'Planning to spend the New Year Day in WW-II cemetery in Arezzo, Italy where 360 Indian soldiers lie commemorated - by K J S Chatrath

 

                                                                   Arezzzo Town

 Over five years back I spent the Diwali Day in St. Severs Cemetery in France in the company of the  commemorative stones of 272 Indian soldiers  and non-combatants who died defending France during the World War-I. They were cremated/buried in this cemetery. They had spent over 100 years waiting for someone from their country to come and visit them.

Italy has 3 World War-II cemeteries where Indian soldiers are lying commemorated - Arezzo, Flori and Acona. 

                   Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, World War -II, Arezzo

This year I am planning to spend the New Year Day, i.e. 1st January 2024 in the Arezzo War Cemetery in Italy. 

The site for this cemetery was selected in November 1944, and graves were brought into it from the surrounding area. Both the 4th and the 8th Indian Divisions were involved in the fighting in this region, and Plots VII-IX in the cemetery contain Indian commemorative stones.

This World War –II cemetery has 1266 soldiers from various countries commemorated in it, out of which over 360 are Indians.

But the most shocking thing that I discovered while preparing for my visit was that out of these 360, 42 Indians were just boys - aged between 17 and 19 years.

Shame on the country that sent our young boys to fight the formidable German war machine and sacrifice their lives in a War that had nothing to do with India.

May the souls of the 1266 departed soldiers rest in eternal peace.

 

 

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