-submarine torpedo and exploding boats, man-controlled torpedoes, miniature submarines caused a lot of trouble for the British. The 10th Flotilla's combat account included two battleships, two cruisers, one destroyer and many merchant ships. Borghese did not change traditions: neither

when the flotilla did not make such frequent military campaigns as in the period from May to September 1943. As a result of only one attack by human-controlled torpedoes on enemy ships stationed in the roadstead off Gibraltar, three of them were destroyed - Pat Harrison, Mahsud and Camerata.

Interesting

and the background to this attack. In 1943 Gibraltar's anti-submarine defenses were strengthened so much that it was not possible to use a submarine as a torpedo carrier, as had been done before. The torpedoes were launched from the Spanish merchant ship Ol

terra", seemingly completely harmless.

At the beginning of the war, the Olterra ship, owned by a wealthy Genoese, sank in neutral Spanish waters. For about a year and a half, the shipowner did not show the slightest interest in the half-broken vessel.

However, after a mysterious conversation with Prince Borghese, he

the attitude towards one's property, abandoned to the mercy of fate, has changed radically. The shipowner began negotiations with one of the Spanish companies about raising the sunken ship. According to the owner, the ship was supposed to go to some Spanish company on mutually beneficial terms. When viewed from

It seemed true to them - after the ship was repaired, the Spanish flag was raised on it. Neither on the day of the underwater attack on May 8, 1943, nor after it, the British could make any claims against the Olterra crew. Everything was explained simply. The ship's crew was staffed by soldiers of the 10th flotilla,

whose clothes and deliberately cheeky manners were indistinguishable from merchant marine sailors. If the ship were suddenly inspected, nothing suspicious would be found in the cargo holds - only parts of some equipment, the carriage of which was registered in accordance with all the rules. Details

these were nothing more than parts of guided torpedoes, which, on the eve of the attack, were assembled directly on the Olterra, in a small workshop. At night, under the cover of darkness, the torpedoes left the Olterra through a hole specially cut below the waterline in the side. And the next morning, after the successful completion of the operation and

x the pilots again turned into sailors, lazily strolling along the deck of a Spanish merchant ship. The British never established the real cause of the sinking of the ships in Gibraltar...

Thanks to his noble origin, all roads were open to the young prince Valerio Borghese. He chose the sea

as a cadet at the Royal Naval College. In 1933, Valerio Borghese set off on his first long voyage to the shores of North America on the training sailing ship Columbus. Upon completion of his studies, Borghese had a brilliant career as a submarine officer.

In 1937, the submarine "Iride" was commanded

m Prince Borghese joined the Italian legion, which, helping Franco, acted against the Republican fleet of Spain. Upon returning home, the participants in the war in Spain were invited to a ceremonial breakfast hosted in their honor by the Ministry of the Navy. Here Prince Borghese had the opportunity

You can personally meet the Duce - Mussolini - and show off your knowledge of the methods of underwater warfare. Soon the prince received under his command a new submarine, the Amethyst.

The commander of the Amethyst was not only an expert in underwater weapons, but also a certified diver. Therefore when

When the fleet command faced the question of which submarine to make the first floating base for guided torpedoes, the choice fell on the Amethyst. Exercises using the new weapon began in January 1940. After three torpedoes were secured on the deck of the submarine, "Amethyst"

went out to sea, heading for the Gulf of Spezia. The launch of the torpedoes into the water went unnoticed by the “enemy”. The pilots led their boats through the eastern gate of the port and “attacked” the ship “Cuarto” stationed in the roadstead. This operation made a huge impression on Borghese, who was immediately imbued with exceptional

m respect for the new torpedo weapon.

On June 10, 1940, Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, and the Italian fleet had to suffer the brunt of English superiority at sea. The outbreak of hostilities found Borghese in the position of commander of the submarine Vettor Pisani. It was

an old ship that had reached the end of its life. Each dive of such a boat could be the last: water entered the hull through numerous cracks, and worn-out mechanisms refused to work. A couple of months later, when the ship fell into complete disrepair, they decided to donate it to a diving school

in Pola, and commander Valerio Borghese was offered to undergo special training with the Germans on the Baltic Sea.

This preparation was of a purely practical nature. From Memel (Klaipeda), where the school of German submariners was located, the cadets almost immediately set off on a ten-day trip across the Atlantic

Here they had to take part in hostilities against large enemy convoys. At first, Valerio Borghese was assigned to a floating submarine base, but later he was included in the crew of one of the warships.

Upon his return to Italy, Borghese expected to receive command

sinking an ocean submarine, but fate decreed otherwise. At the naval general headquarters, the young submarine officer was received by Admiral de Courtin, from whom Borghese received an order to proceed to La Spezia as commander of the submarine Shiro.

The Shiryo submarine turned out to be the most modern ship

buildings converted to transport guided torpedoes. It looked somewhat strange, resembling either a barge or a lighter. However, Borghese, who by that time had already replaced nine submarines, soon got used to the Shiryo. The command had special plans for this boat - it should

wanted to strike at the English squadron located in Gibraltar. Another boat, called the Godard, was tasked with attacking the British naval base at Alexandria. Both operations were planned to be carried out almost simultaneously. "Gondar" was the first to set off on a military campaign and, not having time

cause no damage to the enemy and was sunk by him. The submarine's crew was captured.

On September 24, 1940, not yet knowing about the sad end of the Gondar, Prince Valerio Borghese launched his boat into the Mediterranean Sea. The Shiryo was only 50 miles from Gibraltar when Borghese received orders to return.

to go to La Maddalena, since on the eve of the planned attack the English fleet unexpectedly left the Gibraltar base. Is it really the work of "Intelligence Service"? The commander of the Shiryo himself considered the departure of the English ships to be a mere coincidence.

After the first unsuccessful attempt to strike the British with new weapons

the second followed. On a moonless October night, Shiryo again set course for Gibraltar. This military campaign began a three-year “war within a war,” as one of the participants in the events dubbed the actions of the Italian assault troops of the 10th MAS flotilla in the Strait of Gibraltar. The path to the destination was brought by B

orgeza, the usual thrills for wartime: a meeting with a floating mine, which was promptly destroyed by a machine-gun fire, a severe storm and an air attack at the very entrance to the strait. On October 29, having escaped the pursuit of British destroyers, the boat finally made its way to Gibraltar. Beginning

But it was only possible to act when night fell, and “Shiryo” had to lie down on the ground.

Borghese faced a difficult task - to choose the optimal launch site for guided torpedoes. On the one hand, this place should have been located as close to the shore as possible, on the other hand, at a sufficient distance from the route

and the voyages of English patrol ships. After much deliberation, the Shiryo commander decided to go deeper into Algeciras Bay and land the torpedo pilots at the very mouth of the Guadarranque River.

At night, while submerged, the boat secretly entered the bay, which in itself was a great success. Few commander

Most submarines would dare to attempt such a maneuver - no one has succeeded so far. The reason was a strong current that could drag the submarine into one of the whirlpools that abounded in the treacherous bay. However, the danger for “Shiryo” was not only whirlpools and numerous shoals. Unexpected

But an English destroyer passed right over the boat. He was so close that the crew of the submarine heard the noise of its propellers without the help of a hydrophone. The Englishman was heading from the bay to the strait and was on an intersecting course. Surprisingly, it is true: "Shiryo", which continued to move, managed to remain unnoticed

Noah. No wonder Borghese ordered to stop almost all noisy mechanisms and wrap a number of metal parts in rags.

Finally the boat was at the desired point in the bay. However, Borghese's mission did not end there. The headquarters of the submarine fleet placed personal responsibility for the success of the "Shiryo" on the commander of the submarine fleet.

operations in Algeciras. Based on the latest intelligence about the presence of ships in the base, Borghese distributed targets among the participants in the operation. The targets of the attack of two guided torpedoes were to be a pair of battleships, the third strike was planned to be delivered to an aircraft carrier or cruiser if it turned out to be more

is a convenient target. Having launched all three torpedoes into the water, the submarine set on a reverse course...

Prince Valerio Borghese, who received information about the outcome of the operation, was annoyed. The second attempt, a carefully thought-out plan of action down to the smallest detail and... failure again. One of the torpedoes exploded too far from

English ship, damaging the metal nets that covered the entrance to the harbor. The crews of the other two torpedoes were unable to attack the enemy at all due to serious technical problems.

