A Tribute to Giovanni Palatucci

In 2013 a publication attacked Giovanni Palatucci as not only not being a savior of Jews, but in fact a collaborator of the Nazis (which makes no sense as he was deported and died in a concentration camp). In this age of “cut and paste” internet the disparaging article, was picked up and posted many times. Many independent studies were done. No one came up with the result that he worked for the Germans. The only dispute is whether is saved 1000, 5000, 200, 500 or 3233 (number at random) Jews. The true and exact number does not matter. Saving ONE LIFE makes you a hero, so we will not spend any additional time on this topic. Giovanni was and will remain a hero… 

“…the angel of the Jews”

As a police chief in Fiume, Italy he saved many Jews by destroying and falsifying papers to ensure their freedom. Arrested in 1944, he was deported to the Dachau concentration camp, where after only five months at the age of 36, he gave his own life.

The Stories Podcast is sponsored by

Explore the episodes

Podcast