May 1945

• May 1, 1945

  As we’re getting dressed this morning, we hear gunshots, the wounded are carried into our barracks. We rush outside and see people running away in every direction, there are men and women wielding all types of weapons and hand grenades. In front of the barracks there are 4-5 Germans who are fenced in. These Germans […]

• May 2, 1945

  This morning we woke up and went to Piazza Roma. It is full of Allied soldiers, there isn’t a German soldier in sight! The Allied soldiers go to the city unarmed since everything is calm, they go into stores and buy lots of things. I saw some soldiers from New Zealand who looked like giants. […]

• May 3, 1945

  This morning we went to Piazza Roma to see if there are any buses for Mestre, upon discovering there are, we go back to the barracks and gather the few things we have, then go back to the piazza. We take a bus to Mestre, there is no transportation here so we decide to walk […]

• May 4, 1945

  We begin walking toward Bologna, a cart passes by so we place the few belongings we have on it and walk beside it. We reach Bologna at around 8:00. We go to the barracks for soldiers where there is a huge line of people at the door. There are hundreds of entire families, thousands who […]

• May 5, 1945

  This morning we went back to the barracks where the trucks depart from. While getting in line, I see a policeman I seem to recognize, I go up to him and say: Aren’t you they guy who used to work with Vincenzo Verrengia in Casale? He says he is. I ask him how long he’s […]

• May 6, 1945

  This morning we were in line again to get a number to leave, but yet again we didn’t manage.

• May 7, 1945

  Back in line at the barracks again, I check the numbers of those who are ahead of me in line and realize that I should be able to leave today too. But as people come out with their departure tickets, I don’t get any closer to the entrance. I realize something’s wrong. I get out […]

• May 8, 1945

  We go to Rimini by truck, since most of the railways are damaged. From here we take a train- 8 horses, 40 men, almost double the amount but I don’t care, I’d even be happy to travel amidst garbage. At around 1:00 Pasquale Migliozzi and I reach Rome. As soon as we get there, we […]