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  3. May
  4. 18
  5. Giovanni Falcone

Births on May 18

Giovanni Falcone
1939May, 18

Giovanni Falcone

Giovanni Falcone, Italian lawyer and judge (d. 1992)
Giovanni Falcone (Italian: [dʒoˈvanni falˈkoːne]; 18 May 1939 – 23 May 1992) was an Italian judge and prosecuting magistrate. From his office in the Palace of Justice in Palermo, Sicily, he spent most of his professional life trying to overthrow the power of the Sicilian Mafia. After a long and distinguished career, culminating in the Maxi Trial in 1986–1987, on 23 May 1992, Falcone was assassinated by the Corleonesi Mafia in the Capaci bombing, on the A29 motorway near the town of Capaci.

His life parallels that of his close friend Paolo Borsellino. They both spent their early years in the same neighbourhood in Palermo. Though many of their childhood friends grew up in the Mafia background, both men fought on the other side of the war as prosecuting magistrates. They were both killed in 1992, a few months apart. In recognition of their tireless effort and sacrifice during the anti-mafia trials, they were both awarded the Italian "Medaglia d'oro al valore civile" (Gold Medal for Civil Valor). They were also named as heroes of the last 60 years in the 13 November 2006 issue of Time.

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Choose Another Date

Events on 1939

  • 3Mar

    Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

    In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest at the autocratic rule in British India.
  • 1Apr

    Francisco Franco

    Spanish Civil War: Generalísimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, when the last of the Republican forces surrender.
  • 6Sep

    Nazi Germany

    World War II: South Africa declares war on Nazi Germany.
  • 14Dec

    Soviet Union

    Winter War: The Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations for invading Finland.
  • 24Dec

    Pope Pius XII

    World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.

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