Memorial to the victims of Operation Oak

On 12 September 1943, German paratroopers and SS troops freed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from the hotel on the Campo Imperiale plateau of the Gran Sasso massif, where he was being held captive by the new Italian government. The Germans landed with gliders near the hotel, but also captured the valley station of the cable car to Campo Imperiale. Here, all telephone lines were cut and the German commander, Major Harold Mors, used the cable car to greet Mussolini.

For a long time, it was thought that this action had taken place without bloodshed. However, two people were killed during the attack on the valley station. Forest ranger Pasquale Vitocco, who wanted to warn the troops on the mountain, and carabiniere Giovanni Natale were killed by the Germans. In 2017, these “forgotten” victims were commemorated with two plaques in the stations of the cable car to Campo Imperiale.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Photos: Peter-Jan van der Giessen
• - https://www.terraecuore.net/cultura-turismo-abruzzo-molise/tradizioni-abruzzo-molise/1202/l-omaggio-sul-gran-sasso-a-due-vittime-delloperazione-quercia-dimenticate-dalla-storia
• - https://www.combattentiereduci.it/notizie/pasqualino-vitocco-e-giovanni-natali-due-militari-cancellati-dalla-storia