Italy to Honor Sikh Soldiers’ World War Sacrifice

Hundreds of Italians and members of the Sikh community will gather on August 1 to honor the Sikh soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for the liberation of Italy during World War II.

The annual commemorative event aims to raise awareness among younger generations of Italians about the role Sikh soldiers played in the Allied campaign against German forces.

“We have been organizing these events to create awareness among young Italians about the supreme sacrifices Sikh soldiers made to help liberate Italy from German occupation during the World Wars. Some elderly Italians who survived the wars still fondly remember the contribution of turbaned Sikh soldiers who traveled all the way to fight on foreign soil for the freedom of a country that was largely unfamiliar to them,” said Prithipal Singh, president of the World Sikh Shaheed Military & Tempio de Sikh Novellara.

According to Singh, soldiers and officers of the Indian Army’s 8th and 10th Divisions fought with distinction against the invading forces, with many making the ultimate sacrifice. He said both Italians and members of Italy’s Sikh community continue to honor those who lost their lives.

Smaller remembrance ceremonies are also held across Italy to commemorate the courage and valor of Sikh soldiers who fought under difficult conditions, including harsh winter weather, while maintaining their religious identity. Singh said many Italians who lived through the war remember them as “great warriors in turbans.”

The August 1 ceremony will begin with the recitation of hymns from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, including the Sri Sukhmani Sahib.

Meanwhile, prominent Canadian Sikh businessman Baljeet Singh Chadha and his wife, Mandeep (Roshi) Chadha, visited Forlì, Italy, last week to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Chadha said a plaque at the Forlì memorial reads: “Sikh community Italy: We are today able to live with honor, dignity, and independence. In the war, they fought and died for us, wearing the turbans.” The inscription is attributed to Sir Winston Churchill.

“We visited the Indian Army War Cemetery in Forlì, Italy. A total of 352 Sikh soldiers gave their lives during the intense Allied campaign in 1944 and 1945. The names of all Sikh soldiers are listed in the register, while some are engraved on the memorial wall and tombstones because many were cremated,” Chadha said.

“We paid our respects by presenting flowers at the Sikh War Memorial sculpture, installed in 2011 by the Italian Sikh community. It is the first such memorial in Europe. Italian Sikhs hold a memorial service every August in memory of these soldiers,” he added. “It was a deeply moving and humbling moment of remembrance.”

“Lest we forget,” Chadha said.

He noted that Italy is home to approximately 200,000 Sikhs and about 60 gurdwaras, with many members of the community employed in dairy farms and cheese production.

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