The Salvadori Family, saved by Badini during World War II
On 8th September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was ratified, which stipulated the surrender of Italy to the Allies.
Not long after its publication, Germany reacted against Italy, attacking Italian forces. They took control of Northern and Central Italy and formed a kind of puppet Italian government.
Those who commanded were the Germans, along with Italy collaborators, who were chasing Jews, partisans and opponents of the fascist regime.
Resistance developed with time in the areas under German control.
Women in particular had an important role in the Resistance, particularly with assistance, support and exchange of information.
Badini's wife, Rosanna, was also recognised as one of the Righteous Among the Nations for being active in the Resistance and helping Badini to save the lives of Jewish families.
After the end of the war, more than 185,000 people were officially acknowledged as partisan fighters, 35,000 of whom were women.
Righteous Among the Nations: honourific used by the Israel to describe non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis
Italian Resistance: umbrella term for resistance groups who opposed the occupying German forces and Italian Fascist puppet regime during late WWII
Yad Vashem: Israel's official memorial service for the victims of the Holocaust
Gustavo Badini was a commander of the Italian Resistance in the
Venetian area during the Second World War. During this time, he generously
provided safe shelter in his home in Zenson Di Piave for Jewish families, as well
However, not long before the war ended, Badini was caught by fascist military troops
World War II ended in 1945, and Badini was honoured with a silver medal for his courage.
and imprisoned for several weeks. During this time, he was tortured in front of his wife
and children to reveal the names of his comrades and the people he was hiding. After
In 2011, he was also recognised by the Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations.
A Righteous Legacy will retrace the missing story of Gustavo Badini, an Italian man who
opposed the fascist government to fight for what was right and for a better future. To
uncover this obscure and painful part of human history, we speak to Badini's family and
as a number of English and Australian Allies who fell behind the enemy line.
failing to comply with the demands of his captors, Count Gustavo Badini was executed
on 10th December, 1944.
relatives of the people he saved, who talk openly about his life for the first time.
Yet, Gustavo Badini still remains an unknown hero for many people.
The first partisans were disbanded soldiers who had avoided being captured and sent to concentration camps.
Soon, young men joined who refused to be enlisted in the fascist army.
Then came the development of cooperation with civilians and Allies, which allowed movement to spread from the mountains to lowlands and cities.
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