The raid on the Roman Ghetto was a systematic operation carried out by German forces during the Holocaust, focusing on the Jewish population in Rome. On this day, the Nazis, in collaboration with local fascist authorities, implemented a sudden and violent round-up of the city's Jews, resulting in significant apprehensions within the ghetto. The inhabitants were largely unprepared for such an aggressive action, as it built upon the previous waves of anti-Semitic legislation and societal ostracization that had already begun to affect their lives. The raid followed the arrest of Jews ordered by the German authorities in occupied territories, showing a blatant continuation of their policies of extermination in Italy.

During the early morning hours, various police and military units participated in the operation, which saw them knocking on doors and forcibly entering homes in search of Jews. Taking advantage of the chaos and fear, the authorities successfully detained around 1,200 individuals, many of whom were taken to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. Their fate was sealed, as the vast majority did not survive. The raid also caused significant distress in the Jewish community and instigated a climate of fear among those who managed to escape that day.

The repercussions of the raid extended beyond just the immediate physical loss of life; it marked a pivotal moment in the history of Italy during the war. Before this event, the Italian government had maintained a relatively passive approach to the Nazi's genocidal policies compared to other occupied territories. This raid not only escalated the violence but also altered the dynamics of the Italian Jewish community, many of whom went into hiding or fled the city thereafter. In the months that followed, other similar operations were conducted in towns and cities across Italy.