After all, the Italian prince-submariner taught the British, who were absolutely confident in the inaccessibility of Algesira Bay

sir, good lesson. The British press tried to calm public opinion. For the same purpose, rumors were spread that the ill-fated torpedo was fired not from the bay itself, but from the strait. Nevertheless, the crews of the English ships stationed in the harbor felt as if they were on hot coals. In every day

As the water moved, the sailors saw the trace of a human-controlled torpedo, and then another series of wasted depth charges went into the water. It is not surprising that the Chief of the Naval General Staff, Admiral Cavagnari, considered the combat mission completed, and Borghese and the crew of his submarine received bonuses

holiday in one of the best mountain hotels in Italy. Of course, relaxation with daily ski trips and parties was not the only reward - the commander of the boat that was the first to penetrate Gibraltar was solemnly awarded a gold medal “For Military Valor”.

In November 1940 Prince Valerio Borge

he was received by the Duce himself in the famous Palazzo Venezia. The audience with Mussolini was short - it was clear from everything that the Duce was upset about something. The reason was probably the news he had just received about the failure of Italian troops in Albania. Nevertheless, Mussolini treated Borghese favorably.

with great attention, he listened with interest to the report on the recent operation in Gibraltar and did not hide his approval of the actions of the Shiryo commander.

Borghese's successes did not go unnoticed at naval headquarters. After the death of the commander of the 10th MAS flotilla, which united several assault squads with different

armed with weapons, this place was taken by Prince Valerio Borghese (summer 1941). True, he was listed as “temporarily acting,” but he approached his new job with full responsibility. Having placed command of the surface forces in the capable hands of Salvatore Todaro, former commander of the submarine Cappellini, Borge

Ze devoted himself entirely to the underwater detachment, because he believed that there were still many unresolved problems in organizing the operations of guided torpedoes. The new commander also paid attention to the technical side of the offensive plans. Borghese ensured that the 10th MAS flotilla was equipped with

The most modern acoustic mines and small incendiary bombs have arrived, which would be convenient to use in enemy waters.

Upon returning to the submarine, Borghese began to develop a plan for a third trip to Gibraltar, counting on real success. September 10, 1941 submarine

The Shiryo once again left La Spezia and exactly a week later arrived at the port of Cadiz, mooring at the tanker Fulgor. Here the submarine was supposed to take on board crews of human-controlled torpedoes. The hours of waiting were not in vain: the boat crew had time to rest, take a refreshing shower, and replenish

food supplies and treat yourself to excellent cognac.

The attack launched on September 25 in Algeciras Bay produced good results. Three English ships (tankers Denbigh Dale, Fiona Shell and an armed motor ship) with a total displacement of 30,000 tons became victims of guided torpedoes. The crew of one of the

torpedoes had a real opportunity to destroy another enemy ship, increasing the sunk tonnage, but torpedoists Catalano and Giannoni did not do this for moral reasons. Giannoni had already managed to attach a charge to the propellers of a large steamer standing in the roadstead when Catalano spilled

There was a faded name on the stern - "Pollenzo", Genoa. Apparently, the British captured this ship and used it as a military transport. However, not a single torpedoman raised his hand to send a steamer with an Italian name and origin to the bottom.

The demolition charge was removed from the body

and "Pollenzo", and soon another use was found for it - the motor ship "Durham" with a displacement of 10,000 tons.

After the operation in Gibraltar, the command showered the crew of the Shiryo and the torpedo pilots with military ranks and awards. Of course, the military merits of Valerio Borghese, who received the rank

captain 2nd rank. The operations of Italian submariners in the Strait of Gibraltar aroused genuine interest among the king himself, who honored the submariner prince with a personal audience. A long and detailed conversation with the hero of the day only fueled the royal curiosity. A few days later His Majesty, dressed

in civilian clothes, accompanied by a single bodyguard, he went to the San Rossore estate, where there was a school for guided torpedo pilots. From a small raft, he watched the training sessions and was delighted with the capabilities of the new weapon.

The Italians were not alone in their attempts to attack Wed

British Mediterranean fleet. English ships were subject to frequent attacks by German submarines, which won one victory after another. In November 1941, a German submarine successfully attacked the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, and just a few days later a well-aimed torpedo salvo from another German submarine

The submarine was sent to the bottom by the flagship battleship Barham, which had more than 800 people on board. By the end of November 1941. In the Mediterranean theater of operations, there was a clear preponderance of forces in favor of Italy. Against five Italian battleships plowing the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the English fleet could

exhibit only two - "Valient" and "Queen Elizabeth". Knowing this, one can at least remotely imagine the resonance that the successful military operation of the Italian boat "Shiryo" received, which managed to disable the last Mediterranean battleships of the British.

Alexandria to La Spezia. Of the 27 days of the campaign, she spent twenty-two on the open sea, covering a distance of three and a half thousand miles. Borghese rejoiced: at the cost of capturing six pilots of guided torpedoes, a tanker was sunk, and most importantly, two 32,000-ton English battleships, the mainstay of the British

ground forces in the Mediterranean. The success was all the more significant because Alexandria expected possible sabotage by the Italians - a complex system of barriers was set up on the approaches to the Alexandria port, and depth charges were dropped with enviable regularity.

The British are clearly being persecuted

l evil rock. Following the Valient and Queen Elizabeth, Britain lost a couple more powerful ships - the Repulse and the Prince of Wales, which were destroyed by Japanese naval aviation in Indonesian waters. These catastrophic losses weakened the fleet of the “Mistress of the Seas” for a long time, which managed to recover from them and restore

The former priority will be restored only after a few months, and even then with the help of the United States. To plug the gap in England's naval forces, Winston Churchill had to transfer to the North African coast some of the aircraft carriers and aircraft that had previously fought off the British coast.

For the operation in Alexandria, the king granted Prince Valerio Borghese one of Italy's highest military awards - the Order of the Savoy Cross. His Majesty assessed the success of the Shiryo submarine and the assault force on board as “brilliant.” After a couple of months, according to the instructions of the naval

About the ministry, Prince Valerio Borghese left command of the boat "Shiryo", heading the underwater detachment of the 10th flotilla of the MAS.

In the spring of 1942 The Italians began preparations for the decisive assault on the island of Malta - a key position on which, according to many, the outcome of the struggle in the Mediterranean depended. Moment for pcs

Urma was chosen successfully, since the long siege finally undermined the strength of the English garrison. The headquarters of the Italian Navy entrusted the operation to capture Malta to a special landing force commanded by Admiral Tour. A torpedo division was allocated to assist the landing force of ships.

boats of the 10th flotilla, located in Augusta, and several combat swimmers of the Gamma group, which was subordinate to Borghese. In anticipation of the landing on the Maltese coast, the 10th flotilla conducted a thorough reconnaissance of the island's defense system - whether there were machine gun nests, artillery batteries,

barbed wire guards. Detachments of the 10th Flotilla continued to actively support the troops of Tours until the end of the fighting for Malta. Contrary to expectations, no significant victories were won.

In March 1942 The German command, having encountered powerful enemy resistance in the Crimea, was forced to resort to

help from the allies to close the blockade ring around Sevastopol from the sea with the Italian Navy. At the request of the Fuhrer, a flotilla of Italian boats and several small submarines of the SV type entered the Black Sea waters. Italian ships contributed to the assault on the besieged city, taking positions on the support

routes to Sevastopol and on the main sea communications.

On May 19, the expeditionary convoy of the 10th flotilla, located on railway platforms, arrived from La Spezia to Simferopol. Then the column moved under its own power towards Foros and three days later reached its destination. Previously in

All that was needed was to unload the tractors and launch the boats into the water. For this purpose, a rail track was laid from the place where the column stood - a walnut grove - to the seashore. On May 31, a group of Italian troops was in full combat readiness and was inspected by the commander of the combined armed forces

and in Crimea by General von Manstein. A few days later, the boats of the 10th flotilla began patrolling their assigned area of ​​operations.

Soldiers of the 10th flotilla often appeared in the hottest spots of naval battles. In mid-June a small convoy was supposed to arrive in Sevastopol. There is only one on board

military transport with a displacement of 13,000 tons, the escort of which consisted of two patrol ships and a destroyer, contained ammunition. The residents of Sevastopol never received them. The reason for this was a successful attack on the convoy by one of the boats of the 10th flotilla, launched on June 13, 1942. An accurate torpedo salvo caused transport with

serious damage. The ship washed ashore, becoming a target for German aircraft, which did not hesitate to deal with it.

