"Something will come of this, because people will reflect on the past. And public opinion can also reflect on these deeds," De Paolis said.
"And I think there is a moral debt to those whose relatives died. A child who witnesses his mother's murder, in that cruel way, carries a heavy burden of pain through his life -- so it is fair to, at the very least, formally recognize this guilt, even if it is never translated into a jail sentence."
At Sant'Anna, the SS combed houses and forced people onto the street, where they were shot.
The survivors were children whose bodies were shielded by their parents, and men who fled to the woods fearing the division was recruiting forced laborers.
De Paolis says it is not about settling scores.
"I have never heard anyone talking about revenge," he said. "This is far too big for that."
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