German President Frank Walter
Steinmeier told a press conference in Bellevue with President
Sergio Mattarella Friday that he would attend an 80th
anniversary service at the scene of the worst Nazi atrocity in
WWII at Marzabotto in the Bolognese Appenines Sunday "grateful
and with deep humility".
Waffen SS troops killed at least 770 Italian civilians in the
small village from September 29 to October 5 1944.
It was the largest massacre of civilians committed by the Waffen
SS in western Europe during the war. It is also the deadliest
mass shooting in the history of Italy.
"I am grateful that we will go together with the Italian
president to Marzabotto on Sunday and participate in the
commemoration of the victims", said Stenimeier alongside
visiting President Mattarella.
"Eighty years ago a unit of the SS and Wehrmacht murdered
hundreds of civilians in the small town in a brutal manner," he
recalled.
"The Marzabotto massacre is one of the many crimes of the SS and
Wehrmacht committed in Italy.
"Crimes that, as we know, left deep wounds in Italy.
"I feel deep humility and gratitude that the Federal President
of Germany can attend the commemoration of the victims of the
crimes in Marzabotto."
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