Ferdinando Casardi

Ferdinando Casardi (1 January 1887 – 11 January 1975) was an Italian admiral during World War II.

Early life and career

Born in Barletta in 1887, Casardi entered the Livorno Naval Academy in 1904, graduating as ensign in 1907. Between 1911 and 1912, as a midshipman, he first took part in a campaign in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean aboard the aviso Staffetta, and then fought in the Italo-Turkish War. Following the loss of Colleoni, the 2nd Naval Division was dissolved; in August 1940 Casardi was placed in command of the 7th Naval Division, with flag on the light cruiser Eugenio Savoia and later on Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta. On September 11 Casardi, in order to avoid capture, sought refuge with his main collaborators in a building owned by his chief of staff, where he continued to work clandestinely until September 30, when German troops left Naples in the face of the insurrection of the population of the city and the Allied advance. He was placed in availability on 1 March 1949, and in the reserve on 1 January 1950, having reached the age limit. Casardi died in Barletta on 11 January 1975.