On June 29, Italian sailors helped the Germans land a demonstrative landing at Balaklava. By drawing back part of the Soviet troops, he weakened the main line of defense. This tactic

On July 9, when Sevastopol was already occupied by the Germans, the battle for Fort Gorki broke out at Cape Feolent. Its defenders took refuge safely in the rocks. Every German attempt to attack Gorki was thwarted by massive machine-gun fire. Eat

The fort's most vulnerable point was its galleries - they opened directly onto the seashore. Several soldiers of the 10th flotilla managed to penetrate the galleries from the sea, staging a large landing. The surprise factor played a role. Through the joint efforts of the Italian and German divisions

The defense of the unbending fort was broken through.

As the inspirer of many sabotage operations of the Italian fleet, Borghese had to establish useful contacts with foreign colleagues. Summer 1942 Borghese went on a long trip abroad, traveling to the capitals of European states in

the very height of the war.

First of all, the commander of the underwater detachment visited Berlin and Paris, where he was to establish close cooperation with the Germans. Without this, Borghese’s grandiose plans for the use of assault weapons in the vastness of the Atlantic and in South African countries could not become a reality.

odah. In the German capital, the prince concluded a number of agreements, one of which provided for the training of German officers at the personnel training school of the 10th MAS flotilla.

Upon arrival in Paris, Borghese reported to the headquarters of the German submarine fleet. The headquarters, led by Admiral Doenitz, was comfortably located in Bulo

nsky forest, in one of the ancient French palaces. Admiral Doenitz's working style became Borghese's strongest impression from his trip to Paris. The rules that Doenitz set always applied to himself. (The prince was amazed to find Doenitz having breakfast in the company of his subordinates. Me

due to wartime restrictions, the nude was modest and the same for everyone - a little vegetable soup, a slice of cheese and black bread.) Doenitz also gained confidence in Borghese, who seemed more cool-headed than carried away, more reserved than frank, and in every way case a sober person and

prudent. The prince from the allied power was immediately admitted to the secret archives of the headquarters to obtain all the necessary information.

From Paris Borghese left for Bordeaux. Here, on French soil, there was a base for Italian submarines operating in the Atlantic. Borghese visited this remote b

It’s no coincidence. At that time, all the thoughts of the detachment commander of the 10th flotilla were occupied with developing tactics for small boats off the North American coast. Such submarines could not cross the ocean on their own, so it was necessary to refine the mechanism for their delivery to the shores of America on board large oceans.

n submarines. This is what Borghese did. The submarine "Leonardo da Vinci" and a midget submarine of the "SA" type with a displacement of only 12 tons were at the guest's disposal.

The maneuvers of the two boats in the waters of Bordeaux presented a completely unusual picture. First, "Leonardo da Vinci" took out "

"baby" into the open sea, after which it sank to a shallow depth. On command, the boat "SA", freed from special grips, safely surfaced. The most important part of the operation remained - to take the "baby" on board after several hours of independent sailing. Borghese doubted

success of this maneuver and, as it turned out, in vain. At his order, the “baby” accurately entered a special nest on the deck of the Leonardo da Vinci. Borghese's project turned out to be feasible.

Having resolved issues of fundamental nature, the Italian submariner prince made the final tour San Sebastian - Madrid - Lee

ssabon in hopes of attracting new partners. Lisbon, well-fed, blooming and dancing, seemed to be somewhere outside of Europe, in which war was raging. In the port of Lisbon, transport ships of the warring powers stood side by side. It was there that Borghese headed, dressed in the blue overalls of a loader - of course

Yes, not out of pure curiosity. Is it possible to organize sabotage against enemy ships? After a thorough inspection of the port, Borghese could answer this question in the affirmative...

May 1, 1943 Prince Valerio Borghese was appointed commander of the 10th MAS flotilla, which by that time had grown greatly and

represented a powerful military formation. Flotilla detachments operated in various areas of the Mediterranean Sea - in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the coast of Sicily and Sardinia, in the Turkish ports of Mersin and Alexandretta. News of the conclusion of a truce on September 8, 1943. was like a bolt from the blue for Borghese

It found the prince preparing another impressive operation - an attack on ships in the New York port, which was never destined to materialize. Under the terms of the peace treaty of 1947, the assault weapons of the Italian fleet were subject to destruction, and all personnel were subject to demobilization.

In war, all means are fair - this motto has been known since ancient times, but it became the rule only in the 20th century. From a dubious, “ungentlemanly” way of waging war, sabotage turned into a separate art.

Bold aristocrat

Junio ​​Valerio Scipione Borghese born in 1906, into a family belonging to an ancient aristocratic family. His ancestors were popes, cardinals and industrialists, relatives Napoleon Bonaparte. The prince himself was married to a distant relative of the Russian emperor Alexandra Pervo th.

Valerio's incredibly daring and independent character did not allow him to choose a career as a priest - he chose the art of war. He chose a new and very promising direction - service in the submarine fleet. Borghese completed submarine courses and became the world champion in deep-sea diving in spacesuits.

Ambitions Realized

An aristocrat and an ideological fascist, Borghese, after completing his studies at the Naval Academy, became a submarine officer as an assistant captain, and five years later, in 1933, he took command of the submarine Amethyst.

But even this did not correspond to his ambitions, especially since his colleagues admired the talents of the young captain and called his skills “supernatural.” The Amethyst, under the command of Borghese, could remain submerged for weeks, but in the end it would not deviate more than half a mile from its target.

Therefore, Borghese was incredibly flattered when Admiral Goiran invited the young naval officer to head the secret underwater sector. In 1939, Borghese began work on creating a special unit of “human torpedoes,” officially the Tenth MAS (Assault Assault) Flotilla.

Insidious weapon

The world was on the verge of World War II. Great Britain was an advanced military power and posed a great threat to Italy at sea. To combat such a powerful enemy, the Italians came up with a new type of weapon to destroy British warships located at fortified bases. It consisted of bursting boats, midget submarines and.

After the first tests of the new “secret war” weapon, Borghese and his colleagues on the project came to the conclusion that when training cadet saboteurs it is necessary to take into account the basic qualities of each type of secret weapon. For surface exploding boats, determined soldiers must be trained, and for “insidious means,” that is, for guided torpedoes, restrained scouts are needed. There were plenty of volunteers ready to serve in the navy, but the best were selected. Namely, soldiers who have high moral qualities, strength of character, determination, despise danger and, most importantly, are not talkative. After all, the whole world knows that a true Italian would rather die than be silent.

After careful selection at a secret school in the town of Serchio, human torpedoes were trained for a year. The strictest secret was the weapons with which the swimmers would have to work, the names of their comrades, and the very fact of someone’s belonging to the detachment. Future naval saboteurs practiced the necessary combat skills and got used to the idea that they might have to die to complete a mission. An example for them was Valerio Borghese himself, who received the pseudonym Black Prince. It was he who took the initiative to create a detachment of commando underwater swimmers similar to the Japanese kaitens. The Italian officer wore his gloomy nickname with pride, since it reflected the origin, daring and cruel character of a convinced fascist.

Gold for the Queen

The new, completely ungentlemanly weapons of the Italians were successfully used in Gibraltar, Malta, and Algeria. In Gibraltar, Valerio Borghese with three crews of attack saboteurs, having lost six crew members (three killed, three captured), disabled fourteen ships of the anti-Hitler coalition countries with a displacement of 73 thousand tons.

The Borghese team carried out the most brilliant operation in 1941 in Alexandria. At the virtually impregnable base of the British fleet, Italian submarine saboteurs managed to disable the battleships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth, one destroyer and a cargo tanker. For this special operation, Prince Borghese received a gold medal “For Valor”.

"War within a war" in Italian

It is worth noting that Borghese received the official order to be appointed commander of the 10th flotilla only in 1943. By that time, the secret unit under his leadership had long been a combat-ready and highly effective unit of the Royal Italian Navy. Perhaps the only such formation - otherwise the Italians fought poorly.

“Torpedo people” prepared by Borghese took part in various sabotage operations - they sank ships, tried to stop movement along the Road of Life in besieged Leningrad, and entered into battles with Yugoslav and Italian partisans. Borghese himself remained the commander of the submarine and laid out ingenious routes for new successful special operations. The “war within a war” waged by the Black Prince was full of military tricks, traps, and secret developments. To implement them, the daring aristocrat prepared ultra-class intelligence officers.

