Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Inni Partigiani II (Partisan Hymns 2)

Fischia il Vento (The Wind Whistles)

According to Wikipedia, "Fischia il Vento is an Italian popular song whose text was written in September 1943, at the inception of the resistenza. The lyricist was Felice Cascione and the intention was to spur on the partisan movement. The music is that of the Russian popular song Katyusha.


Along with Bella, Ciao! it is one of the most famous songs celebrating the resistance."

Fischia il vento e infuria la bufera,
Scarpe rotte e pur bisogna andar
A conquistare la rossa primavera
Dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir.
A conquistare la rossa primavera
Dove sorge il sol dell'avvenir.

Ogni contrada è patria del ribelle,
Ogni donna a lui dona un sospir,
Nella notte lo guidano le stele
Forte il cuore e il braccio nel colpir.
Nella notte lo guidano le stele
Forte il cuore e il braccio nel colpir.

Se ci coglie la crudele morte,
Dura vendetta farà dal partigian;
Ormai sicura è la dura sorte
Del fascista vile traditor.
Ormai sicura è la dura sorte
Del fascista vile traditor.

Cessa il vento, calma è la bufera,
Torn'a casa il fiero partigian,
Sventolando la rossa sua bandiera;
Vittoriosi e alfin liberi siam.
Sventolando la rossa sua bandiera;
Vittoriosi e alfin liberi siam.

Click the Wikipedia link at the top of this post for a translation of the lyrics.
At YouTube, search on 'canti partigiani' to find tons of video and audio files.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Scopa (Italian Card Game)

The most popular card game in Italy.

There are 40 cards in the deck. Although there are four suits denari (coins), spade (swords), bastoni (clubs), and coppe (cups), cards from various regions of Italy look slightly different.

Generally, each suit contains cards numbered one through seven together with three face cards. The type of face cards also vary from region to region. In the Neapolitan deck, there is a page (fantino), a knight (cavaliere), and a king (re), worth 8, 9, and 10, respectively.

Scopa is played by two players or by four players in teams of two. The two players of a team sit across from each other. Scopa cards are too thick to be shuffled against a table so are instead, shuffled in hand. The team or player to deal the cards first is determined by cutting the deck. The highest card deals first, then the play moves counterclockwise.
  1. Each player is dealt three cards face down and four cards are placed face up in the center of the table.
  2. At each player's turn, he can either pick up a card or cards in the center by matching them to the value of a card from his hand (i.e., three picks up a three, nine picks up a four and five).
  3. When this is done, the player shows the card he is using and removes the played card together with the picked up card or cards to the team pile.
  4. A player cannot use a single card to pick up a multiple of cards if there is a card of equivalent value facing up.
  5. If a player is unable to pick up any cards, he must add a card from his hand face up to the center of the table.
  6. Once no one has any more cards in their hands, the dealer deals three more cards to each player and play resumes.
  7. If there are any cards on the table after the last card of the last hand, the team or player that picked up the last card gets the remaining cards.
Points are counted after the last cards are played, as follows:
  • One point for the team or player with 21 or more cards.
  • One point for the card known as settebello (the sette di denari - seven of coins).
  • One point for 6 or more denari cards, including the settebello.
  • One point for La settanta. This point is made by obtaining the highest total using four cards, each from a different suit, but face cards are not counted. Four sevens makes the point easily. Three sevens and a six also makes the point.
  • One point for each scopa.
Scopa, which means to sweep, is made by picking up, or sweeping up, the last card or cards on the table so that there are none left.
  • When a player does this, he yells scopa!
  • It's the only point that can be made more than once in a round.
  • The scopa is recorded by keeping the card that made scopa face up in the team pile.
  • The last play of the last hand is not counted as a scopa.
The game continues until one team or player reaches 11 or 15 points, the winning score to be agreed upon between the players prior to the start of the game.

Reprinted from Dante Alighieri Society of Washington's flyer, THE RULES OF SCOPA.

