European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

they even shot at it to make the boat come to the beach.

We were more than 600 and we entered the boat just like all these Moroccans do today.

We went to sea through the Velebit which is what the place is called there.

We went into the villages with the megaphones but the Italian Army didn't want us, no-one would take us,

so we didn't know what to do.

They told us that the Germans were out there and that the land was mined because they didn't want night attacks,

so the Commander said to us we could go to Ancona and we all immediately agreed.

Then I fell asleep on a pile of ropes, starving, and when I woke up I saw Ancona on the coast.

We got off there and they brought us to an old factory that was full of people.

They put sergeants there as guards, and I was a sergeant, they wouldn't let anyone pass.

I had no Lira in my pocket, only Kunas, the Croatian currency.

There was a greengrocer there and I wanted grapes

so I went there to take a look and the lady said:

“Do you want grapes?” and I said “Yes madam, but I have no money”.

So she gave me the grapes for free.

She was like a mother, she asked me where I came from

and she said that the Germans were coming up from Jesi, from Ancona,

and that they were seizing the soldiers.

I went back and talked to the other seven fellows from Reggio Emilia.

Three came with me, we went home,