The Last Survivors of the Italian Military Internees: A Legacy of Resistance

As of June 2026, only a handful of survivors remain to provide first-hand accounts of the Italian Military Internees (IMI), a group of soldiers deported to Nazi concentration and labor camps following the armistice of September 8, 1943. Among these witnesses is Rocco Santantonio, a resident of Racale in the province of Lecce, who continues to be recognized by the National Association of Former Internees (ANEI) for his role in a defining, yet often overlooked, chapter of Italian history.

Who Were the Italian Military Internees?

The Italian Military Internees were soldiers captured by German forces after the 1943 armistice. According to the Associazione Nazionale Ex Internati (ANEI), which was established by survivors and recognized as a moral entity by a Presidential Decree on April 2, 1948, the number of these individuals ranged between 600,000 and 700,000. Their status as “internees” rather than “prisoners of war” was a deliberate Nazi classification used to deny them the protections afforded by the Geneva Convention.

The core of their historical significance lies in their refusal to collaborate. Despite being subjected to extreme conditions—including starvation, freezing temperatures, and forced labor—the vast majority rejected offers to serve with the Wehrmacht, the SS, or the Italian Social Republic. This choice of dignity in the face of barbarism remains a cornerstone of their legacy.

Preserving the Memory in Salento

The ANEI provincial delegation in Lecce is actively engaged in documenting these final testimonies. The association recently visited Rocco Santantonio, who is approaching his 102nd birthday, to present him with an official ANEI scarf as a gesture of gratitude for his endurance and witness. This effort is part of a broader mission to record the stories of the few remaining survivors in the Salento region.

Beyond Mr. Santantonio, the local record of survivors includes:

• Salvatore Serafino Orlando (born 1922), who was visited by the provincial delegation in February.
• Rocco Surano (born 1923), whose testimony was documented by Donato Coluccia, president of the ANEI Federation of Padua.

The association also recently mourned the loss of Donato De Pascalis (born 1922), who passed away in January 2026. For the ANEI, maintaining these connections is a “doveroso tributo” (dutiful tribute) to those who, often in silence, stood against the atrocities of the Nazi regime at a great personal cost.

Looking Ahead: The Final Voices

As the number of living witnesses dwindles, the focus of the ANEI has shifted toward historical preservation. The provincial delegation in Lecce plans to continue visiting the remaining survivors to provide them with official membership recognition and to facilitate meetings with local civil, military, and religious authorities. By documenting these accounts, the association aims to ensure that the “page of fundamental Italian history” written by these men is not lost to time, preserving the memory of those who chose resistance when faced with the demands of the Third Reich.