Partisan operations in Lunigiana

[AllanMason]

Originally Posted by barn_elms

The massacres in Abruzzo at Pietransieri and Gessopalena were amongst the first to be carried out, I gather.

I wonder if you've perhaps visited Gessopalena since I believe it is down your way, Barn Elms.

There are some photos on Google Earth which are labelled "vecchio paese" that show a sort of district of the town quite separate from what is now obviously the main population centre. This "old town" seems to be deserted with some buildings in ruins.

There are no shortage of ruined buildings around most towns and villages in Abruzzo, but given the history of the place, I did immediately think of Oradour-sur-Glane. But, then again, maybe that area of Gessopalena was deserted due to earthquakes or some other mundane reason.

Can you shed any light on this?

Al

[Gala Placidia]

I also thought of Oradour-sur-Glane as I used to know one of the survivors. He was in hospital in a nearby town because of an acute case of appendicitis which required surgery and his parents were with him. This is how they survived. Sometimes it is fate.

[barn_elms]

I wonder if you've perhaps visited Gessopalena since I believe it is down your way, Barn Elms.

Funnily enough I was within a stone's throw of this place on Saturday after visiting Taranta Peligna, where the place had been razed to the ground by the germans in WWII, as part of their scorched policy. We were heading for Pizzoferrato where Maj. Lionel Wigram (co-creator of the Maiella Brigade of partisans) was shot at the start of the battle to try to dislodge the germans from their stronghold in the village. A relatively large number of partisans and their families, considering the size of the community, were subsequently killed by firing squad. We lost four british soldiers in the battle, in addition to Wigram.

There's so much on the internet about Gessopalena, pretty harrowing some of it, that I've left off visiting the memorial for another time. I'll bear your question in mind when I do and look particularly at the older area.

History suggests therefore that this was a deliberate policy of terror

In view of Brian Lett's observation above, it's probably worth drawing attention again to the link that I posted earlier in this thread. It gives the official WWII translation of the captured top secret german orders, which show that the policy of severe reprisals against civilians, if german soldiers were injured or killed by partisans, was to be implemented regardless of age or sex of the victims.

All this, along with our activities in the current conflicts, makes me convinced that the Geneva Conventions can't be spoken of too often, and should form part of the training and education of everyone, especially children in their formative years:
The Geneva Conventions: the core of international humanitarian law

[AlPalazzMochignano]

I've just joined this forum and want to say "Thank you" to everyone - it's really illuminating. I've just asked Keith Kilby for a copy of the Gordon lett book, and look forward to receiving it and reading it shortly.

A fascinating book that I found quite by chance in Pontremoli recently is:
Laura Seghettini: La prima donna partigiana a Pontremoli

These memoirs of a former partisan is uniquely moving. I wonder if any else has in this forum has any further information about the author or her story?

Here's a link to the website describing the book:
Comune di Pontremoli - Sito ufficiale

[Brian Gordon Lett]

Laura Seghettini is a splendid lady, now in her nineties. She keeps fit by walking her dog every day. She is small of stature, but strong of spirit!
I am being interrupted by work - sorry. More soon.