- Contributed by听
- SimonITALY
- Article ID:听
- A1297866
- Contributed on:听
- 22 September 2003
My grandfather fought during WW2 as a private in Regio Esercito, the Italian Army. After the capitulation in 1943, all units were disbanded, leaving the soldiers without guidance or a duty to follow. Many were captured by Germans and sent to prisoner camps abroad; some joined the R.S.I., continuing their war on Mussolini's side, or else they formed new Liberation units; others took off their uniforms and tried to return to civilian life.
Mussolini sent some divisions, including my grandfather's division, to fight in the German offensive against the Soviet Union. After the fall of the defensive line, my grandfather had to return home by foot. He told me that for a few days he was in a complete state of shock and walked without reason on streets and through woods until he was discovered by a German unit retreating toward the Austrian border. After a quick interrogation, the Germans told him to escape, to run from their sight across an open field! My grandfather told me: "I was sure that just after I turned my back to them, after a few steps, they would shoot to kill me!"
He closed his eyes and ran as fast as he could. The soldiers laughed... but no one opened fire, and it wasn't until he reached a wood that he realized he was still among the living! After a long walk he heard a murmur and noticed a hungry German soldier asking for food and shelter; he was obviously lost. Remembering that the Germans hadn't opened fire, my Grandpa gave him a piece of bread, which he had kept in his pocket. The hungry soldier was very grateful.
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