My April 25th and Freedom, here are two Salerno heroes

The anniversary of 25 April it brings to mind the conquest of freedom of thought, the restoration of democratic freedoms. The partisan struggle and the martyrdom of many women, of many men murdered by German anger and by groups of Nazi-fascists in the fight for the return of a free and democratic nation.

I was about ten years old when, despite my young age, I realized that my parents, known anti-fascists and reported by the OVRA, the fascist secret police, would not have been interned in a concentration camp. Patrons of public places would no longer be forced to uncover their heads at the radio news signal and, if seated, stand up.

Above all, I felt pleasure at the news that the internees in the concentration camp in the district “Ferramonti” from the municipality of Tarsia, in the province of Cosenza, had been released.

But who were the “guests” of the Calabrian concentration camp? The majority were Jews and citizens of some Balkan countries of Poland and Czechoslovakia. The breath of regained individual freedom brought them back to their homeland. Some well-known professionals chose to resume their activity in Italy such as a well-known Polish surgeon and a violin master.

On April 25, 1945, the number of deaths killed in the firefight with the Nazis and fascists was also counted. Quite a few died by being shot from behind. April 25th pushed me to reread the volume published by “Mondadori”, which contains the “Letters of those condemned to death of the Italian resistance”.

Two native partisans respectively of Cava de’ Tirreni e dand Aulettathey wrote before being shot, the reasons for their resistance

to the Nazi-fascist troops who occupied central-northern Italy. The reference is to the Air Brigade General, Martelli Castaldi on Saturday, native of the Metellian city. Murdered on 24 March 1944 at the Fosse Ardeatine. He was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor in his memory.

When he was still detained in the infamous prison on Via Tasso in Rome he wrote on the wall of the cell:

“When your body is no longer, your spirit will be even more alive in the memory of those who remain. May he always be an example.”

He was from Auletta (Salerno) Raffaele Giallorosso, aged 24, shoemaker. Soldier of the “Nizza Cavalleria” Regiment. Shot on 10 March 1945 in Ponte Chisone (Pinerolo) with four other Partisans.

Two examples of shining heroism that must be remembered every time clear symptoms that hail the past are felt in our country.

*President of Ags, Salerno Journalists Association