World War II specialist James McFarlane is highlighting a neglected chapter of Italian history by focusing on the liberation of Rome and the city's nine-month occupation by Nazi forces. Speaking from the Monte Verde Nuovo district, McFarlane noted that while millions of visitors flock to the city for its ancient ruins and Renaissance art, few are aware of its 20th-century military significance.
McFarlane, who developed an interest in the era through extensive travel to war museums in Moscow, Kiev, and Tokyo, said he began researching the local history after being asked to help develop a specialised tour. He seeks to reveal the hidden history of everyday structures, such as former torture chambers and fascist headquarters that currently lack public memorials.
The historian describes war as the most intense human experience, one that tests individual morality under extreme circumstances. By placing Rome's architecture in a modern context, he aims to show how the conflict shaped the contemporary world and the city's physical landscape.
"This city of Rome is a city that was liberated from the Nazis by an American army."
"One of the wonderful things is when you walk past a building a thousand times and then you suddenly see it in a whole new light."