Irma Marchiani: Women and the resistance from Lettere di condannati a morte della Resistenza italiana
8 settembre 1943-25 aprile 1945
| Irma Marchiani (Anty) Prigione di Pavullo, 26.11.1944 Mia adorata Pally, sono gli ultimi istanti della mia vita. Pally adorata ti dico a te saluta e bacia tutti quelli che mi ricorderanno . Credimi non ho mai fatto nessuna cosa che potesse offendere il nostro nome. Ho sentito il richiamo della Patria per la quale ho combattuto, ora sono qui…fra poco non sarò più, muoio sicura di aver fatto quanto mi era possibile affinché la libertà trionfasse. Baci e baci dal tuo e vostro Pagetto Vorrei essere seppellita a Sestola Irma Marchiani: 33 anni―casalinga―nata a Firenze nel 1911 Nei primi mesi del 1944 è informatrice e staffetta di gruppi partigiani formatasi nell’Appennino modenese―nella primavera dello stesso anno entra a far parte del Battaglione “Matteotti”, Brigata “Roveda” Divisione “Modena”―partecipa nei combattimenti di Monefiorino―catturata mentre tenta di far ricoverare in ospedale un partigiano ferito, è seviziata, tradotta nel campo di concentramento di Corticelli (Bologna), condannata a morte, poi alla deportazione in Germania―riesce a fuggire―rientra nella sua formazione di cui è nominata commissario, poi vice-comandante―infermiera, propagandista e combattente, è fra i protagonisti di numerose azioni nel Modenese, fra cui quelle di Monte Penna, Bertocelli e Benedello―,L’11 novembre 1944, mentre con la formazione ridotta senza munizioni tenta di attraversare le linee è catturata, con la staffetta “Balilla” da pattuglia tedesca in perlustrazione e condotta a Rocca Corneta poi a Pavullo, da ufficiali tedeschi del Comando di Bologna―Fucilata alle ore 17 dello stesso 26 novembre 1944, da plotone tedesco, nei pressi delle carceri di Pavullo, con Renzo Costi, Domenico Guidani e Gaetano Ruggeri (“Balilla”)―Medaglia d’Oro al Valore Militare. | Irma Marchiani (Anty) Pavullo Prison, 11/26/1944 My dearest Pally, these are the last moments of my life. Pally dearest, please say good-bye and kiss everyone who remembers me. Believe me when I say that I did nothing that could offend our name. I heard the call of my Homeland, for which I fought, and now I’m here…shortly I will be no more; I’m dying certain of the fact that I did everything in my power so that freedom would triumph. Kisses and kisses from your, Pagetto I would like to be buried in Sestola Irma Marchiani: 33 years old―housewife―born in Florence in 1911 In the early months of 1944 she was an informer and relay in the partisan group in the Modena Apennine area―in the spring of the same year she became a part of the “Matteotti” Battalion , “Roveda” Brigade “Modena” Division―she participated in the Montefiorino battles―captured while trying to bring a wounded partisan to the hospital, she was tortured, brought to the concentration camp in Corticelli (Bologna), sentenced to death, then deported to Germany―she was able to escape―she returned to her unit and nominated commissioner and then deputy commander―nurse, propagandist and fighter, she was a protagonist of one of the numerous actions in the Modena area, among which those in Monte Penna, Bertocelli and Benedello―On November 11, 1944, while, with a limited unit and no munitions, she tried to cross the lines and was captured, together with the “Balilla” relay, by a German patrol, and she was taken to Rocca Corneta and then to Pavullo by German officials of the Bologna Command―Shot by a German platoon together with Renzo Costi, Domenico Guidani and Gaetano Ruggeri (“Balilla”) near the Pavullo prison at 5 pm on the same day, November 26, 1944―Gold Medal of Military Valour . Translation ©Matilda Colarossi 2021 |
Lest we forget the horrors of fascism, which has raised its ugly head in almost every country on the planet, I have translated one of the many letters by the partisans who were sentenced to death.
In Italy, in particular, fascism has been hidden for years under the ashes of a seemingly anti-fascist society like embers that easily reignite and start a fire. In all my years of teaching, I have yet to find a class that has gone beyond the early 20th century in history. I have often wondered if that was done on purpose. I have also always wondered what happened to all the fascists after the war? We know that some have brought with them their fascist ideas, their fascist hymns, and their fascist hopes to other countries across the sea, and I feel sorry for them, for their dreams of a justice that never existed and could never exist under fascism.
Stories of the horrors of fascism are easily found…all you have to do is search for them. https://paralleltexts.blog/2020/01/26/liliana-segre-in-auschwitz-at-thirteen-lestweforget/
parallel texts: words reflected 