Giuseppina Silvi

Immediately after 8 September 1943, Giuseppina’s father welcomed a group of 12 South African former prisoners of war who were wandering in the area. They were initially sheltered in a hut near the family’s house. Later, as some of them got sick, Giuseppina and her father moved them to their home. Six of them remained there until 15 November 1943, when local Fascists searched the house. All the escaped prisoners were arrested. Giuseppina, to protect her father, claims she acted alone.  

She was arrested and brought to the Perugia prison. The Silvi family home was ransacked and partially destroyed. Soon, Giuseppina was put on trial and sentenced to death. However, her sentence was commuted to life in prison.

During her imprisonment, Giuseppina was questioned and tortured, which had an adverse effect on her health. After eight months in prison, on 19 June 1944, she was freed and handed over to the International Red Cross, right on the eve of her deportation to Germany.

The Allied Commission awarded Giuseppina a King’s Medal for her bravery:

Signorina Giuseppina Silvi started to help Allied escaped prisoners of war immediately after the Italian Armistice. Aided by her father, she sheltered, fed and cared for at least twelve escapers for periods ranging from a few days to two months, providing them with clothes and doing everything in her power to ensure their safety and well-being […] For these activities, Signorina Silvi was arrested on 16 November 1943, with six escapers who were found in her house. […] In all her work for Allied Cause, Signorina Silvi has shown a complete disregard for her own safety; it is due to her courage, initiative and fortitude that many Allied escapers were able to regain their freedom.