The Assisi Underground: The Priests Who Rescued Jews

by Alexander Ramati

Recounts the successful efforts of Padre Rufino Niccacci and other residents of Assisi to shelter and protect three hundred Jews and to provide others with false papers, all under the noses of the Nazi occupiers

Genres: Nonfiction, Holocaust, History, Italy, Biography, Jewish

181 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1978

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last month we visited the Assisi, Italy where we heard the story of the priest who saved 300 Jews during WWII. With incredulity, we listened as the tour guide explained how the church and the city led by one priest accomplished so much. Further a book titled The Assisi Underground was available. After our return home we searched for the book and found a copy in our public library. The story is a wonderful account of how God moved in the hearts of his people to risk their lives on behalf of the Jews escaping the fascists. The story of how the book came to be is told in the final pages and is a miracle itself. Sadly, the book has fallen out of favor and is seldom read but it should be on everyone's reading list. Warning: this book is very hard to put down. Charming and heartfelt, I highly recommend the book to all.

[Jameyanne Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could I would give this book 10 stars. 5 isn't enough. I've read this book before, as research for the historical fiction novella set inWWII Italy which I wrote for my senior honors thesis. I reread it because I'm writing a paper for my negotiations class on linked negotiations in the book. I have to say that rereading The Assisi Underground not only from the angle of studying the negotiations in the book but also after I've lived in Assisi for a year, it was a completely different experience. I'm confident I could reread the book again and still get more out of it. The Assisi Underground tells the story of Padre Rufino Nicacci, in his own words, as the leader of the organization that rescued, disguised, and hid over 300 Jews from the Nazis in Assisi and the surrounding area. It's an incredible story and everyone should read it. It's out-of-print, so it's hard too get your hands on a copy, but if you can it is definitely worth multiple reads.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story that challenges the modern narrative of the intervention of the Catholic Church on behalf of the Jews in WWII. The greatest challenge in reading this was keeping track of all of the names of the "characters," but as this is a true story told to the author by Padre Rufino, leaving out the stories of any of those involved would be a greater tragedy.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was *not* an easy book. I had never known much about the Italian Resistance, to be honest, and learning about how the monasteries and convents of Assisi hid Jewish refugees was fascinating and terrifying.

This is a first person account by Padre Rufino Niccacci, a Franciscan monk who was essentially the leader of Assisi's underground. He told his story to journalist Alexander Ramati, who added an epilogue of his own so that readers would know how he met Padre Rufino and what happened to the many refugees and churchfolk who helped them.

This book has moments that will make readers laugh and cry. I was swept in from page one and did not want to put the book down. The bravery of Assisi's citizenry and the refugees (and even some of the more sympathetic German soldiers) comes through in every page.

Not to be missed by those who enjoy a good non-fiction work.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading it, I was saying to myself, I have seen this as a movie and believed I had read the book before. I was right.
I enjoyed it because of the humor and how folks reached out to help the Jews and others less fortunate in the War.
Humanity helping Humanity.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching, beautiful book that will restore your belief in the good in humanity.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FASCINATING ACCOUNT OF ONE TOWN'S EFFORTS TO SAVE JEWS DURING WORLD WAR II

This 1978 book is a "novelization" written by Alexander Ramati based on a true-life account, told by Father Rufino Niccacci, of an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of Assisi, Italy during World War II. It has also been made into a movie, The Assisi Underground.

The narrator says to his fellow religious, "And so that Brother Francis might set an example of brotherly love, God commanded him to find a leper, and embrace and kiss him. He ordered it, because the lepers were the poorest, the most wretched creatures, shunned, hated and chased from their homes. Once more, we live in the Dark Ages. The men and women who have come to you today to seek refuge and protection---they are the lepers of the modern world. They are Jews, who are being persecuted by the Germans and the Fascists, sent to concentration camps, then tortured and put to death." (Pg. 26)

When a Cardinal asks the local Padre to assist, he is initially hesitant. The Cardinal says, "'Calm down, Padre. No, I don't mean to turn your city into the hiding centre for Jews. But I would like to turn it into the counterfeiting centre---where you could produce identity cards for the people who need them. First of all for those hiding in private houses and are in constant danger. Those people need your help, Padre. You have done a lot, I know, but you could do so much more.' ... 'I'm not a saint, Your Eminence. I'm a Franciscan, not St. Francis... Am I on trial?' 'We all are.' the Cardinal said. 'The whole Church. God has chosen us to use these terrible times to test His own Church. Are we going to fail Him? The Lord knows of no distinction between people... Every human life is dear to Him. We must obey God rather than Man.'" (Pg. 75)

When the Cardinal was asked why Pope Pius XII didn't make a public statement condemning the Nazi persecution of Jews, he replied, "You ought to understand that the Vatican is a state and the Pope is also a politician, a head of state... Instead of making meaningless declarations that would only antagonize the Germans, perhaps even make them occupy the Vatican itself, he issued orders---to save Jewish lives...

