Hitler’s rise to power was one of the most horrific events in history. The Nazi racial ideology he preached resulted into the Holocaust – the mass extermination of Jews. More than six million Jews were murdered in Nazi concentration camps during 1940 –1945. A mere thought of it freaks anybody out!
Not only Hitler‘s supporters killed innocent Jews, but they also haunted people who helped them hide. But even the danger of being arrested or shot didn‘t stop many kind people from helping Jews. They sheltered the victims of the racial ideology in their homes, attics, barns, and other places.
And this is a story of one of such unsung heroes — Italian doctor Vittorio Sacerdoti. 28-year-old Dr. Sacerdoti risked his life to protect Jews from Nazis.
The young doctor worked at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital, a 450-year-old hospital located on the Tiber River in Rome. When Nazis raided the area in 1943, Dr. Sacerdoti took part in a unique strategy to help keep Jews safe.
As Jews arrived at Fatebenefratelli Hospital, they were diagnosed with “Syndrome K.” The name of the disease sounded intimidating to anyone who didn‘t know the secret. And the secret was that Syndrome K, as an actual disease, simply didn’t exist. It was a code name invented by anti-fascist activist Adriano Ossicini. It was used by the medical workers to identify the Jews that were in hiding in the hospital.
The rooms where Syndrome K “sufferers” were staying were marked as “highly infectious.” Children were even taught to cough when Nazis came to the hospital.
Thanks to this genius idea, hundreds of Jews were saved only in this single hospital! And their survival is in no small part due to the bravery of Dr. Sacerdoti and other staff of the Fatebenefratelli Hospital.
