In 1943, during World War II, an Italian officer, a Japanese officer, and a German officer were captured and held in a cell, awaiting Allied questioning.
The German boldly proclaimed, “No torture can break me. I won’t give up any information.”
The Japanese officer insisted, “I would never dishonor my country by revealing its secrets.”
The Italian, however, sighed, “I’m doomed.”
The Allies interrogated the German first. When he returned the next day, battered and bruised, he admitted, “I failed. I told them everything.”
Then it was the Japanese officer’s turn. Two days later, he came back in terrible shape and confessed, “I’ve shamed the Emperor—I revealed all our secrets.”
Finally, the Italian was taken—already weeping and pleading. Two weeks passed with no news. When he was finally brought back, barely alive, a guard commented, “Incredible. The others gave up immediately, but this one wouldn’t say a word.”
Thrown back into the cell, the German and Japanese officers hurried over, eager to know his secret.
The Italian answered, “Mamma mia, I wanted to tell them everything… but my hands were tied behind my back.”
