In the darkness of a Europe dominated by Nazism, there were many who endangered their lives and those of their families to save the Jews who were persecuted by the racial laws established by Hitler's regime.

“On the cover of all the documents that we have, the IDs… is written ‘Jewish race’”.
“We had lost our civil rights. We could not do anything. We didn't even have rationing cards.”
“Based on all these laws, that did not allow us to do anything, I was expelled from school. The director of that school was expelled because he was Jewish, also those who worked in banks, notaries, lawyers, doctors… A doctor could not care for anyone except Jews.”

L'Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and archive in Jerusalem, recalls all the men and women who saved many Jewish lives and they are honored with the title of "The Righteous of Israel".

“They were people who were obeying their consciences.”
“They intervened to save Jews in a moment when we did not know what the outcome of the war would be and therefore it was a totally unselfish act.”

For the Jewish Community in Rome, October 16, 1943 was an especially painful day. More than 1000 Roman Jews were deported. All over Europe similar operations took place.

“The morning of October 16 was terrible. I can still picture the scene. Everyone being taken away in trucks, it was a vast raid; they would enter the homes and seize the families: women, the elderly, children, the ill…”

The German authorities had promised they would respect them in exchange for 50 kg of gold. In a great gesture of solidarity, the entire city joined forces to gather the established amount.

“They demanded 50 kg of gold from the Jewish community. But it was impossible to gather 50 kg of gold in the few hours we had. Without making the demand known to anyone, the city of Rome collaborated with all means possible: with golden teeth – because at the time people used golden teeth – with a ring, with whatever they had… 50 kg of gold were gathered.”

But the promise of safety was not honored and the Jews were forced to hide in order to escape a sure death. During this difficult time Pope Pius XII's action was crucial.

“United States Secret Services' documents also inform the reason why Hitler hated the Pope: because he was hiding the Jews; he sent orders to convents and shrines to hide them, and even hid them in the Vatican.” “Here in Rome, all the convents opened their doors.”
“The Vatican was full; people even slept in the hallways.”
“This is me. I am Claudio Della Sera, born on June 18, 1931. I am from the Jewish religion. At the time of the Germans I was saved by the Maristi Brothers of the College of Saint Leone Magno.”
“We were safe in the convents.”
“The help given to us, Italian or foreign Jews, that were here at the time, was exceptional.”
“In Assisi we had about 6 to 7 thousand war refugees from southern Italy. Among those refugees it was easy to hide hundreds of Jews.”
“Many lives were saved.”

To risk helping the Jews meant to place himself in serious and real danger.

“On May 15, 1945, I was arrested, the police came to my door.”
“The Germans entered the convent and deported 33 women, among which was my mother. Do you understand? The Superior, Sister Ester Busnelli, was arrested because she had done something she should not have done.”
“They brought me to a concentration camp in Perugia.”
“We need to understand the danger involved… The risk that Pius XII took to save 8 thousand people.”

In collaboration with Inside the Vatican