October 1944

• October 3, 1944

  The siren went off again today but not for long.

• October 4, 1944

  The siren went off at 10:30, it was over by 11:15. At 11:30 the siren went off again and this one wasn’t like the last one. The shooting started after 5 minutes. We’re in the basement as usual, while they were bombing I feel asleep. At 1:10 it was all over and we went out […]

• October 5, 1944

  The men from Fasanerie-Nord didn’t come to work today. Apparently the bombs were efficient because the station, which has been hit many times before, was reduced to a pile of rubble this time. Tracks and train cars are scattered everywhere. These American aviators have very good aim.

• October 8, 1944

  It’s cold, it seems like winter here. Back in Casale it’s still summer, you can go out without a coat and there is fruit on all the trees. Actually, this is the best month of the year because there are figs and many other kinds of fruit. And here? What a miserable life! Here there […]

• October 9, 1944

  At 10:30 the siren went off, it stopped after 20 minutes. We survived this time too, I pray the good Lord will keep me safe from all harm. Not for me or my life, because by now I am sick of living like this, but for my wife and my kids. What would happen to […]

• October 15, 1944

  Today, all the Italians who were living at Fasanerie-Nord and who work at Rockinger factory, where I myself also work, were forced to come live in Munich in a school near where I live. This change of residence was the result of the intense bombing occurring in Munich. The bombs almost always hit the railway, […]

• Monday October 16, 1944

  The siren went off at 11:30, at 11:40 they made us go back to work before the siren had stopped. As I said: “Our factory boss is frantic to make us work as much as possible”. This must come to an end sooner or later, I hope sooner. Greece has been liberated and the capital […]

• October 20, 1944

  While we are working, the siren goes off so we leave. In our sector, the machines are so loud it’s hard to hear the siren. We go to the shelter at 11:45 and come back out at 1:30, when the siren has stopped. After 10 minutes the siren goes off again and ends at 2:00. […]

• October 25, 1944

  This morning, after 30 minutes of work, I hurt my left hand. It was nothing serious but for me it was because I hope to get 20 days off of work. I am fed up with this miserable existence. 13 months away from my loved ones in a wretched land where all that exists is […]

• October 27, 1944

  The siren went off again today. After a few hours it stopped but then went off again. It went on and off all day.

• October 29, 1944

  At 11:00 the siren stopped and at 12:30 bombs were dropped on Munich, but not many.

• October 31, 1944

  Yet again, we heard the siren on and off continuously today along with the artillery nearby, I hope the end of this damned war is near. I’m on sick leave right now, I don’t have to wake up early anymore. But what good is it? I’m still far from my loved ones, I’m still aching […]