European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

I was told that they would be grouping together all women in a special unit called “information office”.

This unit was to take care of communications within the brigade,

with the other units and the outside, and also undertake surveillance, seek information, etc.

I went to Vetto and waited for the other women partisans to arrive.

The commissioner asked me: “Laila, would you be willing to take charge of the group?

You’ll be the one in charge for all the dispatch riders who are part of this unit”.

I accepted and we started to work.

The problem was there was so much work that we often didn’t even manage to get any sleep.

We weren’t only taking care of communications,

but also led the way when units had a job to do.

When they blew up the Cerresola Bridge, which is 3 or 4 kilometres from Ciano, they asked me to lead the way.

There were three units from three detachments, led by Gianni, who told me to go ahead.

When I was moving around I was always armed.

At night I carried a big gun, which could have easily killed somebody.

If I was going in dangerous areas I’d carry a smaller gun, a Beretta six-something, as it was easy to hide.

As he saw the gun, Gianni told me: “Laila, what’s that for!”

I told him we should agree on a plan: “I’ll go ahead and come back.

If I don’t feel like walking back all the way I’ll whistle. That means the way is clear.

If by any chance I see an enemy unit and can’t make it back or alert you about the danger,

I don’t care if I have to shoot myself in the stomach, as I kept the gun around my waist.