An Incredible Revenge

“In 1943 I was condemned to death by a German military tribunal"

(The grey-haired man giving his testimony spoke quietly, even apologetically.)

"I had a wife and four children, so the sentence was com­muted to a term in a concentration camp in Germany. Nine months later I weighed 80 pounds, my body was cov­ered with scars, and my left arm had been broken and had set without medical attention.

"On Christmas Eve I was in the hut with other men when the camp commandant sent for me. I found him sitting at a table prepared for a Christmas dinner. He made me stand at attention during the whole meal, which lasted an hour, and he tormented me because I was a Christian and preached to my fellow prisoners. I was greatly tempted by the devil, who said to me, 'Dapozzo, do you still believe the 23rd Psalm?' I prayed to God — and was able to answer, 'Yes, I do.'

"An orderly brought in coffee and a packet of small cakes. The camp commandant began to eat them. Then he said, 'Your wife is a good cook, Dapozzo!'

"I did not understand, so he explained,  'Every month, for seven months, your wife has sent you a parcel of cakes and biscuits. I have eaten them.'

"Then I was greatly tempted. I knew that my wife and children were short of food and that, from their inadequate rations, she had scraped enough flour and fats and sugar to send me something. This man was eating my chil­dren's food! The devil said to me, 'Hate him, Dapozzo!'