Italy during 1943-1944
The Invasion of Sicily
My name is Henry. Henry Greenbaum. I lived with my father Russel and two elderly grandparents at Palermo, the capital of Sicily Italy. Italy was allied with the german forces during WWII. We although were quite confident in ourselves under the german protection. I mean, what could the allied powers want with Italy? All was well in italy for the moment with the occasional house arrest, a few patrols here and there but there was no need for us to worry, because we were not jewish, or coloured. But by the date July 10, 1943, British and American tanks had been seen about 100 kilometers out, once again, we had faith in the Nazi party and knew that they would all be gone within a few days or so. Days came and went with no word of the soldiers approaching, yet no word of them leaving. About ten days later I was able to hear explosions with the occasional gunfire, that’s what really got me thinking. I remember asking my father: “What will we do if they get here?”. But he only replied with a simple “they won’t”. Despite the assurance I received I still pondered what we might do, or have to do.
A german Colonel by the name Wilhelm Schmalz began to recruit citizens to help counter attack the allied attacks. My father had been one of the many residences chosen to defend. I was outraged. As the officers called out names, I wanted to shout at them and explain why he couldn’t go. why he was unable to participate. I was scared for him. He himself had some experience with the military, but also had acquired anxiety. He knew there was nothing he could do, and he made no objections.
My father had a day to ready his things and say goodbye before arriving at a barracks to fend off the powerful invaders. I had to do some hard thinking, quickly. My father was the only immediate family member left, I wasn’t about to let him go that easily. Tagging along with him crossed my mind but was shut out of consideration. But, I was 17, and could easily be recognized as old enough to join. I had made up my mind that I would stow away, and leave a note for my grandmother and grandfather. By the next day I had left a note telling what I was doing and that I would be back when we had finished our trip.
The next day I had successfully enlisted myself right after my father to help ensure my spot with him. At first, I was afraid to approach him, showing him what I had done. But I pulled myself together and tapped his shoulder. “Hey, funny seeing you here…” I started. He was shocked and insisted we tell the officers that I go home, but I insisted the opposite. He eventually gave in, under the conditions that I never actually engage. We were driven in a big cargo truck later that evening and dropped off later at a roadside where the colonel suspected the invaders might cross. "What's the point of this?"' Some complained. We were all tired of waiting after a measly day and a half. It looked that nothing would come, and that we just be hauled back to where we came, or to a new post where we would repeat the same process. But around the 13th, we could see in the distance little specs, none of us could tell what it was at the immediate moment but we all had our thoughts. around an hour later it was obvious that the specs were in fact enemy tanks that were moving in on our location, towards the nearest town, wherever that was. A calm panic overtook me and different scenarios ran through my head: “how would be attack these?”, or “where am I gonna hide?”. Thoughts raced through my mind, we all were thinking the same thing. We tried to brainstorm what our next action would be, but I didn’t want a part of this at all, I just wanted me, and my father to be safe. I insisted we go cold turkey and run for it. But he insisted that it was a bad idea and our best bet was to stay calm and play it out. We all lied ourselves down in the roadside ditch, waiting for them to just pass by. When the tanks arrived at our location, we were obviously not well hidden on the open roadside because they stopped and acknowledged us. The soldiers called out to us asked who we were. We told them.
After understanding our situation, They agreed to drive us down to a campsite down the road, where they were keeping civilians who had lost their homes, or were in some form of trouble because of the warfare. We arrived at exactly what you’d expect a campsite to look like. About a dozen tents were pitched, some larger than others. We were immediately greeted by a grey old englishman who looked as if he had nothing better to do. He then proceeded to lead us to a sectioned-off area in a tent after asking us some questions, followed by some scribbling on a clipboard. We gladly stayed at the camp for the remainder of that week, feeling somewhat betrayed by our authorities whom we had trusted. Me and my dad also worried about my grandparents, whom I had left at our house in Palermo. The soldiers explained to us that they tried to avoid as many civilian casualties as possible, and jokingly added that they would look out for two elderly citizens and let them know we were alright. By the 23rd, I had learned of the allied forces’ victory over Sicily and that the Germans had retreated. The soldiers also told us that we could safely return to our homes now. I was glad to hear this as we had been living like hobos for the past week and a half. We returned to our house in the city by the 23rd and found a very relieved elderly couple that scolded me for my foolishness, but in the end were just glad everyone was alright.
