World War Two’s Rome escape line
Witness History9 Juni 2025

World War Two’s Rome escape line

Between September 1943 and June 1944 in World War Two, the Italian capital Rome was occupied by German soldiers.

Italy had surrendered and thousands of Allied prisoners of war had escaped from internment camps in the country.

An Irish priest, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who was working for the neutral state of Vatican City set in the heart of Rome, did everything he could to help the escaped prisoners evade capture by the Nazis.

Tim O’Callaghan has been speaking to his nephew – also named Hugh O’Flaherty about his uncle's life.

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(Photo: Hugh O'Flaherty. Credit: The O'Flaherty family)

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