Italy’s Outstanding Courage - The Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two

Author

Brian Gordon Lett

Publisher

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Price

£14

ISBN

9781987612271

Published

2018

Italy’s Outstanding Courage - The Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two - By Brian Gordon Lett

Western Europe was the Allies’ main objective at the time of the Italian Armistice, and Italy was of secondary importance. But for most Italians, particularly the mountain people (the contadini), there was little interest in the war in Europe. Most led a frugal life, they had no external communication and hardly ever left their villages. Messages were carried by word-of-mouth and the villages seldom received any outside visitors.

It was into this peaceful world that thousands of escapers arrived after the Sept ‘43 Armistice. Winter was approaching, snow was falling, temperatures freezing and the woods and mountains became less appealing to the escapers. They needed help. There were no escape lines; escapers knew to avoid large, prosperous-looking farms (usually Fascist), and approached the small farms and villages that were in a state of disrepair. Posters were everywhere, warning of the harsh consequences of sheltering the enemy – farms burnt down, livestock slaughtered, brutal interrogations, torture, executions, whole families shot, and deportation to the concentration camps. Despite these warnings and having insufficient food for their own needs, the contadini welcomed the strangers, sheltered them, tended to their needs and shared their meagre provisions then helped them on their way to the next village - all in the name of humanity.

At the end of the war over 400 people were recommended to receive awards from the British for their indomitable courage and bravery. All supported by the testimonials of the escapers on-the- run and senior officers. Even Winston Churchill referred, in a speech, to the actions of the contadini, saying ‘It was a great spontaneous gesture of humanity by the Italian people to the escapers’. But it was not to be! At the end of hostilities a decision was taken that no awards would be given to Italian Nationals by the British Government.

Much has been written to discredit the Italian people in WW2. This book goes a long way to put forward the truth of the Italian people’s outstanding courage and heroism in assisting Allied escapers in Italy in WW2, without which few escapers would have reached the Allied Lines. Hundreds of people from the mountains and villages died, others suffered badly from injuries received offering their help. Others died in the concentration camps of the Third Reich.

This book tells of the heroism of the thousands of ordinary people from the mountains and villages who assisted the POW escapers and evaders during the German and Fascist occupation of Italy in WW2 and those who died. They did not ask for reward – they did not get one! Recommended reading for all members.

ISBN-10 1987612272 & ISBN -13 9781987612271. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. Cost £14