As the Italian guard of Kefalonia, the Acqui Division had been in place since May 1943 during World War II. A monument, found near Fanari, is dedicated to the troops who perished in battle, were executed, or died in transfer to detention centers.
Following the Italian truce in September 1943, the Germans executed a large number of soldiers from the Italian 33rd Acqui Infantry Division in the Kefalonia Massacre, also known as the Massacre of the Acqui Division. In total, some 5000 troops were executed while others were killed by drowning or other means.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, a novel based on the events of the massacre, was adapted into a Hollywood film shot entirely on the Greek island of Kefalonia.
Atrocities committed by Wehrmacht forces during World War II were some of the most heinous in history. Acqui Division Memorial was erected by the Italian government in 1978.
