The Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre was, in terms of the number of victims, the second largest Nazi-Fascist atrocity in Italy, after the one at Monte Sole in Emilia-Romagna. It was part of an operational cycle of ‘anti-gang’ actions launched in the summer of 1944 by the German army during its retreat toward the Gothic Line (German and Italian defence line), and continued with the massacres at the Padule di Fucecchio, Vinca, and the Monte Sole area itself.

In the Sant’Anna area and on the surrounding mountains near Versilia, the Apuan Alps, and Lunigiana, partisan formations of various orientations (from Garibaldi brigades to autonomous units) were active, which posed a significant problem for the German forces. On 12 August, men of the 2nd Battalion of the 35th Regiment of the 16th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division, commanded by General Simon, killed at least 392 people. This was a deliberate act of terror aimed at “cleansing” the territory, eliminating all living beings within a designated area, including the elderly and newborns, who were automatically considered partisans.

Anna Pardini (23 July to 12 August 1944) was the youngest of the victims, only 20 days old. She died a few days after being injured and was killed along with her mother, Bruna, and her sister, Maria, while her sisters Cesira, Adele, and Lilia survived.

A square in Sant’Anna di Stazzema has been dedicated to Anna. A plaque in her memory was placed on the wall of a votive chapel located within the square.

Every 12 August, a solemn commemoration is held in the village in remembrance of the massacre. On 28 February 1970, the Gold Medal for Military Valour was awarded to Sant’Anna di Stazzema. Cesira Pardini, Anna’s sister, was awarded the Gold Medal for Civil Valour.