Italy repatriates 32 World War I soldiers from Slovenia

The remains of 32 unidentified Italian soldiers killed during World War I have been returned to Italy after more than a century. The soldiers were discovered in 2022 near Vrtojba, in Slovenian territory, where they had remained since the conflict.

A commemorative and religious ceremony was held at the Redipuglia Military Memorial in Gorizia to honor the fallen. Attendees included Undersecretary of State for Defence Isabella Rauti, Army Chief of Staff General Carmine Masiello, and General Andrea Rispoli, head of the Defence Office for the Protection of Culture and Memory.

The repatriation was achieved through cooperation between Italian and Slovenian authorities. The remains, which were identified as belonging to the Royal Italian Army through scientific analysis of nearby equipment, will be buried at the Oslavia Military Memorial.