Italy commemorates Italian Military Internees and their unarmed resistance

Across various Italian cities, including Teramo, Campobasso, Bergamo, and Varese, ceremonies are being held to commemorate the National Day of the Italian Military Internees (IMI). This day, officially established by law in January 2025 and observed on September 20, honors the approximately 650,000 Italian soldiers who, following the armistice of September 8, 1943, refused to collaborate with the Nazi regime or the Italian Social Republic.

These individuals were stripped of their status as prisoners of war and classified as military internees, a designation that deprived them of legal protections and subjected them to forced labor, starvation, and violence in German camps. Many historians and officials now describe their refusal to fight for the Axis as a form of “unarmed resistance.”

Commemorative events include the awarding of Medals of Honor to the families of the deceased, the establishment of local registries to preserve their names, and educational initiatives involving students. These ceremonies aim to transform what was once a private family trauma into a collective national memory, ensuring the sacrifices made for democratic values are recognized by future generations.