The prince spent time from 1945 to 1949 in prison. He was sentenced to 12 years for collaborating with the Germans, for supporting the puppet regime in the “Republic of Salo” after Italy left the war. For military services to his homeland, this term was reduced to three years.

After which he carried out another special operation.

Revenge of the Black Prince

On October 28, 1955, all Italian ships suddenly left the Sevastopol roadstead. And in the early morning of the 29th, two explosions were heard. The battleship Novorossiysk, which was given to the Soviet Union as a payment for reparations, sank along with more than 800 Black Sea sailors.

Once “Novorossiysk” was called Giulio Cesare and belonged to Italy. After sending the ship to the USSR, Prince Borghese swore an oath that the Julius Caesar would not fly the Russian flag. According to the official Soviet version, the Novorossiysk was blown up by an old German magnetic mine, but this was not the case. By the way, in November 1955, Valerio Borghese received another award. And according to some reports, it was not awarded to him for his previous services.

After a while, captain of the second rank in reserve S. Elagin in a magazine article he argued quite convincingly that the attack on Novorossiysk was carried out by professionals: “There were so few of them at that time that it was not difficult to name each one! These could only be combat swimmers from the 10th Italian flotilla...”

This is how the last successful operation of the formidable Black Prince took place. It is surprising that the Soviet intelligence services, skilled at eliminating dangerous individuals, did not consider it necessary to get close to Mr. Borghese. The invulnerable scoundrel subsequently tried to organize a fascist coup in his homeland, was expelled from the country and died in Spain at the age of 68.

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An unsurpassed organizer, Doenitz, like Borghese, believed in the power of example and was the first worthy of it. This gave him the right to demand a lot from his subordinates and comrades. Borghese speaks the same language with him. Doenitz does not hide his admiration for the high-profile victories won by Decima MAS, and Borghese appreciated the opinion of one of the greatest sailors in the world.

The ice was immediately broken and a spirit of close cooperation was established between them. The prince could now ask for everything, the most secret doors of the Kriegsmarine opened before him; the maritime brotherhood overcame disagreements and small meannesses, a common occurrence in relations between allies, which Borghese hated so much.

He examines hundreds of reports on German U-boat operations for information on ports in North America, Brazil and South Africa to identify the most important Atlantic bases along the busy caravan routes and warship bases. With this information, Borghese goes to Bordeaux to find there, as he puts it, “a little piece of homeland,” an Italian naval base on the Atlantic coast, commanded by Admiral Polacchini.

A little earlier, one of the new devices that he sent before his departure from Italy arrives there: S.A., a “pocket” submarine with a displacement of 12 tons, armed with two 150 mm torpedoes and controlled by a crew of two people. Borghese is preparing to conduct experiments to test his new idea, even more daring and crazier than the previous ones: an attack on America's naval bases, in particular New York.

Like other Italian assault shells - “maiali” and “barkini” S.A. had a short autonomous cruising range and required a transport ship to deliver them as close as possible to the target. Borghese had a solution to this problem and wanted to try it: “transport S.A. on the deck of an ocean submarine, like a kangaroo carrying its baby in a pouch.” This explained his stay in Bordeaux. Rare professional integrity for an Italian officer of his rank!

“The Leonardo da Vinci submarine has been prepared according to your instructions,” the base duty officer reports to him. – Hangar for S.A. secured to the deck of the boat.

The next day, Borghese takes command of the Leonardo da Vinci and begins testing in the Bordeaux-La Palice zone.

“I still had doubts,” he later wrote, “about the possibility of delivering a small submarine across the ocean unhindered and in good condition so that it could independently continue its path to its goal. At this time, the bearer must wait for her for one or two days at a pre-arranged place.”

As a result of the very first experimental campaigns, it turns out that his idea is magnificent and completely realizable, beyond the most optimistic assumptions. He takes a big step towards realizing his daring project. However, striving maniacally for perfection, he spends a dozen more trips to the ocean, practicing maneuvering, and only after that gives a conclusion:

“The operation against New York can now move from the design phase to the implementation phase.”

With peace of mind, Borghese leaves Bordeaux and continues his tour of Europe. Responsibilities for completing work on Leonardo da Vinci and S.A. he leaves it to Major Fena.

In San Sebastian, the summer capital of Spain, he meets with some secret agents of the Italian navy responsible for transporting the crews of the Maiali after their operations against Gibraltar. Proposals are being developed to make their work even more effective.

The English citadel on the rock becomes, after the defeat of the Italo-German troops in Africa, the number one target for Decimus MAS. The tireless Borghese plans to intensify the activity of his men against this castle on the gateway to the Mediterranean.

Having turned to Madrid, where he met with the naval attaché of the Italian embassy, ​​he visited Lisbon, the last point of his European voyage, for the same purpose.

Finally he returns to La Spezia to get to work preparing the operations for which he has just laid the foundation. He is as happy as a child who has to assemble an electric railway. But new news hits him: “Shire” has not returned from the mission.

Heavy blow. He tries to hide his feelings. In anticipation of future operations, he examines the smallest details of his submarine team's life with a cold objectivity that is a fragile screen for his sadness.

“For many days,” said one of the witnesses of those events, “he ate almost nothing. His grief was enormous, it was higher than the feeling of simple friendship.”

Little by little, he overcomes his grief and plunges headlong into work to try to forget himself and avenge the deaths of his friends. He no longer talks about his old lady “Shira”, but everyone around him knows that he thinks about her all the time. A few months later his third son is born. He calls him Andrea-Schire. New proof of his loyalty to the one with whom he tasted his loudest victories and shared the loudest glory.

Meanwhile, Italy's military situation continues to deteriorate. The wind of hopelessness blows through the battle formations of the army and, it seems, only the sailors of Decimus MAS were not affected by its icy breath. Borghese remains deaf to the signals trumpeting retreat, and only goes forward. Now he knows that only his guided missiles, thanks to their technical characteristics and the courage of the pilots, are able to threaten Gibraltar from the Italian armed forces. Like a wild animal lurking in the dark, he prepares to strike again.

Chapter 13

– How to get to Villa Carmela?

– You are going right. It's right in front of you on the top of the hill, behind a clump of trees.

Tonio and Conkita Romagnino continue their climb up the rocky road under the scorching sun. At the beginning of July 1942, Spain experiences sweltering heat that cannot be relieved by a light sea breeze. The villa, roofed with pink tiles, dominates the Gulf of Algeziras. A wonderful view opens from its windows. Below is the beach of La Linea, a little further - the rock of Gibraltar looms over the port, crowded with warships and transports of various sizes.

“This time,” says Tonio, “the commander has chosen a real paradise for us to work in.”

They hear the dull sounds of explosions: the British are scattering depth charges at regular intervals.

“This proves that they do not rely on their networks,” he notes ironically.

In the evening after dinner, Konkita settles down at the window facing south. The beams of searchlights dart below, snatching black oily waves from the darkness.

“The British are nervous,” says Tonio, “they have not forgotten September 1941.”

– Are you talking about “Shira”?

- Yes, but this time we will do better. You will see that “maiali” will no longer be needed. Only arms and legs will be enough.

A study of the progress and results of the operations carried out against Gibraltar as commander of the "Shire" led Valerio Borghese to the following conclusions:

A submarine is considered the best means of delivering guided torpedoes to a target. But each time the risk and difficulties increase in accordance with the development of search and detection means entering the enemy's arsenal.

The submarine, due to its characteristics, can only perform part of the mission and can deliver no more than three projectiles. In addition, the operation can only take place at night, and the period from late spring to early autumn can hardly be used due to the short nights.

The special position of Gibraltar, neighboring a neutral country, made it possible to evacuate twenty-two of the twenty-four people from the torpedo crews that arrived from the sea. Only the crew of Birindelli-Paccagnini were captured after the Barham attack in October 1940. But if it is so relatively easy for swimmers to get to the Spanish coast after attacking the port of Gibraltar, wouldn't it also be easy for them to get to Gibraltar from the Spanish coast?

4. Finally, a new circumstance has appeared: dozens of steamships with military equipment are now standing for many days in the Gulf of Algeziras, a few hundred meters from the Spanish coast, outside the range of port defenses and can become easy prey.

To make attacks against Gibraltar more effective, Borghese decides to find another way to deliver people and ammunition to the Spanish coast instead of a submarine. For this purpose, he sends Tonio Romagnino, a volunteer who enlisted in the navy and was selected for Decimus MAS, on a study tour to the Algeziras Bay area via Madrid. This is how Villa Carmela was found and rented. The young couple settled there under the pretext that the failing health of Tonio's wife, Conquita, required sea air and baths.

