Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Finding Nonno A journey through memories and wartime Italy ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.findingnonno.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [L'aquilone sul fiume é ora disponibile!](https://www.findingnonno.com/2023/01/12/laquilone-sul-fiume/) - La versione ampliata, rivista e corretta del blog é da oggi un libro intitolato “L’aquilone sul fiume”, che narra la storia di mio nonno e dei soldati italiani che combatterono con gli Alleati e che puo’ essere acquistato in qualsiasi libreria italiana o direttamente dall’editore qui: https://ronzanieditore.it/acquista/laquilone-sul-fiume/Grazie mille per il supporto, buona lettura e spero - [Un annuncio importante!](https://www.findingnonno.com/2022/11/27/il-blog-e-ora-un-libro/) - La versione ampliata, rivista e corretta del blog é ora un libro, intitolato “L’aquilone sul fiume”, che verrà pubblicato da Ronzani Editore e che raggiungerà le librerie il 12 gennaio 2023. E’ un traguardo che mi rende molto felice e per il quale vorrei pubblicamente ringraziare tutti quelli che hanno seguito, letto e contribuito, in - [5. Baptism of fire](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/04/08/5-baptism-of-fire/) - Translated into English by Aimee Van Vliet.The valley unfurled beneath him, squeezed between two high walls of rock as if the mountain had been cut into, leaving a jagged wound. Trees growing on the terrain clung to the rock, their stubborn roots grasping at a precarious balance. But as he looked through the viewfinder, all - [5. Battesimo del fuoco](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/03/16/battesimo-del-fuoco-liberazione-corsica/) - La valle che si snoda sotto di lui è stretta tra due alte pareti di roccia, come se una ferita frastagliata avesse tagliato in due la montagna. Gli alberi che vi sono cresciuti sono aggrappati al terreno in un equilibrio precario, strappato alla natura da radici ostinate. Ma guardandola attraverso il mirino, tutto ciò che - [10. What remains](https://www.findingnonno.com/2021/01/13/10-what-remains/) - Translated into English by Aimee Van VlietDissolving the CILUpon their arrival at the meeting point south of Macerata, the Italian soldiers were met with the news that the CIL was being disbanded.General Browning, the head of the Allied Forces Control Subcommittee, paid them a visit in person on the 30th August 1944 and informed them - [10. Quel che rimane](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/12/12/10-quel-che-rimane/) - Lo scioglimento del CIL Appena i soldati italiani raggiunsero l’area di raccolta a sud di Macerata vennero accolti dall’annuncio dello scioglimento del CIL.Il generale Browning, capo della sottocommissione di controllo alleata per l’esercito, andò infatti a visitarli di persona il 30 agosto del 1944 e li informò della decisione presa con queste parole: “L’esercito italiano - [9. Along the Adriatic](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/12/01/9-on-the-adriatic-coast/) - Translated into English by Aimee Van VlietA train journeyThe first time I left home with no intention of returning, or at least not immediately, was with my grandpa.Rovigo is a small, quiet town, which seems to have been asleep since the beginning of time, while the world hurried around it, rushing about in some mysterious - [9. Lungo l'Adriatico](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/10/23/9-lungo-ladriatico/) - Un viaggio in trenoLa prima volta che ho lasciato casa con l’intenzione di non tornarci, o quantomeno non subito, è stata con mio nonno.Rovigo è una città piccola e sonnolenta, che sembra riposare da tempo immemorabile, mentre il mondo si affanna per ragioni sconosciute in qualche altro luogo misterioso. Da piccolo ne amavo la tranquillità, - [8. On the Gustav line](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/08/17/8-on-the-gustav-line/) - Translated into English by Aimee Van VlietRest in FornelliThe XXXIII Bersaglieri Battalion was not the only Italian unit to join the First Motorised Grouping on the front line at Cassino in February 1944. They were joined by the 1st Battalion “Arditi”, the 68th Infantry Regiment, the 51st Engineers Company and the Piedmont Alpine Battalion. Although - [8. Sulla linea Gustav](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/07/19/8-sulla-linea-gustav/) - Riposo a FornelliIl XXXIII battaglione bersaglieri non fu l’unica unità italiana a raggiungere il I Raggruppamento Motorizzato sulla linea del fronte a Cassino nel febbraio del 1944. A loro si unirono il I battaglione arditi, il 68° reggimento fanteria, la 51° compagnia artieri ed il battaglione alpini Piemonte. Grande assente fu il LXXI battaglione motociclisti, - [6. Intermezzo fotografico / Photographic intermission](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/05/04/6-intermezzo-fotografico-photographic-intermission/) - Il confinamento causato da Covid-19 ha portato con sé almeno una buona notizia. I miei genitori, ripulendo a fondo casa, si sono imbattuti in una cartella con svariate foto di mio nonno, fortunosamente sopravvissute a diversi traslochi, alla morte dei miei nonni ed al passare del tempo. Ho passato quindi questi giorni a catalogarle e, - [7. La strada verso Cassino](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/05/23/7-la-strada-verso-cassino/) - La fine dei combattimenti in Corsica gettò mio nonno ed i suoi uomini in un limbo di immobilità e abbandono, un purgatorio allucinato accompagnato solo dalla