SS Reprisal in the Carnia district following a partisan ambush

SS Reprisal in the Carnia district following a partisan ambush

A mountain village following an attack. Large fires are burning everywhere and the remains of a building, machinery and a dead cow are visible. Corpses are lying on the ground. Civilians coming from the direction of the buildings are surrendering. Two are holding their arms in the air. Two soldiers are aiming their weapons at them.

Label reads “108”; signed by the author; caption reads “CARNIA 24 MAGGIO 1944 – Una mina preparata fra Ampezzo e Forni di Sotto poco prima del Passo della Morte, faceva saltare un’auto pilotata da un maggiore Tedesco e due capitani uccidendoli. Rappresaglia immediate delle SS, alle fiamme 3 paesi, Vico Baselia e Tredolo nel comune di Forni di Sotto, 400 Case incendiate 1500 abitanti senza tetto, i bovini bruciati nelle stalle o presi a fucilate.”

Caption translates as: “Carnia, 24 May 1944 – An explosive device planted between Ampezzo and Forni di Sotto, just before Passo della Morte, destroyed a German car driven by a major with two captains as passengers. The explosion killed everyone. Retaliation from the SS was swift. Three villages were burnt down: Vico Baselia and Tredolo near Forni di Sotto. 400 houses were burnt, and 1,500 inhabitants remained without a place to live. Cows were either burnt alive in their keeps or shot.”

One tempera on paper, pasted on mount board

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