European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)

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.

They won’t see it the way I’m carrying it. At least I can warn you by firing a shot. That’s the only reason I’m carrying the gun”.

He asked me if I was crazy, and I replied I wasn’t: “Don’t you realize I’m responsible for three units?”

I’m telling you this to show how reliable we were in our duties, how responsible we felt.

I wasn’t the only one: all the women who were taking care of these duties were ready to face danger.