Credits: Simone Gallini, www.sassomarconifoto.it
Where are we?
We are at Colle Ameno
Used in the winter of 1944 by the Nazis as a prison camp and sorting centre for forced labour, today it is a museum space with educational purposes.
Between 6th October and 24th December 1944, a German command established itself in Villa Ghisilieri, in the strategic location of Colle Ameno di Pontecchio. In the small village, the SS of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer set up a camp where male civilian prisoners would be sorted. While the premises of the villa were used by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) as a logistics base and military hospital, more than 400 men rounded up by the Germans were imprisoned and tortured in the basement. After a few days of detention in inhumane conditions, most of the hostages were transferred to Bologna, to the Caserme Rosse and Porta d’Azeglio artillery barracks, and then deported to Germany or used as forced labour by the Organisation Todt. However, 19 were shot and buried in the Villa Ghisilieri park.
Today, the Colle Ameno Aula della Memoria (Hall of Remembrance) is a key location that keeps the memory of those days alive. As part of the European programme to protect places of remembrance of the victims of totalitarianism, the programme it offers is based on cultural awareness and respect for diversity and the rights of the most vulnerable.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Facility or museum: yes
Website: www.auladellamemoria.it
Geographic location: Sasso Marconi (BO), Emilia-Romagna
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