"The Pontiff could not issue an express order. But we received his message loud and clear... Do you think the Pontiff does not know what we are doing? Or that in his own diocese... over a hundred convents and over fifty churches and theological seminaries are hiding four thousand Jews, half of the Jews of Rome?" (Pg. 76-77)

The narrator laments in prayer, "We Christians have the Cross. The Nazis came and turned that Cross into a swastika. Why did You let them profane you? And what about your deputy on earth? Why does he keep silent? Our Pope's condemnation of the Nazis would perhaps make every third one of the German soldiers stop killing, at last stop the killing of the innocent. Isn't his role as the spiritual leader of the Church more important than his role of politician or head of state? What comfort he could give to all those now hiding in the mountains and caves if he would only stand up for them openly and thus strengthen their will to live, hide, and survive. Has he done enough by quietly letting his subordinates help those that are being persecuted? Couldn't he have done more? And shouldn't You, Almighty, in this greatest hour of our need, have given us a leader who would have stood up to the devil who twisted Your Cross?" (Pg. 175)

This is a fascinating story, that will be of tremendous interest to all those interested in efforts to help the Jews of Europe during the Second World War.

[Rayann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to have been able to read this remarkable story. Every so often a story comes along that is high above the others and this is one of those. Recorded by author Alexander Ramati, who was told the story by Padre Rufino Niccacci who gave a first-hand account of the events of 30 years ago in WWII Nazi-held Assisi. Priests, Nuns, Bishops, and townspeople risked their lives in order to save persecuted Jews who were fleeing the Nazi killing machine. The terrified and hunted Jews come under the protection of the Catholic Priests in Assisi and the surrounding region. The Catholics working from their various monasteries, along with townspeople, take in and hide the Italian and foreign Jews. This story is well-worth reading; hard to put down; and a book I will re-read. This story will stay in my heart forever.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in college. Years later, after visiting the beautiful town of Assissi, I knew I wanted to someday reread the story of Father Rufino Niccacci. This summer, in the midst of a pandemic, I finally revisited this wonderful story of heroism and bravery. While in other European countries, eighty percent of the Jewish population was lost, in Italy, eighty percent of the Jewish population was saved. Those are pretty impressive numbers to compare.
It might be of interest that a movie was made of the story. You can find it on Amazon Prime.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning story, told by those who were there and saved by the Franciscan priests to an author whohad been embedded with the American Army in Italy.

[Eileen McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exciting, suspenseful, and a much needed reminder that there are people who are willing to fight evil and put their lives at risk to help other people. Much has been written about Pope Pius XII's lack of criticism of Nazi attitudes and actions toward Jews and other peoples targeted by the Holocaust. This book makes it clear that at least some Catholic priests and bishops took enormous risks to shelter and hide Jews fleeing from Nazi efforts to round them up and ship them out of Italy.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 1978 in the US and is now out of print. I found it to be a compelling story, showing how difficult it was for Jews during WWII. So often, the powers changed in Italy and France and it must have been so confusing and horrifying for Jews to know where to go and who to trust to help them. Fr. *Ruffino Niccacci certainly did his best. This book is written in the first person, which makes it very readable. I was interested to read how Gino Battaglia aka Bartoli would fit into the story. I knew he smuggled false identity paper rolled up inside his bike frame from Assisi to other sites.

It is fascinating to me to read about these honorable men and women who risked their own lives to help save others who were simply targeted for extinction through no fault of their own.

I thought it was a great book and wish it would go into another round of publication.

[J.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story of Italian monks hiding the Jews in Northern Italy during WW2.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great subject, but the writing is only so-so. Which is ok I guess, as it was written as told to a writer.

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend I met at a retreat and e-mail once in a while recommended this book to me.