Armi-Capitolo II (Weapons-Chapter 2)

Red Devil

Hand Grenades:

Beyond pistols and rifles, partisans certainly made use of other forms of weaponry as mission needs dictated. When participating in Allied battlefield activity, individual fighters might be equipped with hand grenades for use against enemy formations and hard targets. Available grenades included:
  • Italy: M35 Red Devil. This is a series of three different looking hand grenades made by three different manufacturers.  They are 'offensive' type having thin sheet metal construction (mostly aluminum) and no other shrapnel. Painted a vivid red and having a notorious reputation of being dangerous when found in an unexploded condition, they were nicknamed Red Devils by the British during the North African campaigns. Cast resin replicas of the Breda M35 can be found on ebay though I cannot imagine they are very useful beyond the collection shelf.
  • Germany: M24, M43 potato masher stick grenades. The potato masher is perhaps the most recognizable piece of WWII ordinance. Like the Red Devil, it is an 'offensive' type of grenade, however the Germans made an optional slip on shrapnel cover to convert it to a fragmentation grenade. Several sources make replicas, though they are usually a bit pricey.
  • UK: Mills Bomb. This is perhaps the first successful fragmentation grenade. It looks a lot like the American pineapple but is a bit squat. Resin reproductions exist.
  • US: Mk 2 pineapple. This familiar fragmentation hand grenade has changed little over the years, though experts can distinguish between the various vintages. Inert metal replicas are cheap and widely available, but shouldn't be used at reenactments because of the danger of hitting someone - they're quite heavy! Somewhat pricey resin reproductions are available.

Submachine Guns:

MAB 38
We've already noted that Partigiani made use of whatever weapons they could get their hands on. By the time the action moved into northern Italy, they had a lot of submachine guns. Some were acquired locally (Italian and German) and others had been air-dropped by the British and Americans.

As you know, one cannot own a fully automatic firearm without the appropriate license from the BATF. Most reenactors who want to use such a firearm resort to purpose-built units that are configured to never be able to fire a projectile. Still, blank-firing replica is an expensive choice; such firearms typically sell for close to $2,000.
  • Italy: Beretta MAB 38. An interesting feature of this SMG is its two triggers: one for full-auto firing and one for single shots. Like its contemporaries, the German MPs and the British Stens, it fired the 9x19 mm parabellum pistol cartridge. The next time you have a spare $2,300 on hand, you can exchange it for the blank-firing version of one of these.
  • Germany: MP38, MP40. Wrongly called Schmeisser because of it's apparent descendency from the WWI-era MP18 designed by Hugo Schmeisser. This and the Thompson are likely the most common SMGs at any WWII living history event.
  • UK: Sten Mk II. Dropped in their hundreds to the partisans, the Sten was quite popular, particularly among the militarized groups in the north. A blank-firing replica can be had for as little as $1,600.
  • US: Thompson SMG. The Tommy Gun is one of the most recognizable guns in the world and an icon of American firearm production. I'm not sure what it might cost to own one of these.

Inni Partigiani I (Partisan Hymns 1)


Bella, Ciao! (Goodbye, Beautiful)

This song was supposedly sung by Partigiani between 1943 and 1945, however it is unknown when the song first appeared. The author of the lyrics is unknown; the music derives from a folk song sung by rice field workers in the River Po basin in the early part of the 20th century.

Because of this regional connection and the clandestine nature of the Italian Resistance around Rome, it's likely that Bella, Ciao! did not come into widespread use until the formation of the militarized partisan organizations in northern Italy. Note too, that there are many slight variations in the rendition of the lyrics.
Questa mattina, mi son svegliato,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Stammattina, mi son svegliato,
E ho trovato l'invasor.

O partigiano, portami via,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Partigiano, portami via,
Ché mi sento di morir.

E se io muoio, da partigiano,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Se io muoio, da partigiano,
Tu mi devi seppellir.

E seppellire, lassù in montagna,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Seppellire, lassù in montagna,
Sotto l'ombra d’un bel fior.