Tonio and Conkita have been living in the villa for two weeks when a truck brings them two boxes, sent according to documents from a large store in Malaga.

“Carry the boxes carefully,” Konkit warns the driver, “tamperware.”

“Don’t worry, madam,” he replies, “I’ll be careful.”

When Tonio returns to the villa at noon, Konkita runs out to meet him.

- Good news. The boxes have been delivered and are in the lobby.

Romagnino quickly opens the lids. He shovels out the shavings that cover their contents, and a metal cylinder appears in his hands. This is one of the so-called “leeches” invented by Valerio Borghese. Then he takes out eight more of the same cylinders. In another box there are detonators and fuses with a clock mechanism.

- Now we need to hide them in the garden.

Things got going. Romagnino feels calm. In the afternoon he and his wife go to the beach. While Konkita is sunbathing, he swims away from the shore. Studying the situation, he calculates the distance and time required to overcome it.

Around 10 o'clock in the evening of the same day, Tonio, armed with binoculars, carefully observes the movement of ships in the roadstead from the window. Konkita sits next to him and writes down his observations in a small notebook. Suddenly there was a knock on the villa door. A moment, and the notebook with sea charts and binoculars disappears into the hiding place.

- Nothing happens. Go open it,” Tonio says calmly to Conchita.

- Who's there? She asks before turning the key in the lock.

- Giorgio. I came from swimming.

Open it,” Tonio whispers, “this is the password.” Enter Giorgio Boucher.

“Hello,” he says, “ten more people led by the lieutenant will arrive tomorrow.” They are now on board the steamer Fulgore at Cadiz.

The next night, one after another, the Italians arrive at the villa. The swimmers of the famous Gamma group are finally getting into action. They received orders to mine several ships anchored in the Gibraltar roadstead. They are commanded by Lieutenant Straulino, a sailing champion, an athlete known throughout the world.

“Don’t be gourmets,” Borghese told them before setting off, “don’t think that these are some kind of lousy transports.” Read this.

He hands them a piece of paper covered with numbers:

“When a cargo ship with a displacement of 6,000 tons is sunk,” it stated, “and a tanker of 3,000 tons, the enemy loses approximately the following: 42 tanks, 8 152-mm howitzers, 88 3-inch guns, 40 45-mm anti-tank guns, 24 armored vehicles, 50 heavy Bren machine guns on self-propelled carriages, 5,210 tons of ammunition, 6,000 rifles, 428 tons of spare parts for tanks, 2,000 tons of food and 1,000 barrels of fuel.”

And twelve people left reassured.

On July 13, having contacted Borghese, who was in Serchio, Straulino decides to begin the operation. Romagnino takes out his raid map.

“The ship you can’t miss,” he says, “is the Baron Douglas.” Through binoculars I could clearly see that there were tanks on its deck under the tarpaulin.

“Don’t worry,” Straulino answers, “we’ll attach three leeches to him.” Giorgio will do this.

– What time will you start acting?

- Between eleven and midnight. I'll tell you more precisely later.

For the rest of the time, Romagnino watches the port from his observation post by the window, from behind a cage with a parrot on the windowsill.

At 21:00, as usual, the British change the mooring sites of some of their ships. "Baron Douglas" remains in its place. The swimmers are calm. Having settled down, some on the sofa, some in armchairs, they relax, read, waiting for the “H” hour.

“Get ready,” says Straulino, standing up.

The night is dark as if to order, you could poke your eyes out. Italian sailors go to the laundry room located next to the villa. There they put on their black rubber suits and oxygen tanks. Masks are raised on the forehead, fins in hands.

Konkita watches the preparations with some sad worry in her eyes. Straulino approaches her.

“I have an errand for you,” he says. “You will be our beacon.” Turn on the light in the window on the west side of the villa. This will mean that everything is fine... And you will be waiting for us on the shore with an electric flashlight so that you can notice it from afar.

Give signals? – she asked.

Yes. One long one between two short ones... Repeat it every fifteen minutes.

One after another, the swimmers cross the garden, along the way they pick up “leeches” from the hiding place and go down to the bay.

Looking at the glowing dial of his watch, Straulino says in a low voice:

- It's time. Giorgio, you can go with your team.

Four swimmers headed towards the water.

“The rest will go in pairs every quarter of an hour.” I’m the last to leave with Adolfo Lugano,” Straulino orders.

Swimmers follow the Guadaranca current to its mouth, then turn south. Giorgio swims ahead. He looks at his watch - 2 o'clock. They've been in the water for 24 minutes already. A little more and they would reach the Baron Douglas, whose massive silhouette stood out like a black spot against the dark background of the sky. Suddenly, spotlights come on from all sides and their beams dance randomly across the waves. An alarm has been declared throughout the raid. The sounds of depth charges exploding are approaching. One thought flashed through the minds of the twelve swimmers: they had been betrayed. But no. Just as suddenly, the lights go out and there is silence.

Giorgio Boucher swims up to the side of the ship. He touches it and dives under the bottom. His comrades follow him. Soon the charges are secured.

The other Gamma swimmers are still finishing their work, but Giorgio and his group are already swimming back. They see the flashes of Konkita's lantern on the shore and find the strength to swim even faster. New danger. A patrol ship is heading straight for Giorgio. He dives, but the ship's propeller hits his leg. He still got off well, but a dark stain of blood spreads across the black surface of the water. Giorgio lies on his back and slowly swims towards the beach. The night sky is already turning gray in the east when his feet touch the bottom near the shore.

“The lieutenant and the others have already arrived,” Konkita tells him. - Hurry up.

Dragging his leg and leaning on Konkita, he joins his comrades gathered over a bottle of rum in the villa's dining room. Now all that remains is to wait, counting the minutes.

In the morning, four explosions shake the air of the raid. Four exploding “leeches” out of nine installed is a pitiful result; it did not justify either the efforts to prepare or the energy spent by the swimmers that night. This is exactly what Valerio Borghese thinks, getting acquainted with the results of the operation, during which the ships Meta (1578 tons), Shuma (1494 tons), Empire Snipe (2497 tons), and Baron Douglas ( 9468 tons), totaling 15,037 tons.

“The British puzzled for a long time about such a mini-defeat,” wrote Borghese. “They began to suspect something only after they found swimmers’ suits that unexpectedly floated to the surface. The valuable find was immediately sent by plane to London, where it was subjected to a thorough examination.”

But it was too late. The cunning Valerio Borghese has already changed his tactics and is preparing to use a new secret weapon.

Chapter 14

“Villa Carmela burned down, commander,” Romagnino reports.

Sitting at his desk with a cigarette in his mouth, Borghese already knows this.

A few days after the operation, seven of the twelve Gamma swimmers were arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard and then temporarily released. They took advantage of this to escape and returned to Italy.

We have no choice but to find a new base. Did you find nothing during your stay there that could be used for this purpose? – asks Borghese.

Maybe the commander. May be. In the roadstead of Algeziras there is an abandoned steamer under the Italian flag, Olterra. It's worth thinking about.

- Fine. I'll make inquiries.

The Olterra, owned by a Genoese shipowner, was in the Gibraltar roadstead. Fulfilling the received order, the captain of the ship took it to shallow waters in the territorial waters of Spain and sank it, opening the kingstones so that it would not fall into the hands of the British. The ship remained in this half-flooded position for two and a half years. By order of the shipowner, several crew members remained on it, who were supposed to protect property rights under maritime law for the victims of the shipwreck and eked out a miserable existence there.

This is all that Borghese finds out after the investigation. A thought immediately began to stir in his head: what if we used this old defenseless building, located just a few cables from Gibraltar, as a permanent base for assault shells? It was risky, but those who don’t take risks don’t drink champagne!

Borghese immediately begins to implement the plan. He contacts the shipowner through Romagnino. This man seemed to him not talkative and ready to cooperate. A week later, a Spanish ship repair company receives an order to raise the Olterra: the owner allegedly decided to repair the ship in order to then sell it to a Spanish company, from which he received an interesting offer.

The Olterra is towed to the port of Algeziras. Ironically, it is moored at the quay, directly opposite the British Consulate. Upon learning of this, Borghese remarks: “This is even better. They won’t suspect anything!”

Although this idea seemed very reckless, especially to the officials of the General Staff, where all new ideas were met with skepticism, Borghese had no difficulty in finding volunteers for this task, and first of all Lieutenant Commander Licio Visintini, the man who, as we remember, was the first to sink the English ship in Gibraltar on September 20, 1941.

