Mattarella Commemorates 81st Anniversary of Marzabotto Massacre

Marzabotto: President Sergio Mattarella on Monday marked the 81st anniversary of Italy’s worst WWII atrocity, in the area of the village of Marzabotto, south of Bologna, where up to 1,830 civilians were killed by the Waffen SS in 1944. It was the largest massacre of civilians committed by the Waffen SS in western Europe during the war and the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Italy.

According to Ansa News Agency, Mattarella described the massacre as a point where Nazi ferocity reached the height of its inhumanity, and where war became indiscriminate extermination. He emphasized that the roots of the Italian Republic were planted in the aftermath of such atrocities. Mattarella stated, “The Italian Constitution, and the very project of Europe, were born from that innocent blood, to build a new civilization of democracy and peace.”

He further commented on the enduring impact of the massacre, asserting that the freedom achieved by Italy and the redemption of its people are intertwined with the sacrifices made during those desperate days. “Remembering is a duty,” he said, insisting that it is a seed of humanity that contains the founding values of the community.