Italy commemorates National Day of Italian Military Internees

Various Italian municipalities and organizations are organizing commemorative events for the National Day of the Italian Military Internees (IMI), observed on September 20. This day marks the anniversary of the 1943 decision by Nazi authorities to reclassify Italian prisoners of war as military internees, stripping them of Geneva Convention protections and leading to their deportation to concentration camps.

In Pordenone, the program includes art exhibitions, the dedication of a public park, and theatrical performances for schools. In Pasturo, a play titled ‘Ho messo via’ will recount the history of deportees through song and storytelling. Commemorative ceremonies are also scheduled in Ascoli Piceno and Asola, where families will receive medals of merit and a new commemorative plaque will be blessed in Asola to honor local citizens who refused to join the Axis forces.

These initiatives, supported by groups such as ANPI and ANEI, aim to preserve the historical memory of the approximately 650,000 Italians who faced forced labor and imprisonment in Nazi camps.