Borghese instructs him to select the people who should replace the Olterra crew. Only Captain Amoretta and Chief Engineer De Regus will remain on the ship. Naturally, the men were chosen from among the officers and sailors of the Decimus MAS. Before sending them to Spain, Visintini, as a precaution, sent them for a two-week internship on a merchant ship anchored in the port of Livorno, so that they could learn how and what merchant seamen did and adopted their jargon.

One evening, Visintini stood on the deck talking to the six Maiali pilots he had selected for the operation.

It’s interesting,” he said, “this morning, while looking through the maps, I saw that in order to return from Gibraltar to Olterra without making a mistake, it is enough to sail all the time to the constellation Ursa Major.

Then we are Seven from Ursa Major,” joked Vittorio Cella, a Lombardian of pure blood.

“This idea came to me,” Cella later recalled, “because I had just read a book by Sergius Piazzecchi called “The Favorite of the Big Dipper.” It told about the adventures of a group of smugglers who were going from Hungary to Austria, and one old man, before the start of the campaign, told the young people: “If a border guard sees you, run away. Get to your goal further, each on your own, but head towards the Big Dipper, and it will lead you home.”

In mid-August 1942, the Ursa Major Division, as they came to be called, along with other Decim MAS sailors, mostly technicians, arrived on Olterra in groups of two or three. All have merchant seafarer IDs with fictitious names.

At the request of the British authorities, Spanish police posts were installed on the ship and the quay to monitor the progress of the work. But the new arrivals very soon find a common language with the Spanish guards. The senior foreman, a handsome, talkative guy, often comes up to chat with the sentries and treat them to cigarettes.

This master was none other than Licio Visintini. He set up an observation post in the cabin, whose portholes overlooked Gibraltar, where his men kept watch in order to keep the port under surveillance day and night and monitor the movement of ships.

After the working day, the workers devoted themselves to their favorite pastime - fishing. They settle themselves on board and in the boats with fishing rods in their hands and carefully note all the details and customs of life in the Gibraltar raid.

Elvio Moscatelli, team doctor, says:

“I used to put on an old suit and go out with the local Spanish fishermen. With a fishing rod in my hands, I offered fish to the sailors of enemy ships, and I carefully looked at everything that was happening around: I watched with particular interest as security divers dived near the ships in search of possible mines...

I, of course, knew better than anyone that they did not risk finding anything. When later, after the war, I met the English captain Lionel Crabbe in Italy, I turned to him, without waiting for an introduction: “And I know you well,” I told him, “I have been watching you, you and your people, for many hours in a row!”

For their part, technicians and engineers waste no time. In a few weeks, they installed a workshop on board the Olterra for assembling guided torpedoes, which were supposed to come from Italy. They equipped a battery charging station and installed a diesel engine. A small winch was attached to the bow of the ship. The hold is equipped with a pool for test dives. And then the day comes when the ship begins to rise. Tilted and dipped stern into the water to allow workers to remove the starboard rudder, the ship reveals its apparent innocence to those watching from the shore. The canopy protects the workers from the scorching sun - a common feature during the hot late summer period in southern Spain - and no one can suspect that they are at this time cutting a hole in the hull of the ship using an oxygen gas torch.

In the evening the work is completed, and Olterra returns to its normal position. The underwater entrance to the hull disappeared under water.

Now you can enter the pool in two ways: through the ship's premises from the deck or, to remain unnoticed, from the sea. Infiltrate it... or leave it.

In the autumn of 1942, Visintini arrives in La Spezia. He presents Borghese with his report on the results of the Ursa Major Division: Olterra is ready for work as a workshop for assembling guided torpedoes and an operational base.

“The British have greatly strengthened security measures,” he adds.

Borghese reports to his superiors and once again carefully studies

observation results.

Do you think we have at least a small chance of success? he asks.

Even if we fail, we will know that we did everything we could... As for me, I will avenge my dead brother Mario.

Borghese looks at his subordinate with admiration. It is clear that Theseus' example is raising wonderful young people. A wave of pride rises in him: commanding such young men is an honor!

– Before using “maiali”, you need to check the reaction of the British with the help of people from the “Gamma Team”, they are more resourceful. Visintini hesitated a little before answering, then said, as if with regret:

– You are the commander, you make the decision. We will carry out the order.

The prince lowers his eyes and clasps his head in his hands. Decide, decide all the time to send people to their deaths. A cruel test for a living, feeling heart, which the war could not truly harden.

“I would like you to succeed without leaving your skin there,” he almost whispers. “Let Gamma try it before you go.”

On the evening of September 14, five swimmers, led by Lieutenant Straulino, carefully examine the raid. They only notice three interesting targets. Straulino then decides to limit the number of participants in the operation to three swimmers.

At 23:40 the first scuba diver slips into the water, a shadow in the kingdom of shadows. The other two follow him, each carrying three "leeches" with them.

Seven hours later, at 6 o'clock. 20 minutes. on the morning of September 15, Straulino and his two comrades, Di Lorenzo and Giari, return to the Olterra. From it they observe the only target that they managed to mine - the small steamer Ravens Point with a displacement of 1,787 tons. Soon there is an explosion. The ship jumps up, then settles to the stern and suddenly quickly disappears under water. The first attack was successful.

Now, according to Borghese's orders, Visintini and his colleagues in Ursa Major can prepare. "Maiali" in disassembled form have already arrived from Italy under the guise of equipment for repairing the ship's steam boilers. The technicians collected them. Tests carried out in the pool showed their performance. The atmosphere of these days can be perfectly understood from the letters that Visintini wrote to his young wife:

“- November 23, 1942... I constantly think about you, and your image maintains my fighting spirit. I fight with the energy of despair, because I want to hear the sound of the breaking of the chains that bind us. If I must die, O my fair one, I would like my death to be illuminated by the hope of the freedom for which we fight.”

“- November 24, 1942... I feel how hatred is born in me against those who did not teach us to look straight into the cold eyes of our enemies. The mission entrusted to me and my comrades is honorable and difficult, can we be worthy of it?”

“- November 27, 1942... Since I’ve been here, I no longer belong to you, work has completely absorbed me. What we have managed to do so far is wonderful and proves that up there in heaven, my father and Mario are leading me to a wonderful destiny. I tremble before such grace and gather all my energy, all my strength into a fist to be worthy of it. I know that this goal will take all my strength, but this does not frighten me. You, my tender Mary, and you, my dear mother, you who turn to heaven and ask him for mercy, do not despair that we are so far from each other. We fight, and you remain close to me, and it is you who protect me from enemy attacks. Pray, my wife and my mother, that I and my people can endure this merciless struggle.”

“- November 30, 1942... A whole week has already passed since we parted... Maybe we will never see each other again... This thought, when it comes to my mind, squeezes my heart like a steel vice...”

“- December 5, 1942... After four months of uncertainty, struggle and constant work, my big project is coming to an end. Tomorrow evening, three shells and six people will be ready to go on a mission... Many nights we could, hour after hour, minute after minute, observe the mortal dangers that would await us. But depth charge explosions and high-speed patrol boats only strengthen our resolve. The task is difficult, the game is complex and subtle, but only death can stop us. This death will reward our efforts and give our souls the eternal peace that should naturally follow a life devoted to the service of our fatherland.

On the eve of such an important event, I understand how much the body depends on the mind and how the soul can live its own life. When I think that this matter may end badly, it does not upset me as much as it does both of you. Oh, where are you, the forces of the laws of Nature - I just smile at the thought that you, my beloved, will have a baby who can, cheerful and carefree, to live in a carefree time.

“The devices are completely ready and the charges are in place. Three small ships, very small, but very dangerous. We are leaving soon, and no matter what happens, we will make the enemy pay dearly with our lives.

The goals are set: “Nelson” for me, “Formidable” for Manisko, “Furios” for Chella. It seems I haven't forgotten anything. Captain Borghese will be pleased with us. In any case, my conscience is completely calm, I know that I did everything I could for the success of the operation. Before the journey, I pray to God that he will crown our efforts with victory and send grace to Italy and our families.”

That same evening, at 10 p.m., the first “maiale” was launched by the crew

Manisco-Varini. Minor mechanical failure, quickly repaired,

slightly delayed the departure, and they left Olterra only

midnight.

