Partisan operations in Lunigiana

[derekL]

Rossano: An adventure of the Italian Resistance - Gordon Lett

Fuelled by Eric Newby's books, and purely as a matter of personal interest, I was quite keen on finding out a little more about the role of the partisans, POW escapees and the local population in Lunigiana during the final few years of WW2.

Quite by chance, during the summer, I was introduced to one of my close neighbours who, it turns out, is a local historian and writer. He told me the story of Major Gordon Lett; POW, escapee, leader of the International Brigade and local hero. The Brigade consisted of Lett, escapees of various nationalities and local volunteers who fought and harassed the Brigate Nere and the Germans along the Magra valley from North of Pontremoli down to La Spezia and beyond from late 1943 to April 1945. They were so successful at disrupting the enemy and so influential to the success of the Allied advance that permanent lines of communication with the Allies were established, supplies were regularly dropped by air and, later, SAS troops were sent in to assist the Brigade. In the first few months of peace, Lett was officially appointed to Pontremoli [by the Allies] to oversee the difficult transition.

Major Lett wrote his memoirs and the book, 'Rossano: An adventure of the Italian Resistance', was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1955. This original version is no longer in print and, obviously, difficult to get hold of. However, after contacting the Monte San Martino Trust to find out where I might be able to get a copy, I was delighted to find out that Major Lett's son, Brian Lett, was Chair of the Trust for many years and had re-published the book for the benefit of the Trust.

This is a delightful book and I can't recommend it highly enough. For those interested in, or connected with, the area of Lunigiana, however, it will be of particular interest [the operations covered a wide area - Val di Taro, Zeri, Pontremoli, Filattiera, Bagnone, Villafranca, Aulla, Sarzana, La Spezia, Cinque Terre].
But for everyone, there is far more than mere historical interest. Like Newby, Major Lett was humbled by the kindness, generosity and bravery of the local population. They had nothing to give but gave everything they had and, sometimes, paid for it with their lives. They had no political aspirations [unlike a number of other partisan groups] and fought only to protect their families and their way of life.
At the end of the book I found I respected Gordon Lett for his military achievements but I liked him because of his unfailing recoginition of the sacrifices made by those who helped him.

To get the book, contact Keith Killby at the Monte San Martino Trust [London address]. Price: £10 + p&p.
http://www.italymag.co.uk/2005/news-...martino-trust/

During the conversations with my neighbour, the names of others who were prominent in the area came up:

Maj Charles Holland
I'm struggling to find more information but I believe he was SOE and conducted operations in the areas of Cisa Pass, The Passo di Lagastrello, Rigoso, Tavernelle, Comano & Fivizzano. The main objective was to disrupt lines of communication between Modena & the coast [over the mountains].
BBC - WW2 People's War - Wartime Missions with SOE in Northern Italy (2/2)

Maj Anthony Oldham
Also SOE, I believe, and conducted operations with the Apuane Brigade between the Garfagnana valley and the coast.
Sadly, in reprisal to partisan operations in this area, over 500 old men, women and children were executed in a single day by SS & Fascist troops in St Anna di Stazzema.

Lunigiana Museum of Resistance - near Fosdinovo
Museo Audiovisivo della Resistenza

Other links
Archivi della Resistenza - home
1943-1945: Anarchist partisans in the Italian Resistance | libcom.org
Special Operations Executive, Series 1, Parts 1 to 5

[tuscanhills]

Great post, Derek. This is something that I've always been fascinated about & have heard a number of stories from older frieds living there about their experiences and memories of that time when Germans would raid or search villages for Partisans.

I'm also glad that the Museum has imporved their website as we'd tried to find the place a while back but (despite the signs) never managed to find it...

[julielunigiana]

Thanks for that information Derek, I will get the book, we have both been very interested in the history of the area during the war. One of my neighbours told me how the Germans came to the village where we are, arrested a woman thought to have helped the partisans and took her away with them, not to return.

You're not in the area over the next 5 weeks?

[derekL]

Originally Posted by julielunigiana

Thanks for that information Derek, I will get the book, we have both been very interested in the history of the area during the war. One of my neighbours told me how the Germans came to the village where we are, arrested a woman thought to have helped the partisans and took her away with them, not to return.

You're not in the area over the next 5 weeks?

Hi Julie. We're not around until the last weekend in November Will you be there?

I'd certainly recommend the book Julie [you too, tusc]. Filattiera get's a mention! There's an interesting [amusing even] part which explains why Pontremoli was relatively untouched by allied bombing, in comparison to Villafranca & Aulla.
BTW. The flag of Lett's International Brigade [a mix of the British & Italian flags] hangs in Pontremoli town hall and is paraded every year during the festa (not sure when that is). Keep a look out for it!

[Lorraine]

Is this the book Derek? 'Love and War in the Appenines'
If so it is cheaper from Amazon -see link below:

Amazon.co.uk: Love and War in the Apennines (Picador Books): Books: Eric Newby

Lorraine

[Licciana]

Thanks for this Derek, I think that might just make a useful Christmas present (which I get to enjoy too ).

[tuscanhills]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Is this the book Derek? 'Love and War in the Appenines'..........

No, the book is ROSSANO (An adventure of the Italian Resistance) by Major Gordon Lett, DSO, FRGS. and noted:
here -> http://www.italymag.co.uk/2005/news-...martino-trust/
here -> Book Reviews,


and avilable from the Trust

[Lorraine]

Oops! Soz, thought that was the 'title' of the paragraph.

[julielunigiana]

I have got the book now and am looking forward to reading it. Keith Kilby was extremely helpful and very interesting. We also read in Kinter Beever's book 'A Tuscan Childhood' that a lot of damage was done to Aulla in April 1945when a mortar round from the partisan position in the mountains hit a German ammunition train sitting in the station. The railway lines were thrown up onto the roof of the Fortezza!

Have sent you a PM

[Peter and Diane]

We would love to get the Lett book, Rossano (An adventure of the Italian Resistance), and have sent two emails to the Monte San Martino Trust to get ordering details. But, have not received any response. How did those of you who have obtained a copy order it? Were you able to have it sent to you in Italy?

Thanks for any help you can give.