The Monte Sant'Angelo massacre was a massacre perpetrated by Nazifascist forces on 4 May 1944, on Monte Sant'Angelo, in the municipality of Arcevia (AN), in which 63 civilians and Italian partisans were killed.
Arcevia resistance
Contribution of the population to the partisan struggle
About 2500 citizens of Arcevia were called to arms in the last world conflict. Of these, 150 did not return, either killed in combat on various fronts or missing.
Following the general disbandment of the Italian army after the declaration of armistice by the Badoglio government on 8 September 1943, most of the military personnel serving in the metropolitan territory returned to their homes, despite the German occupation authorities having posted notices with death threats against those who deserted. Many young people, tired of the war whose aims they had never shared and moved by aversion to the German occupiers, preferred to join the Partisan formations that were being established. Dozens of foreign prisoners, especially Yugoslavs, who had escaped after 8 September from the Renicci internment camp, reached our territory on foot and found hospitality with some families. Many of these prisoners then went on to join the partisan formations in the mountains. If the cities of Arcevia and Ribnica (in Slovenia) are united by a Friendship Pact, officially consecrated in the twinning of 1972, it is precisely due to the partisan struggle waged together against the common Nazi-Fascist enemy and for the same ideals of freedom, social justice and peace.
Certainly, both the mountainous nature of this territory, mainly covered with oak and pine woods, and above all the patriotic and progressive traditions rooted in the population, dating back to the first Risorgimento and the years immediately following the end of the First World War, favored the rise and development of the partisan struggle. These sentiments of patriotism and political emancipation remained dormant, but not erased from the conscience of the people of Arcevia during the twenty years of fascism. It was precisely these characteristics that determined the full adherence of a large part of the population, and in particular of the peasants, to the struggle for National Liberation.
Soon, the farmhouses became barracks and headquarters for military and partisan commands; the stables, barns and huts were transformed into dormitories; their meager pantries became the main sources of sustenance. The peasants preferred to give what little they had to the partisans rather than deliver specific quantities of foodstuffs to the stockpiles, even at the risk of severe threats for their non-compliance. Because of this full support of the peasants for the resistance, dozens of farmhouses were set on fire, and many lost their lives for having given shelter to the partisans.
An example is the Mazzarini farming family, who had hosted the eponymous partisan group in their home at Monte Sant'Angelo. Their house was completely destroyed, and seven family members, including little Palmina, aged six, were massacred in the Nazi-Fascist roundup of 4/5/1944. Only the four children, Alderico, Anita, Chiara, Elvira, who were working for local families, survived. Another testimony is given by the Romagnoli peasant family of Ripalta. The father Pietro and the son Romolo were shot by the Germans for having given hospitality to the "Patrignani Marino" detachment, and their house was set on fire. Similarly, the spouses Telari Pietro and Venanzoni Maria of Avacelli were shot and their house destroyed; the sharecropper Baioni Augusto suffered the same fate. Other farmhouses that hosted partisans were those of Romani Massimo of S. Croce and Carbini Nazzareno of Castiglioni.
The farmhouse of the partisan Petrolati Ernesto of Magnadorsa was the headquarters of the partisan military command. Such intense bonds of friendship were established between the partisans and his family that the "Capoccia" (head of the family) was called "Mamma Teresa" by everyone. Another fixed location for partisan command meetings was the farmhouse of Profili Oreste of Castiglioni. Between the area commander, Quinto Luna, and Oreste himself, the same affectionate relationship that exists between two brothers was established.
While the support from the peasants is considered an important factor, other citizens, such as workers, artisans, entrepreneurs, professionals and students, also supported the partisan activities. Women also took part, particularly engaging in the important courier service to maintain connections between the various partisan groups and between these and the local military command.
In figures, the contribution of blood sacrifices and material damage suffered by Arcevia and the local population in the National Liberation War:
Partisan combatants and patriots recognized by the Marche Regional Commission n. 446; Partisans killed in combat and shot in reprisal n. 68, of which n. 42 from Arcevia; Young people from Arcevia taken prisoner in the roundup of 4/5/1944 and taken to the Sforzacosta concentration camp (C.P. n.56) n. 70, of which two died in concentration camps in Germany, and soldiers died in concentration camps in Germany n. 9; Civilians killed as a result of aerial bombardments, artillery and mine explosions n. 18; Partisans decorated with silver medal n. 8; Houses burned in reprisal n. 15; Enemy losses: killed in combat and executed n. 60; War material captured from the enemy: muskets n. 62, machine guns n. 6, heavy machine guns n. 3, pistols n. 14, various ammunition n. 12,000; Bridges destroyed n. 32.
