Century of War: Veterans Share Testimonies in Commemoration Event
From Bohemia to Albania, passing through the Great War, the Nazi extermination camps, and the shame of September 8th.
This and more was the historical commemoration voiced by the protagonists of this century of war, which emerged at the conclusion of the beautiful photographic exhibition and memorabilia on the wars of the 20th century held in Campi. An evening of “remembrance”, but also of protest and proposal—protest against the insensitivity of current politics and a proposal for a new “interpretation” of war in favor of young people, who must learn and most importantly “know”.
Themes and testimonies of the evening
The theme of the relationship with young people was emphasized several times during the evening, highlighting the attention all veterans have towards those who can understand them. “Remember to not forget”, this was the motto chosen by the organizers for the small-great exhibition, concluded last Sunday, which represented a significant part of the 20th century—a complex century, full of dramatic events.
“From the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Liberation,” war was at the center of reflection and of the testimonies of veterans, gathered for the first time in such a significant number. The success of the photo and object exhibition was excellent, all recovered from old houses, Rocchetta, or Tombio, then “loaned” to the diligent organizers of the show, the young Lorenzo Malacarne and Katia Apolloni, helped by their fellow townspeople, such as aunt Palma Malacarne and Dante Malacarne.
This success was confirmed by the attending representatives: the cultural circle “Campi 91” with Renzo Ricci, the ANA (National Alpine Association), the Riva Municipality with Tomaso Benamati and Luigi Marino. After the remembrance of Mrs. Anna Lorenzi, born in 1909, portrayed as a girl in front of the Schneekirche between Austria and Bohemia with a group of displaced children—who has recently passed away—those who are the protagonists of this century of war began to tell their stories.
Over ten witnesses and veterans shared their stories, collected by Graziano Riccadonna; at times moving, at times surprising, but all engaging and attentively followed by the packed school audience. Bruno Zambotti recounts his years of imprisonment in the Lager, after the shame of September 8th, with a series of firsthand documents, including photographs.
Settimo Bosetti continues the Lager testimonies with a warning to memory and active vigilance against the danger of forgetting; Pietro Gusmerotti, born in 1909 and the oldest among the veterans, narrates his seven years of war in France and Yugoslavia, filled with passion and pain over the suffering; Doctor Arrigo Guella recounts the front-line events beneath the clash of opposing nationalisms, and shows the giberna that seemed to belong to Garibaldi in Campi; Lino Gobbi speaks of the harrowing experience of the Alpini in Russia and the tragic retreat.
Next, some internees tell their stories: Benito Malossini presents documents from the German and French Lager; Guido Hüller talks about life as a prisoner in the labor camps after the defeat in Macedonia; Dante Malacarne recounts his experiences on September 8th in France when his unit was taken over by the French soldiers.
What strikes about this initiative is the close relationship between documents and living testimony, as written data are immediately transferable and verifiable in personal experience. Therefore, a natural appeal is made to young people and schools to give space to these testimonies, as they are so meaningful that they speak for themselves.
And it is also natural for the appreciation of the project “Remember to not forget”.