Tutte le genti, che passeranno,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
Tutt’le genti, che passeranno,
Mi diranno «Che bel fior!»

«È questo il fiore, del partigiano»,
O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!
«È quest’il fiore, del partigiano,
Morto per la libertà!»

The gist of the lyrics, by verse, is:
  1. This morning I awoke and found the invader.
  2. Partisan, take me with you, for I feel like I'm about to die.
  3. And if I die as a Partisan, you must bury me.
  4. Bury me up in the mountains, in the shadow of a beautiful flower.
  5. And the people passing by will say to me, "What a beautiful flower!
  6. This is the flower of the Partisan, who died for liberty.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Armi-Capitolo I (Weapons-Chapter 1)

Front Firing PPK Replica (blanks only)
When it comes to partisan weapons, the general admonition is, “Determine what is known and what is plausible, and adopt what is most likely.” Some considerations:
  • In urban areas behind German lines a partisan seeks to ‘hide in plain sight’ by blending in with the population in both clothing and manner and will carry little more than a hidden pistol (if that) and proper, but forged, identity papers.
  • On routine business in the open countryside behind the lines where the possibility of being stopped and searched is greater, a hidden pistol would most certainly be rewarded with a trip to Rome’s notorious Regina Coeli prison interrogation center.
  • While operating (hopefully in secret) behind the lines as part of a partisan band, rifles and submachine guns may be necessary to the incursion, but minimal other equipment is typically carried so as to simplify escape and evasion.
  • As part of a larger Allied force, a partisan would typically need more than a pistol and require a canteen and something in which to carry incidentals. This is the scenario most common at tactical events; the proximity to Allied reenactors provides some justification for the partisan to have occasional access to Allied weaponry, rations, and some gear.
Handguns:
  • Italy: Beretta 1934 or 1935, Glisenti M1910, Nagant M1895
  • Germany: Walther P-38 or PPK*, Luger P-08, FN P35
  • UK: .455 Webley or Enfield, .380 British service
  • US: 1911* and variants
*A few of these pistols are reproduced as blank-fire-only replicas, however only two, the Walther PPK and the M1911 are available in 'front firing' configuration. The P-38 and many of the PPKs and 1911s are 'top venting' - not the best option. I'm most comfortable when the blast comes out of the expected hole (the muzzle); not out of the top, which could prove uncomfortable in those circumstances where one is aiming high because of the proximity of one's opponent.

Standard-issue German and Italian pistols typically came through German or Italian channels, likely taken from assassinated Nazi or Fascist officials or otherwise pilfered from military stocks. I read somewhere that between the wars, quantities of Russian-made Nagant pistols were purchased by Italian municipal and other civil police forces; these would have ended up in partisan hands in much the same fashion. Other handguns, while not necessarily of Anglo-American manufacture, may have come through OSS or SOE channels, or were acquired in extralegal transactions elsewhere.

Rifles:
  • Italy: Carcano (any model), Vetterli-Vitali
  • Germany: K98 Mauser
  • UK: Enfield
  • Austria: Steyr-Mannlicher M1895
  • US: 1903 Springfield, M1 Carbine*, M-1 Garand (rare)*
*Most events require that semiautomatic weapons be blank fire adapted so that they operate as they would when firing live ammunition. Usually, a semiautomatic weapon can be blank fire adapted by either of the following:
  • Modify the muzzle to accept a removable restrictor that provides the necessary gas pressure to cycle the action. This can be pricey and the alteration may negatively affect the resale value of the firearm.
  • Install a removable blank fire adaptor on the muzzle. These devices may not be available for all guns and are often large and unsightly.
For this reason, consider acquiring a blank-firing, front-firing pistol, or a revolver or suitable bolt-action rifle, neither of which require modification for use with blank ammunition.

Ammunition used at battle reenactments must not discharge any sort of projectile. Crimped casings are preferred, however some events also allow wax-sealed cartridges.

