The Scarlet and the Black

==Plot==

==Plot==

In September 1943, the [[Wehrmacht Heer|German army]] occupies Rome following Italy's [[Armistice of Cassibile|surrender]] to the Allies. When [[Pope Pius XII]] meets SS-[[SS-Obergruppenfueher|General]] [[Karl Wolff|Max Helm]] and SS Head of Police for Rome SS-[[Obersturmbannführer|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Herbert Kappler]], the General explains that German [[Nazi soldiers|troops]], mainly [[Waffen SS|Waffen SS troops detachments]] are behaving correctly and explains that Vatican neutrality is respected. The Colonel then expresses concern that escaped Allied prisoners may attempt to seek refuge in the Vatican, and requests permission to paint a white line across [[St. Peter's Square]] in order to mark the extent of Vatican sovereignty. The Pope does not protest that the [[German Wehrmacht|German Wehrmacht forces]] have occupied [[Rome]], but when the officers leave, he sees out of the window that the white line had already begun to be painted.

In September 1943, the [[Wehrmacht Heer|German army]] occupies Rome following Italy's [[Armistice of Cassibile|surrender]] to the Allies. When [[Pope Pius XII]] meets SS-[[SS-Obergruppenfueher|General]] [[Karl Wolff|Max Helm]] and SS Head of Police for Rome SS-[[Obersturmbannführer|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Herbert Kappler]], the General explains that German [[Nazi soldiers|troops]], mainly [[Waffen SS|Waffen SS troops detachments]], will behave correctly and explains that Vatican neutrality will be respected. The Colonel then expresses concern that escaped Allied prisoners may attempt to seek refuge in the Vatican, and requests permission to paint a white line across [[St. Peter's Square]] in order to mark the extent of Vatican sovereignty. The Pope does not protest that the [[German Wehrmacht|German Wehrmacht forces]] have occupied [[Rome]], but when the officers leave, he sees out of the window that the white line had already begun to be painted.

Opposing Kappler is Monsignor O'Flaherty, an Irish-born Vatican priest who establishes an underground organization which provides safe haven and escape routes to escaped [[Prisoner of war|POWs]], [[Jews]], and refugees in Rome. O'Flaherty is assisted in this enterprise by others, including locals such as O'Flaherty's platonic widowed companion Francesca Lombardo and her daughters Guilia and Emilia, and the clergy and members of the Vatican's diplomatic corps. The Nazis attempt to destroy the group, but Kappler is frustrated by O'Flaherty's successes, due to his cleverness, disguises, and his straining the limits of the Vatican's [[Country neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]]. The [[German SS|SS]] meet with Rome's Jewish council leaders, which the Nazis set up to be mediators between them and the Jews, promising protection of Rome's Jews if these leaders come up with 100 [[Pound (mass)|pound]] of pure gold and 1 million [[Italian lira]], O'Flaherty helps them raise both but Kappler breaks his promise and deports the Jews to the camps that he said do not exist.

Opposing Kappler is Monsignor O'Flaherty, an Irish-born Vatican priest who establishes an underground organization which provides safe haven and escape routes to escaped [[Prisoner of war|POWs]], [[Jews]], and refugees in Rome. O'Flaherty is assisted in this enterprise by others, including locals such as O'Flaherty's platonic widowed companion Francesca Lombardo and her daughters Guilia and Emilia, and the clergy and members of the Vatican's diplomatic corps. The Nazis attempt to destroy the group, but Kappler is frustrated by O'Flaherty's successes, due to his cleverness, disguises, and his straining the limits of the Vatican's [[Country neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]]. The [[German SS|SS]] meet with Rome's Jewish council leaders, which the Nazis set up to be mediators between them and the Jews, promising protection of Rome's Jews if these leaders come up with 100 [[Pound (mass)|pound]] of pure gold and 1 million [[Italian lira]], O'Flaherty helps them raise both but Kappler breaks his promise and deports the Jews to the camps that he said do not exist.