The anniversary of the death of the Avellino policeman at the hands of the SS
It is the anniversary of the death of Giovanni Palatucci. The Italian policeman who died on 10 February 1945 in the Dachau concentration camp.
His story emerges only a few years later. When it was explained why he was captured by the Germans as an uncomfortable character in the eyes of the SS.
During his stay at the police headquarters in Fiume, Giuseppe Palatucci was able to save numerous Jews. Saving them from capture and future deportation.
Born in Montella in the province of Avellino, his studies led him to his career as a policeman. Until he was transferred to the police headquarters in Rijeka, where he performed the role of head of the foreign office. In the course of his work he had already seen what the impact of racial laws was on Jews and that is why he had the quiet opportunity to change the course of the fate of some people who, otherwise, would soon have crossed suffering and death.
Palatucci's experience
“I have the opportunity to do some good, and the benefited from me are very grateful. Overall, I have a lot of sympathy. I have nothing special to communicate about myself ». These are the few lines found in a letter written by Giovanni Palatucci to his parents.
Giovanni Palatucci has saved about 5000 lives thanks to his working position and his friendships that have allowed him to act silently. Perhaps out of a concept of justice that went beyond the laws, or even out of a profound sense of conscience, he acted in violation of what were the required orders.
By creating a series of friendly networks, he managed to obtain many permits to be able to be aware of movements and controls in advance, so that his work was always linear and clean.
Following a false step that took place to try to counter the desire to cede Fiume to Yugoslavia, through interception, he was discovered and arrested by the Germans of the SS.
After about four months in the forced labor camp in Dachau, Giovanni Palatucci died at the age of 36.
Martyr or executioner? The question and controversies between the Vatican and the Primo Levi Center
It is the Levi Center that raised the Palatucci question in 2013. After carrying out various researches, it has challenged the convictions of Italians on the figure of Avellino.
After the proclamation as martyr of Giovanni Palatucci, induced by John Paul II recalling the dangerously heroic process to save human lives and which led to his death, the Levi Center has raised doubts. Arguing that most of the Jews present in the city of Fiume were reported to the SS by Giovanni Palatucci. The accusations of the Primo Levi Center have opened the doors to a series of investigations that are continuing to establish the real dynamics of the facts.