To summarize, when considering weaponry, Italian source should be first choice with German running a close second, especially as regards handguns for behind-the-lines use. It is generally true that prior to the liberation of Rome the British were more inclined to equip the Italian partisans than were the Americans. Some events take this to an extreme by prohibiting Italian partisan reenactors from wearing U.S.-design gear or carrying U.S. weapons. Therefore, unless otherwise documented, British is third in likelihood with U.S. in a distant fifth place.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Deine Papiere, bitte I (Your papers, please 1)


Today from the mail box I retrieved the newly-arrived autobiography, A Spy in Rome: The true story of Peter Tompkins, a young American smuggled into Rome by the OSS at the dangerous climax of the German Occupation. I'd been looking forward to reading this long out of print book for some time, but until a week ago had not gotten around to ordering it from one of the many purveyors of used books who frequent Amazon.com.


Early in the book. Peter mentioned the fake identity documents he took with him, "Once in Rome,...I intended to...make use of a secondary, less distinguished card, which I had sewed into the lining of my coat. Even in peacetime it was a prison offense in Italy to be without one's police identification; to be caught without one in wartime was tantamount to admitting one was a deserter, an enemy agent, or an escaped criminal."

Forza! Partigiani provides passable identity documents for its camerati to use during events, including a Kingdom of Italy Carta d'Identità, one or more Fascist party membership cards (to protect one's cover), and other suitable paperwork. All that's needed is:
  • A portrait of yourself in period clothing
  • Your Italian name and an address (preferably in Rome)
  • Your demographic data (height, hair color, eye color, and parent's names)
We even have an authentic Fascist era date stamp, with the extra rolling bit that prints the year according to the Fascist Calendar.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Eventi (Events)

March on Rome:

"Born in 2010, this entertaining event gets better each year. Aaron, David, and crew keep things lively and they have some new fun planned just about every year.

Operation Mountain Victory:

This is another fun event. It's National status helps ensure that there are a lot of participants, and even more exciting: a ton of special equipment. Some of the action takes place in Fort Carson'surban warfare facility - check the photos. Kudos to the fairly young Colorado Military Historical Group for taking this on! I don't think they expected there were partigiani in the region, but they quickly warmed up to our inquiries.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Vocabolario I (Vocabulary 1)

