Stumbling Stone Via San Domenico 1

This small, brass, memorial plaque (pietra d'inciampo, stolperstein, or stumbling stone) commemorates:

* Ferdinando Bagatin, born 1924, arrested September 1943, deported 19 December 1944, Mauthausen, murdered 17 April 1945, Gusen Perg.

Background

Ferdinando Bagatin was born in Paris. Later his Italian parents moved back to Italy and lived at this address in Turin. He became an apprentice, then was drafted into the air force and was in the barracks in September 1943. He walked to visit his parents. He was arrested as a draft dodger when on the way to join the resistance. He was then transferred to Bolzano concentration camp, where he was forced to serve in the German anti-aircraft force. On 14 December 1944, he was deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp, arriving on the 19th. He said he was an auto mechanic and was classified as a political prisoner. Ten days later he was transferred to the Gusen subcamp, located in the district of Perg and known for its policy of working prisoners to death in stone quarries or in the armaments factory. Starting in 1943, Gusen began underground production of aircraft and armaments. Between January and May 1945, over 10,000 prisoners were killed in Gusen, including Fernando Bagatin. His date of death, 17 April 1945 was just 3½ weeks before Gusen was liberated on 5 May. He was 20 years old.

"Stolpersteine" is an art project for Europe by Gunter Demnig to commemorate victims of National Socialism (Nazism). Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) are small, 10x10cm brass plaques placed in the pavement in front of the last voluntary residence of (mostly Jewish) victims who were murdered by the Nazis. Each plaque is engraved victim’s with the name, year of birth, and place (mostly a concentration camp) and date of death. By doing this, Gunter Demnig gives an individual memorial to each victim. One stone, one name, one person. He cites the Talmud: "A human being is forgotten only when his or her name is forgotten."

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!