the massacres of foibe are the mass killings in which the majority of victims were ethnic italians in 1943, after the capitulation of italy on 8 september, and in 1945, when yugoslav partisans under the command of tito occupied parts of venezia giulia, istria and dalmatia. historians have claimed the violence and consequent italian istrian-dalmatian exodus was a planned ethnic cleansing. national memorial day of the exiles and foibe is italian celebration in memory of the victims.