The Courage of Choice: The Story of Italian Military Internees and Professor Pierantonio Cividini
International Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as an important opportunity to reflect on the courage displayed by those who, after September 8, 1943, refused to collaborate with the Italian Social Republic and Nazi forces. Among them, hundreds of thousands of Italian Military Internees (IMI) were deported to concentration camps, where they faced inhumane conditions. The figure of Professor Pierantonio Cividini, a former internee, emerges as a symbol of this resistance and its impact on post-war Italian society.
The Resistance of the IMI
After the armistice of September 8, 1943, many Italian soldiers found themselves faced with a crucial decision: to accept collaboration with the fascist regime or to oppose it. This choice carried severe consequences, including deportation to Nazi prison camps. The IMI not only refused to collaborate but also became victims of the brutality of the Nazi regime. In total, approximately 50,000 internees lost their lives due to the atrocities suffered in the camps.
The Life of Professor Pierantonio Cividini
Born on July 24, 1919, Professor Cividini served in the military starting in 1940 and was captured by German forces in September 1943 in Florence. During the nearly two years spent in concentration camps in Germany and Poland, he suffered from severe illnesses due to the terrible living conditions and deprivation of basic necessities.
His return to Italy occurred in August 1945; however, the physical and psychological scars left by his imprisonment accompanied him for the rest of his life. Despite health difficulties that prevented him from obtaining a higher disability rating—necessary to continue teaching—he resumed his studies and graduated in Literature from the Catholic University of Milan in November 1946.
A Committed Educator
Professor Cividini began his teaching career at various schools in Bergamo, passionately dedicating himself to teaching Italian literature and history. His students recall how he was engaged in the cultural formation of new generations, instilling antifascist values and promoting a European vision based on peace and mutual understanding.
A former comrade from the “Lupi di Toscana” described him as a charismatic figure who provided comfort to his fellow soldiers through shared prayers and spiritual moments during their captivity.
Testimonies from Students
Testimonies from his students highlight the lasting impact he had on them: “He taught us about Europe,” some students recall, noting how his educational method encouraged critical thinking about totalitarianism and promoted a culture of freedom.
Cividini used classical works such as The Divine Comedy to convey profound messages about humanity and hope even in the darkest moments of European history.
The Legacy of the Professor
The figure of Professor Pierantonio Cividini continues to live on through the memories of his students, who today recognize how fundamental his contribution was to their personal and intellectual growth in the 1950s and 1960s. His resistance extended beyond the fight against Nazism; it encompassed a fervent desire to educate aware citizens capable of addressing the social and ethical challenges of their time.
On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is essential to keep alive the memory of the historical events related to the Italian Military Internees so that they can serve as a warning for future generations in the construction of a better world founded on freedom, democracy, and mutual respect among peoples.
