Traveling
Tuesday: The Italian Resistance
Much is made over the French Resistance, and the thousands
of French citizens who put their lives on the line to fight German Occupation. Less
well-known are the activities of the men and women of the Italian Resistance.
An intriguing aspect of the Italian Resistance is that
in some ways it was a Civil War. Members not only faced “faceless” enemies, but
also neighbors, friends, and family members who stood behind the Nazi-Fascist
cause. This added a personal level to the conflict that many have never
forgotten. At its peak, the Resistance boasted somewhere around 300,000 members
who opposed occupying German forces as well as Mussolini’s Fascist government.
One of the most famous incidents occurred at Piombino
after the armistice. German forces made their way to the town, and citizens
asked the Italian Army to respond, but despite hostility shown by the Germans
indicating they planned to occupy Piombino, General DeVecchio commanded his
troops not to intervene. Junior officers went against orders and outfitted the
townspeople with weapons. The Germans were repelled and taken prisoner, but
again DeVecchio stepped in and freed the prisoners. Senior Italian commanders
fled the city and the troops disbanded, allowing the Germans to take over the
city.
Soldiers, sailors, and airmen retreated to the nearby forests and formed several
partisan units. Armed resistance involved ambushing and harassing the
Germans and their allies through the use of guerilla tactics. Supported by
locals with food, blankets, medicine and other supplies, the partisans would
provide citizens with “promissory notes” that could be redeemed after the war.
Other types of resistance were aid networks that assisted escaped POWs to reach
Switzerland or Allied lines. Italian Jews were assisted by the Delegation for
the Assistance of Jewish Emigrants with food, shelter, and money.
A brave group of men and women, the Resistance lost
approximately 50,000 over the course of the war.
Currently reading an book set in this time, The Cielo, by Paul Salsini. It's based on some of his family history, and yes, I'm reading it because he was one of my journalism professors years ago! Germans were killing 10 Italians for every one German killed in resistance to the German occupation.
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