• PugJesus@lemmy.worldOPM
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    2 days ago

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatebenefratelli_Hospital#"Syndrome_K"

    “Syndrome K” was purported to be a neurological illness whose symptoms included convulsions, dementia, paralysis, and, ultimately, death from asphyxiation.[6] While the symptoms of the disease were deliberately kept ambiguous, the Nazis were noted to refrain from investigating the hospital or even to conduct searches for Jews on the premises out of fear of contracting the disease.[4] The Jewish patients were advised to appear ill and to cough loudly, affecting symptoms similar to tuberculosis.[4]

    Besides Fr. Maurizio and Borromeo, other doctors on staff assisted the Jewish patients and helped to move them to safer hideouts outside the hospital. In May 1944, the hospital was raided and five Jews from Poland were detained. However, the ruse saved approximately 100 refugees.[4]

    Fr. Maurizio and Borromeo also installed an illegal radio transmitter in the hospital basement and made contact with General Roberto Lordi of the Italian Royal Air Force. After World War II, Borromeo was lauded by Government of Italy for his work and was recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. He died in the hospital on 24 August 1961.[4]

  • Drusas@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    I had never heard of this–thank you for sharing. We could use to hear more stories like this, especially in these times.