The Undersecretary of State for Defense Domenico Rossi spoke today in Verona to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the massacre of the division Acqui "To remember those brave Veronese soldiers and renew the debt to all the men of theAcqui who were killed in Kefalonia and Corfu.
In his speech, the undersecretary emphasized that "the real recipients of the message are above all the young people who, from the experience of the veterans, of those who fought for democracy, can draw daily lessons of peace and justice to make the future of society better and better".
At the ceremony that was held at the national monument erected in the Venetian capital in the 1966 were present the military and religious authorities, the laboratories, the Combatant associations and of the weapon, the pupils of the schools and a representation of the municipal administration. In the square, the representatives of all the Armed Forces deployed in arms.
In closing, referring to the Combatantistic and Arms Associations, Rossi reiterated that "they represent an important link between the military and civil society, an element of social cohesion, an active school of solidarity, in a society where the crisis of values is even stronger than the economic one", Then adding, as already stated in the annual meeting with milestone representatives held last May, that"a reflection is needed on the opportunity to join together for a confederation inspired by common values and feelings, with a view to a single inclusive identity".
The Acqui division, one of the most glorious divisions of the Italian army, with official 525 and 11.500 soldiers, presided over the islands of Kefalonia and Corfu under the orders of General Gandin, when the 8 in September 1943, at the announcement of the armistice, decided to not to surrender and give up arms to the Germans, but to face armed resistance. The 15 September began the battle that lasted until the 22. The city of Argostoli was destroyed, theAcqui then surrendered.
The numbers of the massacre were impressive: thousands were killed, these 1.200 were from Verona.
