Photographs and newspaper articles posted for 320 Italian civilians murdered in Ardeatine Caves massacre on March 24, 1944. It is likely that this film was recorded months later, during the summer of 1944. Blessing of bodies by priest, and burial of corpses. Crowds of Italians. Man in hospital bed.
Ardeatine Caves Massacre: burials
Two photographs in 208-AA (Office of War Information) have captions dated July 28, 1944 relating to this massacre. The first photo is of the memorial seen in the beginning of the film, Ardeatine Caves Massacre:Burials (111-ADC-2859). This image is captioned,"AFHQ, -- JULY 28, 1944. -- BODIES OF ITALIANS BURIED IN ROMAN CATACOMBS EXHUMED. -- BODIES OF SOME OF THE 320 ITALIANS REPORTED BY ITALIAN AUTHORITIES TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BY THE NAZIS IN REPRISAL FOR THE KILLING OF 32 GERMANS BY A POWERFUL EXPLOSION IN ROME LAST WINTER, AS THEY WERE EXHUMED FROM CATACOMBS IN THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF ROME._ PWB STAFF PHOTO BY COFFMAN" The second photo is of the bodies and is captioned,"AFHQ -- July 28, 1944. -- IN MEMORIUM. -- ROMAN FAMILIES PLACE RELIGIOUS ORNAMENTS AND PICTURES OUTSIDE CATACOMBS IN THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF ROME IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR LOVED ONES WHO ITALIAN AUTHORITIES REPORT HAD BEEN MURDERED BY THE NAZIS AND BURIED IN THE CATACOMBS. -- ITALIAN AUTHORITIES CLAIM THAT 320 ITALIANS WERE EXECUTED AND ENTOMBED IN THE CATACOMBS IN REPRISAL FOR THE KILLING OF 32 GERMANS BY A POWERFUL EXPLOSIVE IN ROME LAST WINTER/ --PWB STAFF PHOTO BY COFFMAN"