One of the
most ferocious massacres of civilians of the entire Second World War took place
in the small village of Marzabotto.
Between 29 September and 5 October the march led by Marshal Kesselring crossed the hills and mountains around Marzabotto, butchering about 800 civilians. It was a premeditated massacre, which did not spare women, invalids, children; only the intention to destroy and kill. The aim of the SS was to crush the partisan formations that fought for liberation, with the logic of equating civilians to armed formations. Considering, therefore, also women, children and the elderly, as enemies to be exterminated.
The 'Red
Star' partisan brigade was active on the mountains of Marzabotto. Before
attacking it, Kesselring ordered Major Walter Reder to organize an extensive
sweeping operation between the Reno and Setta valleys.
on 29
September 1944 the people gathered in the small church of Casaglia and began to
recite the rosary. The Nazi-Fascists entered the church, killed Don Ubaldo
Marchioni and gathered all the others in the churchyard who were then killed
with extreme coldness, but this is not all, they passed from village to village
with a single rule: "kill everyone, destroy everything".
Few
survived only because, when they saw the Germans shooting at those who
complained, they had the coldness to pretend to be dead. The few survivors have
been left with memories and nightmares for life.
Today Marzabotto and Monte Sole are a place of memory. The School of Peace has been active for years, organizing initiatives and meetings, every 25 April thousands of people, especially young people, gather there for a festive pilgrimage to the places where the Constitution was born and many of the highest German institutional offices have come there visiting, to remember the main reason why the European dream was born.
"La nostra pietà per loro significhi che tutti gli
uomini e le donne sappiano vigilare perché mai più il nazifascismo
risorga".
It is the simple but meaningful inscription which, after 75 years, welcomes those who climb up to the cemetery of Casaglia, above Marzabotto, on the Bolognese Apennines.
#LestWeForget
Matteo T., 4sc
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