Recently, Angelo Beltrami, a war veteran born in Moniga in 1921, shared his poignant experience related to the tragic retreat from Russia during World War II. Drafted in January 1941, Angelo joined the “Vestone” battalion of the “Tridentina” Alpine Division and was sent to Russia in July 1942. His testimony reveals the harsh conditions faced by Italian soldiers, including enemy attacks and extreme deprivations. After sustaining injuries during one of the bloodiest battles of the time, Angelo recounts his long journey back home, which culminated in his arrival at a hospital in Milan after weeks of suffering and isolation.
Angelo’s story is just one of many voices that make up the dramatic account of the Italian retreat from Russia, a painful chapter in our national history. With around 85,000 men lost in that conflict, his narrative serves to keep alive the memory of those who did not return and to honor the sacrifice of the many young individuals involved in that horrific wartime experience. Today, his memories are an integral part of the interviews conducted by Celestino Massardi and available on YouTube, thereby contributing to the preservation of historical memory for future generations.