The first to submerge and head towards the northern passage to the port of Gibraltar were Visintini and Magro. Departing at 23:15, they passed the area patrolled by patrol ships after midnight, safely avoiding dangerous depth charge attacks.

Around 1 a.m. they surface to pinpoint their location. The cable of the protective net is directly in front of them and hangs above the water. They decide to dive under the obstacle, but quickly realize that they will not succeed.

Magro opens the toolbox, which is located at the stern of the mail, and takes out a pair of scissors. Visintini begins to cut the metal cables of the network. The work is hard and exhausting. But little by little a gap emerges, it grows. And suddenly a terrible disaster. The net suddenly falls and crushes both swimmers. Visintini joins his father and brother in a soldier's paradise. His faithful companion Magro accompanies him on this final journey.

Manisko and Varini also find themselves in a difficult situation. Having already reached the pier, they were noticed by the sentries, and the searchlight beam finds them in the darkness. Several machine guns open fire. The Italians are trying to escape. They are diving. After twenty minutes of underwater escape, pursued by patrol ships, they are forced to surface and surrender, after sinking their torpedo.

Chella and Leone are caught by gunfire in the port and the wailing of sirens far from the port entrance.

“I immediately turned back,” said Vittorio Cella, “following the instructions of commander Valerio Borghese. I knew that he forbade continuing the operation in case of alarm.”

But they had not swum even a few meters before a boat chased them. In addition, Leone’s breathing apparatus failed. They were bombarded with depth charges for two hours; fortunately, there was no serious damage.

At this time, Chella notices that Leone has disappeared. And above, Lionel Crabbe, responsible for the security of the port and roadstead, continues the hunt. Even the day before (as he admitted to Chella when they met after the war), he knew that the ships in the anchorages were to be attacked by Italian frog people.

Affiliation Type of army

Naval forces

Years of service Commanded

10th Assault Flotilla "Decima MAS"

Battles/wars Awards and prizes Retired

leader of the Italian far right

Prince Junio ​​Valerio Scipione Borghese(Italian Junio ​​Valerio Scipione Ghezzo Marcantonio Maria dei principi Borghese; June 6 ( 19060606 ) , Rome - August 26, Cadiz) - Italian military and political figure, captain 2nd rank (Italian: capitano di fregata).

Biography

The 10th flotilla was formed mainly from volunteers, as well as career military personnel - convinced fascists. The flotilla was used to conduct various sabotage operations. The unit was originally part of the 1st MAS Flotilla, then received the name "Tenth MAS Flotilla". MAS is an abbreviation for Italian. Mezzi d "Assalto - assault weapons; there is also an Italian option. Motoscafo Armato Silurante - armed torpedo boats. Personally commanded a submarine, carried out a number of successful operations, sank Allied ships with a total displacement of 75 thousand tons. Received the nickname "Black Prince". He initiated the creation of a unit within the 10th Flotilla that used torpedoes piloted by commando submariners. Supported the Salo Republic regime.

Personal life

On September 30, 1931, Borghese married Russian Countess Daria Vasilievna Olsufieva (1909-1963) (great-great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Alexander I), with whom he had four children and who died in a car accident in 1963. An award for experts in Rome bears her name.

Essays

Publications in Russian

• Borghese V. Tenth Flotilla MAS = J. Valerio Borghese. Decima flottiglia MAS. Milano, 1950 / V. Borghese; Per. from Italian S. V. Slavina and Yu. A. Karulina; Binding by artist M. I. Eltsufen. - M.: Foreign Literature Publishing House, 1957. - 288 p.(in translation)
• Becker K., Borghese V. The underwater legions of the Fuhrer and the Duce / Caius Becker, Valerio Borghese; Per. with him. L. S. Azarkha, A. G. Bubnovsky, from Italian. S. V. Slavina. - M.: Veche, 2005. - 480 p. - (Mysteries of the Third Reich). - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 5-9533-0633-4.(in translation)

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Notes

Literature

• Borghese Junio ​​V. Sea devils // Underwater saboteurs in the Second World War. - M.: AST Publishing House, 2001. - ISBN 5-17-008535-4.(in translation)
• Borghese V., Desmarais P. Borghese. Black Prince of Torpedo People / Comp. Nikolai Nepomnyashchy. - M.: Veche, 2002. - 480 p. - (Military secrets of the 20th century). - 7,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7838-1082-7.(in translation)

Excerpt characterizing Borghese, Junio ​​Valerio

His wound, despite its insignificance, still had not healed, although six weeks had already passed since he was wounded. His face had the same pale swelling that was on all hospital faces. But this was not what struck Rostov; he was struck by the fact that Denisov seemed not to be happy with him and smiled at him unnaturally. Denisov did not ask about the regiment or the general course of the matter. When Rostov talked about this, Denisov did not listen.
Rostov even noticed that Denisov was unpleasant when he was reminded of the regiment and, in general, of that other, free life that was going on outside the hospital. He seemed to be trying to forget that former life and was only interested in his business with the supply officials. When Rostov asked what the situation was, he immediately took out from under his pillow the paper he had received from the commission and his rough answer to it. He perked up, starting to read his paper and especially let Rostov notice the barbs that he said to his enemies in this paper. Denisov’s hospital comrades, who had surrounded Rostov—a person newly arrived from the free world—began to disperse little by little as soon as Denisov began to read his paper. From their faces, Rostov realized that all these gentlemen had already heard this whole story, which had become boring to them, more than once. Only the neighbor on the bed, a fat lancer, sat on his bunk, frowning gloomily and smoking a pipe, and little Tushin, without an arm, continued to listen, shaking his head disapprovingly. In the middle of reading, the Ulan interrupted Denisov.
“But for me,” he said, turning to Rostov, “we just need to ask the sovereign for mercy.” Now, they say, the rewards will be great, and they will surely forgive...
- I have to ask the sovereign! - Denisov said in a voice to which he wanted to give the same energy and ardor, but which sounded useless irritability. - About what? If I were a robber, I would ask for mercy, otherwise I’m being judged for bringing robbers to light. Let them judge, I’m not afraid of anyone: I honestly served the Tsar and the Fatherland and did not steal! And demote me, and... Listen, I write to them directly, so I write: “if I were an embezzler...
“It’s cleverly written, to be sure,” said Tushin. But that’s not the point, Vasily Dmitrich,” he also turned to Rostov, “you have to submit, but Vasily Dmitrich doesn’t want to.” After all, the auditor told you that your business is bad.
“Well, let it be bad,” Denisov said. “The auditor wrote you a request,” Tushin continued, “and you need to sign it and send it with them.” They have it right (he pointed to Rostov) and they have a hand in the headquarters. You won't find a better case.
“But I said that I wouldn’t be mean,” Denisov interrupted and again continued reading his paper.
Rostov did not dare to persuade Denisov, although he instinctively felt that the path proposed by Tushin and other officers was the most correct, and although he would consider himself happy if he could help Denisov: he knew the inflexibility of Denisov’s will and his true ardor.
When the reading of Denisov’s poisonous papers, which lasted more than an hour, ended, Rostov said nothing, and in the saddest mood, in the company of Denisov’s hospital comrades again gathered around him, he spent the rest of the day talking about what he knew and listening to the stories of others . Denisov remained gloomily silent throughout the entire evening.
Late in the evening Rostov was getting ready to leave and asked Denisov if there would be any instructions?
“Yes, wait,” Denisov said, looked back at the officers and, taking out his papers from under the pillow, went to the window where he had an inkwell and sat down to write.
“It looks like you didn’t hit the butt with a whip,” he said, moving away from the window and handing Rostov a large envelope. “It was a request addressed to the sovereign, drawn up by an auditor, in which Denisov, without mentioning anything about the wines of the provision department, asked only for pardon.
“Tell me, apparently...” He didn’t finish and smiled a painfully false smile.

