A House in the Mountains : The Women Who Liberated Italy from Fascism

In the late summer of 1943, when Italy broke with the Germans and joined the Allies after suffering catastrophic military losses, an Italian Resistance was born. Four young Piedmontese women—Ada, Frida, Silvia and Bianca—living secretly in the mountains surrounding Turin, risked their lives to overthrow Italy’s authoritarian government. They were among the thousands of Italians who joined the Partisan effort to help the Allies liberate their country from the German invaders and their Fascist collaborators. What made this partisan war all the more extraordinary was the number of women—like this brave quartet—who swelled its ranks. The bloody civil war that ensued pitted neighbor against neighbor, and revealed the best and worst in Italian society. The courage shown by the partisans was exemplary, and eventually bound them together into a coherent fighting force. But the death rattle of Mussolini’s two decades of Fascist rule—with its corruption, greed, and anti-Semitism—was unrelentingly violent and brutal. Drawing on a rich cache of previously untranslated sources, prize-winning historian Caroline Moorehead illuminates the experiences of Ada, Frida, Silvia, and Bianca to tell the little-known story of the women of the Italian partisan movement fighting for freedom against fascism in all its forms, while Europe collapsed in smoldering ruins around them. National Bestseller The Extraordinary Story Of Four Courageous Women Who Helped Form The Italian Resistance Against The Nazis And The Fascists During The Second World War. In The Late Summer Of 1943, When Italy Changed Sides In Wwii And The Germans, Now Their Enemies, Occupied The North Of The Country, An Italian Resistance Was Born. Ada, Frida, Silvia And Bianca Were Four Young Piedmontese Women Who Joined The Resistance, Living Secretively In The Mountains Surrounding Turin. They Were Not Alone. Between 1943 And 1945, As The Allies Battled Their Way North, Thousands Of Men And Women Throughout Occupied Italy Rose Up And Fought To Liberate Their Country From The German Invaders And Their Fascist Collaborators. What Made The Partisan War All The More Extraordinary Was The Number Of Women In Its Ranks. The Bloody Civil War That Ensued Across The Country Pitted Neighbour Against Neighbour, And Brought Out The Best And Worst In Italian Society. The Courage Shown By The Partisans Was Exemplary, And Eventually Bound Them Together As A Coherent Fighting Force. And The Women's Contribution Was Invaluable--they Fought, Carried Messages And Weapons, Provided Safe Houses, Laid Mines And Took Prisoners. Ada's House Deep In The Mountains Became A Meeting Place And Refuge For Many Of Them. The Death Rattle Of Mussolini's Two Decades Of Fascist Rule--with Its Corruption, Greed And Anti-semitism--was Unrelentingly Violent And Brutal, But For The Partisan Women It Was Also A Time Of Camaraderie And Equality, Pride And Optimism. They Would Prove, To Themselves And To The World, What Resolve, Tenacity And Above All Exceptional Courage Could Achieve. "In the late summer of 1943, when Italy changed sides in WWII and the Germans, now their enemies, occupied the north of the country, an Italian Resistance was born. Ada, Frida, Silvia and Bianca were four young Piedmontese women who joined the Resistance, living secretively in the mountains surrounding Turin. They were not alone. Between 1943 and 1945, as the Allies battled their way north, thousands of men and women throughout occupied Italy rose up and fought to liberate their country from the German invaders and their Fascist collaborators. What made the partisan war all the more extraordinary was the number of women in its ranks. The bloody civil war that ensued across the country pitted neighbour against neighbour, and brought out the best and worst in Italian society. The courage shown by the partisans was exemplary, and eventually bound them together as a coherent fighting force. And the women's contribution was invaluable--they fought, carried messages and weapons, provided safe houses, laid mines and took prisoners. Ada's house deep in the mountains became a meeting place and refuge for many of them. The death rattle of Mussolini's two decades of Fascist rule--with its corruption, greed and anti-Semitism--was unrelentingly violent and brutal, but for the partisan women it was also a time of camaraderie and equality, pride and optimism. They would prove, to themselves and to the world, what resolve, tenacity and above all exceptional courage could achieve."-- Provided by publisher