Date of birth:

1870

Place:

Adelano, fraz. di Zeri

Province:

Massa Carrara

Region:

Toscana

Assistance provided:

Food, shelter, clothing, money

Prisoners helped:

Major Gordon Lett and the members of his "International Battalion". other unidentified escapees
Leggi la storia di Gordon Lett

Start date:

September 1943

End date:

4 August 1944 (killed)

Description:

Don Eugenio, parish priest in an area made up of nine small villages, became a vital support for many former Allied prisoners of war in the region, providing them with food, shelter, and clothing — among them Major Gordon Lett. On 4 August 1944, following a tip-off from a fascist informant, German troops arrived in Adelano, knowing that Lett and members of his group had recently been hosted by the priest. The rectory was looted, and Don Eugenio was executed by firing squad.

Bibliography:

B. G. Lett, Italy’s Outstanding courage. The Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two, Independently published , 2020-Atlante stragi nazifasciste (Eccidio di Zeri): https://www.straginazifasciste.it/wp-content/uploads/schede/ZERI 03-04.08.1944.pdf

Archival sources:

NARA, Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II Claim, Series (RG. 331): : Approved Death Claims Claim “Grigoletti Paolo” n° 82.404D.