In a historic event that took place 81 years ago on October 16th in Rome, a brutal atrocity shook Italy to its core. On that fateful day, Nazi troops, in collaboration with the Italian fascist regime, carried out a merciless operation, forcibly displacing 1,259 innocent individuals from their homes and sending them to death camps. Men, women, children, and the elderly were all victims of this heinous crime, with only 16 survivors managing to return.
As we reflect on this tragic anniversary, the words of Primo Levi resonate deeply – “if understanding is impossible, knowing is imperative.” It is crucial to keep the memory of these atrocities alive and to stand united against anti-Semitic hatred, which tragically resurfaced recently due to Hamas’s violent actions against the Israeli people on October 7th, 2023.
On this solemn occasion, the Government extends its heartfelt support to the Jewish Community of Rome and the families of the deported. Let us honor the memory of the victims by renewing our commitment to combatting hatred and intolerance in all its forms.
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On 16 October 81 years ago, Rome witnessed one of the most brutal crimes ever committed in Italy. At dawn, Nazi troops, with the complicity of the Italian fascist regime, started a merciless manhunt and forcibly removed 1,259 innocent people from their homes, deporting them to death camps. Men, women, elderly people and children. No one was spared, and only 16 returned.
As Primo Levi said, “if understanding is impossible, knowing is imperative”. Still today, those words indicate the path to keeping the memory of what happened alive and to renewing our commitment against anti-Semitic hatred, which has been revitalised following Hamas’s brutal attack against the Israeli people on 7 October 2023.
On this anniversary, the Government expresses its closeness to the Jewish Community of Rome and to the relatives and descendants of the deported.
[Courtesy translation]
