European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

It was also vital to circulate news. Those in the mountains had to know what was going on in the lowlands.

We would go back and forth to pass on these small notes regarding the Germans’ activities,

if mop-ups were taking place, if our men were in danger.

In the event of a mop-up we told each other by bicycle.

Then four or five of us from around the hamlet would pass on the warning.

In about half an hour the boys and men who had deserted knew that they had to leave and hide in the countryside.

July 25th and September 8th 1943

In 1941 we received a telegram informing us that my brother Mario had died. He had been sent to Greece.

Another brother went to Ukraine directly from Albania.

Another one was also recalled for military service and went to Mentone,

in France, as Italy wanted to regain the area.

The brother who was a victim of political persecution had not been recalled and was at home,

along with the youngest one, who was not of age yet, the kids and the women.

We had 20 acres of land to farm.

As women we began to consider ourselves the head of the family, although the law didn’t accept it.

We had to find a way to farm the land.

Many women, even among our neighbours, had gone to work in the factories,

taking advantage of the wartime industry. You have to imagine that men were at war

while women were left at home to look after the children and take care of the family.

We were very happy and felt like being born again.