fame e dai ricordi della violenza appena sperimentata.Mi sono a lungo chiesto cosa possa avergli attraversato la mente in quelle settimane senza futuro a cavallo tra il ’43 ed - [7. The road to Cassino](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/06/15/7-the-road-to-cassino/) - Translated into English by Aimee Van Vliet.The end of fighting in Corsica left my grandpa and his men in limbo, immobile and abandoned, in a delirious purgatory of hunger and memories of the violence they had just experienced.I have often wondered what must have been going through his mind during those weeks without future between - [2. L'avvento del fascismo](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/11/11/avvento-del-fascismo/) - Ricordo la schiena larga di mio nonno piantata sulla sua bicicletta, mentre pedalavo dietro di lui lungo la strada che collega Ariano ad Adria. Era una luminosa giornata estiva, senza nuvole e vento, di quelle che trasformano il Polesine in una terra immobile ed arroventata da un sole umido. Il calore del pomeriggio mi schiacciava - [2. The dawn of fascism](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/11/17/the-dawn-of-fascism/) - I remember my grandpa’s broad shoulders rocking over his bicycle, as I was cycling behind him on the road linking Ariano to Adria. It was a bright summer day, with no clouds nor wind, which was crushing Polesine, the province of my hometown Rovigo, under a red-hot sun. The afternoon heat felt heavy on my - [4. The occupation of Corsica](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/02/10/the-occupation-of-corsica/) - I picture my grandpa sitting on the ship that is taking him to Corsica. It’s a cold November morning, clouds darken the sky and the sea is a grey and choppy desert. Several soldiers move around him. Each of them tries to fight fear in a different way: some clean their weapons, others smoke while - [4. L'occupazione della Corsica](https://www.findingnonno.com/2020/01/26/occupazione-italiana-della-corsica/) - Immagino mio nonno seduto sulla nave che lo sta portando in Corsica. È una fredda mattina di novembre, le nuvole oscurano il sole ed il mare è un deserto grigio e increspato. Intorno a lui si muovono diversi soldati. Ognuno combatte il nervosismo come meglio può: alcuni puliscono le armi, altri fumano guardando l’orizzonte, i - [3. Preparativi di guerra](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/12/03/inizio-della-seconda-guerra-mondiale/) - La vita, presto o tardi, ci strappa di dosso la giovinezza come una coperta trattenuta troppo a lungo in una mattina d’autunno. Mio nonno dovette vivere da solo quest’istante, schiacciato dall’inevitabilità della guerra. Io, fortunatamente, lo ebbi sempre al mio fianco. Ed in circostanze meno drammatiche.Era un freddo pomeriggio di marzo, il cielo plumbeo tagliato - [1. Una sera a Danzica](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/10/24/una-sera-a-danzica/) - Sono arrivato a Danzica casualmente l’ultimo giorno di agosto del 2019, in vacanza con la mia compagna. La città, che lei aveva suggerito visitassimo, mi ha subito rapito per la sua bellezza e inusuale architettura. I palazzi nordici che la incorniciano le donano un’atmosfera scandinava, mentre i brulicanti bar e ristoranti del centro rigurgitano di - [1. One evening in Danzig](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/10/24/one-evening-in-danzig/) - I got to Danzig almost by chance, on the last day of August 2019, while on holiday with my partner. The city, which she suggested visiting, struck me for its beauty and unusual architecture. Its Nordic buildings give it a distinctive Scandinavian vibe, whereas its bars and restaurants are teaming with life. Lost in its - [3. Preparing for war](https://www.findingnonno.com/2019/12/13/preparing-for-war/) - Sooner or later life takes youth away from us, like a blanket held on for too long on an autumn morning. My grandpa had to face this moment alone, crushed by the inevitability of war. I, on the other hand, always had him on my side. And in far less difficult circumstances.It was a cold ## Pages - [Media / press](https://www.findingnonno.com/media-press/) - This page lists the videos and articles that talk about my blog, starting with the most recent. I hope you’ll enjoy them!June 2025. Chris Mazzotta, a Brasilian artist and teacher, interviewed me about my book to present it to her students. It was a great chat about writing and world war 2 in Italy, which - [Books](https://www.findingnonno.com/bibliography/) - Here’s the books I’ve read to reconstruct my grandpa’s war experience. They are listed in no particular order and they are almost all in Italian, so I hope you speak the language 🙂– Ricchezza Antonio. La verità sulla battaglia di Cassino. Fratelli Pozzo Editori. 1958.The book is a bit dated and it sounds rather bombastic - [My grandpa and I](https://www.findingnonno.com/my-grandpa-and-i/) - I was lucky enough to spend a great deal of time with my grandfather. He died an old man, when I was in my late 20s and had already left my hometown to live in Brussels. By that time I was seeing him less and less and our conversation was growing thinner. As a young - [Privacy Policy](https://www.findingnonno.com/privacy-policy/) - Who we are Our website address is: http://www.findingnonno.com. What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymized string created from - [Websites](https://www.findingnonno.com/websites/) - These are the main websites I consulted to write this blog. Like the books, they are listed in no particular order and they are all in Italian.