Don Aldo sent a list of English phrases that interested him along with their likely Italian equivalents as collected from online translators and other sources. As is often the case, some of the results are a little off, but all in all it was an exemplary effort. Now, before I dive into Don Aldo's list, here are a few points about pronouncing Italian words more or less correctly.
  1. If you know the vowels a, e, i, o, and u in Spanish, you know them in Italian (ah, eh, ee, oh, and ooh). Note that I'm making no attempt at using IPA notation.
  2. With few exceptions, the strongest accent is on the penultimate (next to last) syllable of the word.
  3. To the best of my recollection, the letter 'h' only exists in standard Italian words preceded by a 'c' and followed by a vowel; it affects how the syllable containing the 'c' is pronounced (similar to, but not exactly like Spanish):
    • ca = ka, while cha = chah (like in cha-cha)
    • ce = cheh (like Che Guevara), while che = kay
    • ci = chee, while chi = key
    • co = ko, while cho = choh (like in poncho)
    • cu = ku (right now I cannot think of any Italian word that contains chu)
  4. Double consonants are important to pronunciation and thereby to meaning; syllables naturally split between consonant pairs:
    • The word pena (PEH-nah) means pain; penna (PEN-nah) means pen or feather.
    • The word capello (ka-PEL-lo) means (a) hair; cappello (kap-PEL-lo) means hat.
    • Note that you don't actually pronounce the two consonants separately, you just start the pronunciation at the end of the lead syllable and finish it off at the beginning of the trailing one.
Now on to Don Aldo's list:
  • Don’t shoot - Non sparate. Good; the verb tense is second person plural imperative, totally correct in general, like when you don't know how many people are shooting at you. If you're fairly certain that there's only one, non sparare (second person singular imperative) is grammatically precise.
  • I’m a friend - Sono un'amico. Good; you can speed up this utterance (especially during a firefight where fractions of a second count) by shortening it to son'amico.
  • Take me to your leaderPortami dal tuo capo. Okay, even if it reminds me of a movie about invaders from Mars. Two curiosities here:
    • The word portami (POR-ta-me) isn't breaking the 'penultimate syllable' rule because it's really a combination of the conjugated verb porta (portare: to take or carry) and the direct object mi (me).
    • The preposition da in all its forms (including dai, dalla, and dalle) usually means 'from' but sometimes means 'to' - I cannot begin to explain it; I've actually forgotten exactly how to get this right at least 90% of the time; but when I hear it, I go, "Oh, yeah!"
  • When do we eat? -  Quando si mangia? Good; there are different ways to ask the same question, but this more self-effacing form is probably best, especially if you're asking the cook (who might spit in the spaghetti if he thinks you're being impatient).
  • Where are the toilets? - Dove sono i servizi igienici? Definitely 'officer-speak'. Among the hoi polloi you're more likely to hear Dov'è il cesso?
  • This is wonderful! - Questo è meraviglioso! This is wonderful (heheh).
  • Where is the enemy? - Dov'è il nemico? No problem here either.
  • Commence firing! - Iniziare di cottura! This made me smile; English can be fun. This would work inside a ceramic or glass studio where objects of art are about to be baked in a furnace. I believe that a simple (Aprire il) Fuoco! works for this.
  • Cease firing! - Cessate il fuoco! Survey says...Yes.
  • Advance - Avanzare. This verb accurately describes the act of moving forward or advancing; the direct command is Avanti!
  • Retreat - Ritirarsi. Another accurate verb but I'm not sure of the command form - more study needed.
  • Cover me! - Coprimi! At first glance this seems okay, however I have some doubts - it could mean merely, "Hey, camerata. Pull my blanket up a bit for me. Thanks!" Wouldn't that be embarrassing? I really need to find an English-Italian Military Dictionary.
  • Take the building - Prendere l'edificio. Major doubts on this one - I think there's an idiomatic issue here.
  • Well done! - Ben fatto. Fine.
  • Kill the Germans - Uccidete i Tedeschi. This works, however a more common battlefield cry might be something more impersonal like, Morte ai Tedeschi!
  • Surrender - Arrendersi. Again, an accurate infinitive verb form but the command to surrender would be Arrendetevi!
  • Very good - Molto buono. A good choice. Depending on the circumstance Molto bene and Molto bravo are also appropriate; explaining the differences between these three could possibly consume an entire blog post. BTW, bravo is a false friend; it doesn't mean "brave."

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Aspetto Personale (Impression)

SIG members are encouraged to adopt representative items of civilian clothing that would have been worn during the Anzio-to-Rome period. Ideas for possible male impressions follow.

 
Operaio (unskilled or semi-skilled worker):
  • Footwear: Simple low-quarter leather shoes or brogans
  • Clothing: Cotton moleskin work suit, usually royal blue in color consisting of loose-fitting, straight-leg trousers and a jacket (similar in cut to a sack coat) with three outside patch pockets (“French work jacket” or “veste travail” on ebay) worn over a sleeveless undershirt or button-up shirt
  • Headgear: dark color Beret or “fiddler’s cap”
Contadino (farmer):
  • Footwear: Leather civilian ankle boots or other shoes suitable for farming
  • Clothing: Operaio cotton moleskin work suit or other rustic clothing (sturdy cotton or wool trousers, button-up shirt, and jacket or vest
  • Headgear: dark color Beret, straw hat, or “fiddler’s cap”
Studente (university student) or Impiegato (office or shop worker):
  • Footwear: Low-quarter leather shoes or ankle boots
  • Clothing: Wool suit, jacket and trousers, or vest and trousers; button-up shirt with or without necktie
  • Headgear: Snap-brim cap, fedora, or other brimmed hat of the period (note that hats were not always worn by this group, however battlefield protocol requires some sort of head covering)
By this time, shortages caused by several years of war resulted in most folks’ clothing being well worn if not practically worn out. Note too that female partisans were not uncommon, particularly in the Studente group and among the middle- and upper-classes where the egalitarianism of socialism and communism often held sway. Inasmuch as partisan activity at this time and place was not yet of the paramilitary nature seen later in northern Italy, the wearing by civilians of military headgear, military shirts, and military tunics is generally forbidden in this time period.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Recitazione del Ruolo (Role Play)

