From a letter
written by an unnamed Leading Seaman of the Royal Italian Navy, of Sicilian
origin and stationed in Sicily, to his girlfriend, July 1943:
“…with this state
of affairs ends my existence, and with it all my hopes, work and goal of so
many years of sacrifice. I want you to know that never did I breach my duty as
a soldier, I fought till today and I am still alive by sheer miracle. Everyone
abandoned us and you can imagine how much death, destruction and despair. We
are at the mercy of fate, without any hope except for our life, which we barely
hold on to. We fell back due to lack of means to fight, not for cowardice on
our part. We fought with rifles alone against tanks, we got slaughtered and now
we are here for the last defense of Palermo, and like everyone I am waiting,
abandoned even by the Italian soldiers, since all is left for us is the defense
of the land. I have the possibility of escaping on the motor barges, but what
would be the point? I have received no news from mother since May 25 and I was
unable to see her when I was in Messina. I along with another two guys from
Messina will try the last card, if I will succeed I will see our dear city,
otherwise I will die. I will try to cross the enemy lines heading for Messina,
last bastion in Sicily, I say last bastion because as I am writing you, my
Italian-German comrades are destroying depots and military works. I follow the
fate of my land. Forgive me, may God help you and protect you. Think of me
every now and then”.
This letter was
censored by military censorship at the time. Recently published by historian
Fabio De Ninno.
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