Town of Boves

Because of its geographical position, Boves was a transit point for Italian soldiers returning from southern France after the armistice of 8^th September 1943. One of the first partisan formations was established here, consisting of soldiers of the IV Army commanded by officer Ignazio Vian.

In mid-September 1943, two members of the ‘SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler’ battalion, which was sent to disarm the Italian troops, were captured by the partisans. SS-Obersturmbannführer (Senior Battalion Commander) Joachim Peiper forced the parish priest and a businessman to negotiate with the partisans for the release of the two prisoners with the promise not to retaliate. However, on 19^th September 1943, after the prisoners had been released, the Germans reacted by killing twenty-three civilians and setting fire to 350 houses in Boves and the neighbouring communities. Even after these events, many other inhabitants were killed during raids and battles with the partisans, particularly between 31^st December 1943 and 3^rd January 1944. By the end of the war, Boves and the surrounding area were devastated.

Next to the town hall, in an open room, the names of the Boves citizens who were killed and the partisans who died in combat can be found. Other plaques, scattered throughout the town, commemorate the devastating fires and the fallen partisans.

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