Having returned to the regiment and conveyed to the commander what the situation was with Denisov’s case, Rostov went to Tilsit with a letter to the sovereign.
On June 13, the French and Russian emperors gathered in Tilsit. Boris Drubetskoy asked the important person with whom he was a member to be included in the retinue appointed to be in Tilsit.
“Je voudrais voir le grand homme, [I would like to see a great man," he said, speaking about Napoleon, whom he, like everyone else, had always called Buonaparte.
– Vous parlez de Buonaparte? [Are you talking about Buonaparte?] - the general told him, smiling.
Boris looked questioningly at his general and immediately realized that this was a joke test.
“Mon prince, je parle de l"empereur Napoleon, [Prince, I’m talking about Emperor Napoleon,] he answered. The general patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
“You will go far,” he told him and took him with him.
Boris was one of the few on the Neman on the day of the emperors' meeting; he saw rafts with monograms, Napoleon's passage along the other bank past the French guard, saw the thoughtful face of Emperor Alexander, while he sat silently in a tavern on the bank of the Neman, waiting for Napoleon's arrival; I saw how both emperors got into the boats and how Napoleon, having first landed on the raft, walked forward with quick steps and, meeting Alexander, gave him his hand, and how both disappeared into the pavilion. Since his entry into the higher worlds, Boris made himself a habit of carefully observing what was happening around him and recording it. During a meeting in Tilsit, he asked about the names of those persons who came with Napoleon, about the uniforms that they were wearing, and listened carefully to the words that were said by important persons. At the very time the emperors entered the pavilion, he looked at his watch and did not forget to look again at the time when Alexander left the pavilion. The meeting lasted an hour and fifty-three minutes: he wrote it down that evening among other facts that he believed were of historical significance. Since the emperor’s retinue was very small, for a person who valued success in his service, being in Tilsit during the meeting of the emperors was a very important matter, and Boris, once in Tilsit, felt that from that time his position was completely established. They not only knew him, but they took a closer look at him and got used to him. Twice he carried out orders for the sovereign himself, so that the sovereign knew him by sight, and all those close to him not only did not shy away from him, as before, considering him a new person, but would have been surprised if he had not been there.

Prince Junio ​​Valerio Scipione Borghese(Italian Junio ​​Valerio Scipione Ghezzo Marcantonio Maria dei principi Borghese; June 6 ( 19060606 ) , Rome - August 26, Cadiz) - Italian military and political figure, captain 2nd rank (Italian: capitano di fregata).

Biography

The 10th flotilla was formed mainly from volunteers, as well as career military personnel - convinced fascists. The flotilla was used to conduct various sabotage operations. The unit was originally part of the 1st MAS Flotilla, then received the name "Tenth MAS Flotilla". MAS is an abbreviation for Italian. Mezzi d "Assalto - assault weapons; there is also an Italian option. Motoscafo Armato Silurante - armed torpedo boats. Personally commanded a submarine, carried out a number of successful operations, sank Allied ships with a total displacement of 75 thousand tons. Received the nickname "Black Prince". He initiated the creation of a unit within the 10th Flotilla that used torpedoes piloted by commando submariners. Supported the Salo Republic regime.

Personal life

On September 30, 1931, Borghese married Russian Countess Daria Vasilievna Olsufieva (1909-1963) (great-great-great-granddaughter of Emperor Alexander I), with whom he had four children and who died in a car accident in 1963. An award for experts in Rome bears her name.

Essays

Publications in Russian

• Borghese V. Tenth Flotilla MAS = J. Valerio Borghese. Decima flottiglia MAS. Milano, 1950 / V. Borghese; Per. from Italian S. V. Slavina and Yu. A. Karulina; Binding by artist M. I. Eltsufen. - M.: Foreign Literature Publishing House, 1957. - 288 p.(in translation)
• Becker K., Borghese V. The underwater legions of the Fuhrer and the Duce / Caius Becker, Valerio Borghese; Per. with him. L. S. Azarkha, A. G. Bubnovsky, from Italian. S. V. Slavina. - M.: Veche, 2005. - 480 p. - (Mysteries of the Third Reich). - 5,000 copies. - ISBN 5-9533-0633-4.(in translation)

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Notes

Literature

• Borghese Junio ​​V. Sea devils // Underwater saboteurs in the Second World War. - M.: Publishing house AST, 2001. - ISBN 5-17-008535-4.(in translation)
• Borghese V., Desmarais P. Borghese. Black Prince of Torpedo People / Comp. Nikolai Nepomnyashchy. - M.: Veche, 2002. - 480 p. - (Military secrets of the 20th century). - 7,000 copies. - ISBN 5-7838-1082-7.(in translation)

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Excerpt characterizing Borghese, Junio ​​Valerio

“Well,” Veya said contentedly, “now you can watch it whenever you want!”
– Why is this crystal on my chest if you put it on my forehead? – I finally decided to ask the question that had been tormenting me for several days.
The girl was very surprised, and after thinking a little, she answered:
“I don’t know why you’re asking, you know the answer.” But, if you want to hear it from me, please: I just gave it to you through your brain, but you need to open it where its real place should be.
- How was I supposed to know? – I was surprised.
Violet eyes studied me very carefully for several seconds, and then an unexpected answer came:
– I thought so – you’re still sleeping... But I can’t wake you up – others will wake you up. And it won't be now.
- And when? And who will these others be?..
– Your friends... But you don’t know them now.
- How will I know that they are friends, and that it is they? – I asked, puzzled.
“You’ll remember,” Veya smiled.
- Will I remember?! How can I remember something that doesn’t exist yet?..” I stared at her, dumbfounded.
- It exists, just not here.
She had a very warm smile that made her incredibly beautiful. It seemed as if the May sun had peeked out from behind a cloud and illuminated everything around.
– Are you all alone here on Earth? – I couldn’t believe it.
- Of course not. There are many of us, just different. And we've lived here for a very long time, if that's what you wanted to ask.
-What are you doing here? And why did you come here? – I couldn’t stop.
– We help when needed. I don’t remember where they came from, I wasn’t there. I was just watching how you are now... This is my home.
The girl suddenly became very sad. And I wanted to help her somehow, but, to my great regret, it was not yet in my little power...
– You really want to go home, don’t you? – I asked carefully.
Veya nodded. Suddenly her fragile figure flashed brightly... and I was left alone - the “star” girl disappeared. It was very, very dishonest!.. She couldn’t just up and leave!!! This should never have happened!.. The real resentment of a child, whose most favorite toy was suddenly taken away, was raging within me... But Veya was not a toy, and, to be honest, I should have been grateful to her for the fact that she actually came to me. But in my “suffering” soul at that moment a real “emotional storm” was destroying the remaining grains of logic, and complete confusion reigned in my head... Therefore, there was no talk of any “logical” thinking at the moment, and I, “dead,” grief” of her terrible loss, completely “plunged” into the ocean of “black despair”, thinking that my “star” guest would never return to me again... I wanted to ask her so much more! And she suddenly took it and disappeared... And then suddenly I felt very ashamed... If everyone asked her as much as I wanted to ask, she wouldn’t have time to live!.. This thought somehow immediately calmed me down. I should have simply accepted with gratitude all the wonderful things that she managed to show me (even if I didn’t understand everything yet), and not grumble at fate for the insufficiency of the desired “ready”, instead of just moving my lazy “convolutions” and to find the answers to the questions that tormented me. I remembered Stella’s grandmother and thought that she was absolutely right when she spoke about the dangers of receiving something for nothing, because nothing could be worse than a person who is used to only taking things all the time. Moreover, no matter how much he takes, he will never receive the joy of having achieved something himself, and will never experience the unique feeling of satisfaction of having created something himself.
I sat alone for a long time, slowly “chewing” the food for thought given to me, thinking gratefully about the amazing purple-eyed “star” girl. And she smiled, knowing that now I would definitely never stop until I found out who these friends are that I don’t know, and what kind of dream they should wake me up from... Then I couldn’t even imagine, that, no matter how hard I try, and no matter how hard I try, this will happen only after many, many years, and my “friends” will really wake me up... Only this will not be at all what I could ever imagine even guess...
But then everything seemed childishly possible to me, and with all my undying ardor and “iron” perseverance I decided to try...
No matter how much I wanted to listen to the reasonable voice of logic, my naughty brain believed that, despite the fact that Veya apparently knew exactly what she was talking about, I would still achieve my goal and find those people earlier than I was promised (or creatures) who were supposed to help me get rid of some incomprehensible “bear hibernation” of mine. At first, I decided to try again to go beyond the Earth, and see who would come to me there... Naturally, it was impossible to think of anything more stupid, but since I stubbornly believed that I would achieve something after all, I had to go with my head again plunge into new, perhaps even very dangerous “experiments”...
For some reason, my good Stella almost stopped “walking” at that time, and, for some unknown reason, she was “moping” in her colorful world, not wanting to reveal to me the real reason for her sadness. But I somehow managed to persuade her to go for a “walk” with me this time, getting her interested in the danger of the adventure I was planning, and also by the fact that I was still a little afraid to try such “far-reaching” experiments alone.