Partisan activities This part of the report is taken from the rosters of partisan commanders and political commissars, whose original texts are deposited at the Historical Archive of the Regional Institute for the History of the Liberation Movement of the Marche and at the Office for the Recognition of Qualifications and Rewards for Partisans of the Ministry of Defense. This text therefore represents a synthesis of the most important war actions that characterized the Arcevia partisan struggle, respecting the most precise chronological order of events and in light of direct testimonies from still living partisan protagonists.
Immediately after 8 September 1943, the first partisan nuclei soon emerged in Arcevia, and the National Liberation Committee was formed with the participation of representatives of the various anti-fascist parties then organized, chaired by a well-known anti-fascist and political persecutee, Mario Zingaretti, originally from Arcevia and displaced from Ancona at that time. The partisan formations operating in the municipal territory throughout the resistance period were:
the "S. Angelo" detachment, commander Avenanti Attilio (Polli) and political commissar Renato Bramucci (Uliano); the "Patrignani Marino" detachment, commander Gino Lazzari (Leò) and political commissar Arnaldo Giacchini (Uliano); the "Alessandro Maggini" detachment, commander Domenico Biancini (Sirio) and political commissar Cornelio Ciurmatori (Bibì).
Furthermore, the following patriotic action groups operated in the territory:
the G.A.P. of S. Mariano, commander Gino Sopranzetti; the G.A.P. of Castiglioni, commander Nerio Giovanetti; the G.A.P. of Loretello, commander Attilio Belardinelli.
The area command was formed by Quinto Luna (Simone), Alberto Galeazzi (Alba) and Alfredo Spadellini (Frillo), already a volunteer in Spain in the international brigades.
The first partisan actions were aimed at recovering weapons, assisting foreign prisoners who had escaped from concentration camps and displaced persons and supplying food for the population. On 24 December 1943, the first partisan grouping became operational at Monte Sant'Angelo, initially composed of 18 men, armed with muskets, hunting rifles and some hand grenades. On 20 January 1944, the group attacked the barracks of the Carabinieri and militiamen in Montecarotto, solely for the purpose of seizing weapons, but due to the commander's refusal, fire was opened and two militiamen were killed; two partisans were also wounded. After this action, the command of the "S. Angelo" group passed to partisan Domenico Biancini due to an illness of commander Attilio Avenanti.
On 2 February 1944, some partisans from the "S. Angelo" group joined the partisan formations from the Fabriano area to assault a train stopped at Albacina station, loaded with 720 young people, taken from various cities in Italy to be deported to Germany. A violent shootout ensued against the train's escort, and two partisans were killed in the fighting, but the operation succeeded in its aim of freeing those young people. Indeed, one of them, Bollati Luigi from Milan, later joined the partisan group. On 6 February 1944, the "S. Angelo" group went to the weapons and equipment depot of the fascist garrison of Arcevia and seized five muskets, various ammunition, blankets and coats. They also took several quintals of salt, most of which was distributed to the population. Also during this period, some fascist homes and a weapons depot at the Senigallia railway station were searched. This operation yielded the following spoils: 6 machine guns, 60 muskets, one heavy machine gun, 3 crates of hand grenades and various ammunition. With this war material, it was possible to better arm the "S. Angelo" group, which was continuously growing with new members.
After two attacks on the position held by the "S. Angelo" group by the militiamen of the Republican National Guard stationed in Cabernardi, on 17 April 1944, the fascist garrison guarding the sulfur deposit (previously owned by the Società Nazionale Industria Zolfi), in the valley west of the Case Biagio district, was assaulted. The surprise and good conduct led to complete success. The entire garrison, composed at that moment of 13 militiamen, surrendered. The hut that served as a dormitory for the garrison was burned; while a fascist militiaman wounded in the clash was hospitalized in Arcevia, the other militiamen were taken to Monte Sant'Angelo where they were held prisoner under strict surveillance. The spoils of war were abundant: 4 "Beretta" submachine guns, one machine gun, 7 muskets, half a crate of hand grenades, one crate of ammunition and a pistol. In the afternoon of the same day, about 50 armed fascists arrived in the Monte Sant'Angelo area to attack the group and free their imprisoned comrades. Alerted by the sentinels, the partisans prepared for a prompt defense by adopting the encirclement technique. After an hour and a half of shooting, the fascists disengaged and retreated in a hasty flight, taking some wounded with them; the partisans suffered no losses.
On 27 April 1944, along the Arcevia-Sassoferrato road, a fascist patrol on an "Alce" motorcycle was blocked. The two militiamen were taken prisoner and brought to Monte Sant'Angelo; the motorcycle, two submachine guns and a pistol were seized. On the same day, a fascist spy possessing a pistol was captured and executed. Practically the entire vast territory of the Municipality was under partisan control. In Arcevia and other localities of the Municipality, after more than twenty years, 1 May, the symbolic workers' holiday, could be celebrated with songs and flag waving.