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retreat from Russia and the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy

Rossosch (Middle Don). Take one of the city's most tragic history of Italy. And 'this idea, which is building a group of walkers Lombard. They are five, all with considerable experience as a scout and mountain. Alexis Cabello, Cristiano Baroni, Diego Pellacini, Giancarlo Mandelli Cotta Ramusino and Nicola have organized this walk of over 150 kilometers from the banks of the River Don to Nikolajewka, today Livenka, where, January 26, 1943, what was left of Italian divisions could to break the encirclement of the Soviet troops and left the infernal "pocket". Tens of thousands of our boys were killed in those terrible days, the worst ever for the Italian Armed Forces. The temperatures then were about 30 degrees below zero, the fields full of snow and the main streets occupied by Soviet tanks.

The anniversary of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy has made this initiative even more significant. We - have written before departure - is a journey that also wants to meet people living in those lands. There are no mountains to conquer and goals to be achieved. It 's a journey to remember how terrible the tragedy of war and efforts to avoid it in future. "
In the past three of them have traveled several times the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, San Francisco, the route. Diego Pellacini shot a lot in America and Africa, while Nicola has climbed mountains as Mandelli Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro.
"Every area - says Giancarlo Cotta Ramusino - lives its evolution: the time has certainly not stopped until 1943 so as to Roncesvalles you hear the horn of Roland." Just look for the most contact with the people the group has not brought the curtains. Like 68 years ago were forced to make soldiers of - not to remain in the open at night - ask for hospitality in the huts. There are plenty of stories of women who looked Russian and Ukrainian, saving, our poor boys resembling frozen to death so their children lined up, however, on the opposite side. The Slavic soul always has a place regard to the suffering.
"The idea of \u200b\u200bthis enterprise - continuing Cotta Ramusino - Cristiano Baroni came to about a year ago. I soon appeared a bit 'too ambitious. " The hardest part was to gather enough information especially since none of the group speak Russian. The meeting with the teacher Gianna Valsecchi el'ausilio section of Ana Casatenovo proved "fundamentals".
fact, if you look on the maps is not Nikolajewka Russian, German military maps on this tradition of the First World War used by Italian troops. The same Mario Rigoni Stern, author of the unforgettable short story "The Sergeant in the Snow", had many difficulties to find the place where he left for ever so many of his comrades in arms. He discovered, however, the izba where he ate with the enemy soldiers in a lull of battle. Some amazing things happen only in Russia. See also
MUSEUM OF THE MIDDLE DON Rossosch - Russia.

GD'A.

Necklace In History Workshop was published in the volume No. 14

Massimo. Coltrinari.

The Italian prisoners in World War II in the Soviet Union

Italian War USSR - 1941-1943

Transactions

Rome, New Culture Publishing House, Euro 20

Volume may be asked odrini@nuovacultura.it oppre to risorgimento23@libero.it