ARTICLE: To Die for Italy 1943-1945

What goes through your mind when you’re an active member of a resistance movement and you know the game is up? Brace yourself, because this is going to be a tearjerker. Herewith the last letters home from a collection of Italians who stood up to the Nazis during the Second World War, and got caught…

Irma Marchiani (movm.it)

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Arturo Gatto was born in Agrigento. A member of the Executive Committee of the Action Party of Bologna, he operated in the city until he fell into a trap laid by men of the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana posing as partisans in 1944.

13th September 1944

My dear Rina,

…So on the evening of the 4th I was arrested (I could say attacked) by six plainclothes policemen armed with revolvers, on Via Toscana. I was taken by car to the Political Office of the Regional Inspectorate of the GNR, outside Mazzini. Everything I had in my pockets was confiscated, including about 1300 lire. Our house was searched but they assured me that they locked it. I wonder how messy it was!!

There are so many charges that they attribute to me… I don't know what end they will make me do. However I have no illusions because every time I hear the chains creak, I think they are taking me to the firing squad. In another cell nearby about ten of my companions were locked up yesterday, also played by policemen dressed as patriots. I am relatively dejected.

I am thinking instead of you and Mary. How are you? I can't know anything about you. It would be difficult to be able to talk to me nor do I want you to come to Bologna. I wish you good health and all the best. With another note I instructed a friend of mine to send you some money, which I hope has happened. My only pain is the pain I bring you. Whatever happens, be calm. Don't get agitated and keep your nerves in check. Merulla has a will of mine.

If Primo comes to Bologna, send him to our house with the keys to get me a change of underwear (not much) …toothpaste and toothbrush (in the cupboard) and the soap that is in the sink and a towel. If there is tobacco it is a party for me. Also a little salt. Send everything to me in this Portineria (in my name) where Primo can come freely. I think the office lady is also inside.

…Here we are only talking about execution, deportation to Germany and at least transfer to another location further from the front.

A lawyer is interested in me.

Don't worry.

Gatto was tried between 14th and 19th September 1944 by the Military Tribunal of Bologna.