Copyright Jace Palermo copr. 2014
My name is Henry. Henry Greenbaum. I lived with my father Russel and two elderly grandparents at Palermo, the capital of Sicily Italy. Italy was allied with the german forces during WWII. We although were quite confident in ourselves under the german protection. I mean, what could the allied powers want with Italy? All was well in italy for the moment with the occasional house arrest, a few patrols here and there but there was no need for us to worry, because we were not jewish, or coloured. But by the date July 10, 1943, British and American tanks had been seen about 100 kilometers out, once again, we had faith in the Nazi party and knew that they would all be gone within a few days or so. Days came and went with no word of the soldiers approaching, yet no word of them leaving. About ten days later I was able to hear explosions with the occasional gunfire, that’s what really got me thinking. I remember asking my father: “What will we do if they get here?”. But he only replied with a simple “they won’t”. Despite the assurance I received I still pondered what we might do, or have to do.
A german Colonel by the name Wilhelm Schmalz began to recruit citizens to help counter attack the allied attacks. My father had been one of the many residences chosen to defend. I was outraged. As the officers called out names, I wanted to shout at them and explain why he couldn’t go. why he was unable to participate. I was scared for him. He himself had some experience with the military, but also had acquired anxiety. He knew there was nothing he could do, and he made no objections.
My father had a day to ready his things and say goodbye before arriving at a barracks to fend off the powerful invaders. I had to do some hard thinking, quickly. My father was the only immediate family member left, I wasn’t about to let him go that easily. Tagging along with him crossed my mind but was shut out of consideration. But, I was 17, and could easily be recognized as old enough to join. I had made up my mind that I would stow away, and leave a note for my grandmother and grandfather. By the next day I had left a note telling what I was doing and that I would be back when we had finished our trip.
The next day I had successfully enlisted myself right after my father to help ensure my spot with him. At first, I was afraid to approach him, showing him what I had done. But I pulled myself together and tapped his shoulder. “Hey, funny seeing you here…” I started. He was shocked and insisted we tell the officers that I go home, but I insisted the opposite. He eventually gave in, under the conditions that I never actually engage. We were driven in a big cargo truck later that evening and dropped off later at a roadside where the colonel suspected the invaders might cross. "What's the point of this?"' Some complained. We were all tired of waiting after a measly day and a half. It looked that nothing would come, and that we just be hauled back to where we came, or to a new post where we would repeat the same process. But around the 13th, we could see in the distance little specs, none of us could tell what it was at the immediate moment but we all had our thoughts. around an hour later it was obvious that the specs were in fact enemy tanks that were moving in on our location, towards the nearest town, wherever that was. A calm panic overtook me and different scenarios ran through my head: “how would be attack these?”, or “where am I gonna hide?”. Thoughts raced through my mind, we all were thinking the same thing. We tried to brainstorm what our next action would be, but I didn’t want a part of this at all, I just wanted me, and my father to be safe. I insisted we go cold turkey and run for it. But he insisted that it was a bad idea and our best bet was to stay calm and play it out. We all lied ourselves down in the roadside ditch, waiting for them to just pass by. When the tanks arrived at our location, we were obviously not well hidden on the open roadside because they stopped and acknowledged us. The soldiers called out to us asked who we were. We told them.
After understanding our situation, They agreed to drive us down to a campsite down the road, where they were keeping civilians who had lost their homes, or were in some form of trouble because of the warfare. We arrived at exactly what you’d expect a campsite to look like. About a dozen tents were pitched, some larger than others. We were immediately greeted by a grey old englishman who looked as if he had nothing better to do. He then proceeded to lead us to a sectioned-off area in a tent after asking us some questions, followed by some scribbling on a clipboard. We gladly stayed at the camp for the remainder of that week, feeling somewhat betrayed by our authorities whom we had trusted. Me and my dad also worried about my grandparents, whom I had left at our house in Palermo. The soldiers explained to us that they tried to avoid as many civilian casualties as possible, and jokingly added that they would look out for two elderly citizens and let them know we were alright. By the 23rd, I had learned of the allied forces’ victory over Sicily and that the Germans had retreated. The soldiers also told us that we could safely return to our homes now. I was glad to hear this as we had been living like hobos for the past week and a half. We returned to our house in the city by the 23rd and found a very relieved elderly couple that scolded me for my foolishness, but in the end were just glad everyone was alright.
Copyright Jace Palermo copr. 2014