In sharing and commemorating, on the day of the national mourning of the German people, also the Italian fallen of the two World Wars, Costermano rises »as an example and a symbol of reconciliation in Europe». These are the words of the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Milan, Uta Mayer-Schalburg, who spoke Sunday at the commemorative ceremony at the Italian War Memorial and concluded at the German military cemetery where nearly 22,000 German fallen are buried. «Many of them were not even twenty years old», recalled the consul, «sacrificed by a regime that made tyranny, war, and genocide its doctrinal principles. Victims in turn, they became instruments of a policy driven by a deep disdain for humanity that brought death not only to them, but to millions of people, because of their religion or political beliefs». Referring to the ongoing controversy in Germany, generated by the fact that German cemeteries in Italy allegedly honor not only soldiers but also Nazi criminals and SS members, the general consul admitted that at least three men guilty of heinous crimes are buried in Costermano, responsible for crimes against humanity committed in Italy». Their remains — he clarified — were buried in Costermano during the confused years of the post-war period, «but no one representing our free and democratic state», said Ms. Uta Mayer-Schalburg, «honors these fallen». It is a fact that among the 21,971 graves are those of Christian Wirth, Franz Reichleitner, and Gottfried Schwartz, three SS leaders who, after gaining experience in the «euthanasia» program to eliminate disabled and mentally ill individuals, organized and commanded extermination camps. Also buried in the same cemetery are Hans Schmidt and four of his comrades, killed in Albinea as «traitors», because they were in contact with partisans and preparing to join them in the mountains. «The guilty and the innocent remind us», emphasized the consul during his speech on the hill, «of the dark years of German history and also of the political and individual responsibility of German citizens. The Federal Republic has confronted our history and the injustices committed at all levels – State, Society, and Church – in such an intense and convincing way that there is no doubt». At the start of the ceremony, after thanking the official representatives of the Italian state, those of partisan associations, and welcoming both the members of the German community of Northern Italy and the families of soldiers resting in the cemetery, the general consul highlighted how the terrorist attack of September 11 «broke peace once again. God willing, this fight between the free world and the dictatorship of terrorism will end as soon as possible with the fewest victims». At the ceremony, among many people, NATO military personnel and Rudolf Baumgaertel, the highest German official in Italy, Brigadier General Carlo Frigo, territorial commander of Trentino-Alto Adige; General Gianfranco Caminata, officer for war fallen honors; Lieutenant Giorgio Borrelli, commander of the Caprino Carabinieri company; the mayor of Costermano, Giorgio Castellazzi, while the mayor of Verona, Michela Sironi, was represented by Manlio Fichera; Mons. Armando Piccoli, as representative of the bishop of the dioceses of Scaligera, Father Flavio Roberto Carraro, and Dino Vincenzi representing the Verona Chamber of Commerce. On the hill, following the consul general’s speech, prayers were said by Don Giorgio Scala, parish priest of Costermano, Pastor Donedecke of Milan, and homage to the fallen by Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Waldemar Krause. Representing the partisans was Nando Labò, disabled and wounded during an action in February 1945, saved by surgery performed by a German military doctor who amputated his leg. «In that battle», recalls the partisan, «a German captain and a sergeant were killed and buried here in Costermano, and every year we come to place a bouquet of flowers on their grave». A large delegation of Alpini arrived from the Alto Garda Trentino and Ledro Valley, accompanied by Franz Wurzel, resident in Pregasina. Also present was the musical band of the city of Eichhofen and the choir «La Rocca» of Garda, directed by Maestro Giorgio Avanzini.
