Colonel Simon Petru Cristofini (or Pietro Simone Cristofini) was born in Calenzana, Haute-Corse on 26 May 1903 and in 1939 became a Captain of the "3rd Algerian Fusiliers" regiment. He was initially a supporter of Marshal Philippe Pétain. After the Allied occupation of French North Africa he commanded the Phalange Africaine. He was put on trial for treason after the Allies retook Corsica, and sentenced to death. He tried to kill himself, and was executed while suffering from his wounds in November 1943.