3. THE MASSACRE AT CIVITELLA Civitella's wooded and mountainous location contributed to it becoming a site of resistance during the German occupation. The German command was installed at the Fortress in the fortified village and, on June 18, 1944, two German soldiers were attacked and killed by partisans while they were on a break in the local bar. The occupiers gave the locals an ultimatum, offering them 24 hours to turn over the offenders or else the entire village would be punished for their deeds. The deadline passed without any collaboration from the locals and to their surprise—no action was taken by the Germans. On the morning of June 29, 1944 during the Festival of Saints Peter and Paul, the village was full when three German squadrons attacked the towns of Cornia, San Pancrazio and Civitella without warning. The result was one of the bloodiest massacres in Italian history and the town was burnt with 244 civilians, including women and children massacred. TUSCANY ~ ITALY
