Do you see those stones rising gently from the earth? That is the Sacrario del Pian del Lot. It stands as a solemn testament to a dark chapter in Turin’s history. The Sacrario del Pian del Lot marks the site of a brutal Nazi reprisal.
Let’s journey back to March 30 1944. A partisan action group assassinated a German corporal named Walter Wohlfahrt. He was part of the anti-aircraft defense. The Germans retaliated swiftly and cruelly. They rounded up 27 prisoners from the Carceri Nuove. These men were a mix of partisans and civilians. They had been captured in the surrounding valleys. The Nazis chose this very spot the Pian del Lot for their reprisal.
On April 2 1944 the prisoners were brought here. They were executed in groups of four near the anti-aircraft battery where Wohlfahrt had served. Imagine the horror as these men faced their deaths. Fellow prisoners were forced to bury them in a mass grave. Some victims were only wounded when they were buried alive.
After the war the bodies were exhumed on May 27 1945. Identifying the remains proved difficult. A small plaque was placed here by the city. It is still visible on the back of the current monument. In 1946 a proper memorial was erected. Families and friends of the victims organized a collection. The community donated materials. The Sacrario del Pian del Lot was inaugurated on November 17 1946.
The Sacrario del Pian del Lot bears a granite slab. It reads “Il 2 aprile 1944 piombo nemico qui falciava le vostre radiose e fiorenti giovinezze. Italia e mamma fu il vostro ultimo grido mentre la terra che per tredici mesi vi fu letto di morte copriva i vostri corpi straziati e agonizzanti Parenti ed amici offrono nel ricordo del vostro martirio”. This translates to “On April 2 1944 enemy fire cut down your radiant and flourishing youth. Italy and mother were your last cries as the earth that for thirteen months was read to you of death covered your torn and agonizing bodies. Relatives and friends offer in memory of your martyrdom”.
Among those murdered here was Walter Rossi. He was a 19 year old partisan. The Sacrario del Pian del Lot has a Star of David next to his name. The Cumiano brothers Antonio Giuseppe and Michele were also killed here. They were captured together at their home.
Every year on April 2 a ceremony commemorates the victims of the Pian del Lot massacre. The Sacrario del Pian del Lot stands as a reminder of the cost of freedom. It urges us to never forget the sacrifices made by these young men. Let the Sacrario del Pian del Lot serve as a reminder of the importance of peace and justice.