– Dal Volturno a Cassino: http://www.dalvolturnoacassino.it/asp/n_main.asp This is a website covering events of the Italian campaign, from October 1943 to June 1944.– Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia: https://www.anpi.it/ This website has interesting information on the role played by ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/uncategorized/) - [School years](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/schoolyears/) - [Occupation of Corsica](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/occupationofcorsica/) - [The Italian campaign](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/italiancampaign/) - [The end of the war](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/endofwar/) - [Introduction](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/introduction/) - [English](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/english/) - [Italiano](https://www.findingnonno.com/category/italiano/) ## Tags - [Corsica](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/corsica/) - [Cassino](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/cassino/) - [Gustav Line](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/gustavline/) - [Westerplatte](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/westerplatte/) - [Fascismo](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/fascismo/) - [Matteotti](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/matteotti/) - [Ariano](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/ariano/) - [Adria](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/adria/) - [Polesine](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/polesine/) - [Mussolini](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/mussolini/) - [polonia](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/polonia/) - [Seconda guerra mondiale](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/seconda-guerra-mondiale/) - [germania](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/germania/) - [nazismo](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/nazismo/) - [Poland](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/poland/) - [Germany](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/germany/) - [Second world war](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/second-world-war/) - [Nazism](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/nazism/) - [Danzig](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/danzig/) - [Danzica](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/danzica/) - [Fascism](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/fascism/) - [Hitler](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/hitler/) - [Ciano](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/ciano/) - [Armistizio](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/armistizio/) - [armistice](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/armistice/) - [occupazione](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/occupazione/) - [Lospinoso](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/lospinoso/) - [Donati](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/donati/) - [resistenza](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/resistenza/) - [Resistance](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/resistance/) - [Occupation](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/occupation/) - [Badoglio](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/badoglio/) - [liberazione](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/liberazione/) - [liberation](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/liberation/) - [Monte Lungo](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/monte-lungo/) - [Guerra di liberazione](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/guerra-di-liberazione/) - [Sardegna](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/sardegna/) - [Utili](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/utili/) - [Primo Raggruppamento Motorizzato](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/primo-raggruppamento-motorizzato/) - [Italian campaign](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/italian-campaign/) - [Sardinia](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/sardinia/) - [First Motorised Combat Grouping](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/first-motorised-combat-grouping/) - [corpo italiano di liberazione](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/corpo-italiano-di-liberazione/) - [monte marrone](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/monte-marrone/) - [monte mare](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/monte-mare/) - [linea gustav](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/linea-gustav/) - [Filottrano](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/filottrano/) - [Musone](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/musone/) - [Linea Gotica](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/linea-gotica/) - [Gothic Line](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/gothic-line/) - [gruppi di combattimento](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/gruppi-di-combattimento/) - [fine della guerra](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/fine-della-guerra/) - [combat groups](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/combat-groups/) - [end of the war](https://www.findingnonno.com/tag/end-of-the-war/)