In November 1943, their house was surrounded by military forces and they surrendered after running out of ammunition during the ensuing firefight.

In retaliation, all seven Cervi brothers, along with Quarto Camurri, were taken to the shooting range in Reggio Emilia and shot.

Alcide Cervi, who was suffering from bad health, was able to escape sometime later after the Allies bombed the prison.

Aldo Cervi is survived by a son, Adelmo,[3] who was seven months old when his father was executed.

For their actions of resistance, the brothers were posthumously awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor, and their surname, Cervi, can be found in street names around Italy.