Members are encouraged to develop an Italian persona consistent with their role as partigiani. This might include:
  • Decide upon a likely Italian name, date and place of birth, address (in the Commune di Roma), and parents’ names to be inscribed on your Carta d’Identità (identity card), counterfeit fascist party membership card, and any other documentation necessary to your impression.
  • Develop a Nome di Battaglia (battle name) to protect your true identity (and your fake one as well). Always use these names within the partisan cell and when discussing cell activities with others, even the OSS and SOE. Your Nome can be a first name different than your own, an animal name, or a characteristic – preferably misleading, e.g., if you walk with a limp don’t choose lo Zoppo (the lame one) as your Nome.
  • Learn enough Italian so as to be able to issue and carry out likely battlefield commands, to communicate the location of other combatants (be they friend or foe), to protest your innocence during a partisan roundup, and to insult Germans after you are mortally wounded (heaven forbid!).
  • Expand your repertoire with a few basic Italian hand gestures; indispensable at long distances and at those times when mere words don’t suffice! Spit at the ground whenever Mussolini, Hitler, or the OVRA (Italian Secret Police) is mentioned.
  • Speak basic English with a slight Roman, Neapolitan, or Sicilian accent (don’t overdo it). Practice this newfound talent by warmly greeting any dogface private you meet in camp and asking him if he knows your cousin, uncle, niece, etc., who lives in Jersey, Queens, South Chicago, Boston, or wherever. Nevertheless, avoid becoming a total pest!
  • Cultivate an appreciation for Italian opera, libations, and pre-fascist culture.
  • Learn to sing a few partisan hymns (Bella, Ciao! and Fischia il Vento at a minimum) as well as the chorus of the Fascist song Giovinezza (to maintain your cover as a loyal Fascist).
  • Pass the time playing Italian card games such as Scopa and Briscola and admiring any passing WACS (from afar), while sharing a flask of Grappa with your camerati.
  • Share what you have with friends and friendly acquaintances, and with anyone less fortunate than you. This is the mark of a true Italian patriot.

Contesto Storico (Historical Context)

da Anzio a Roma

During this period, partisan activity near the front remained mostly clandestine in nature and partisans working behind Axis lines were keen to blend in with the local populace. In such circumstances, a partisan would carry only the minimum equipment necessary to execute a specific mission; plausible behind-the-lines weaponry might include a small handgun that could be hidden inside clothing (and inconspicuously dropped in a dark alley), or perhaps a grenade or improvised bomb.

As the Allied armies inched towards Rome, it is reasonable to assume that partisans came into contact with Allied troops on the ground or otherwise communicated their location to Allied headquarters via their connections in the OSS or SOE. If vetted as trustworthy, a partisan might become involved in recon, further sabotage, or conventional combat, either as a member of an organized partisan squad or attached to an Allied unit.

In the confusion following the ouster of Mussolini and the September 1943 armistice proclaimed by his successor Marshal Badoglio, thousands of Italian troops and newly-escaped Allied POWs ‘melted’ into the countryside where many linked up with the partisans, providing both additional manpower as well as tactical military expertise. It’s should be expected that once in contact with Allied forces the former POWs would have been whisked off to the rear to be debriefed, re-equipped, and eventually rejoined with their respective fighting force. Many of the antifascist Italian soldiers who made it behind Allied lines were later organized into co-belligerent units and fought against their former German allies.

Iniziamo (Let's Begin)

Forza! Partigiani is a Special Interest Group (SIG) of Company A, 1st New Mexico Volunteer Infantry (1stNMVI), a 501(c)(3) corporation whose members serve as living historians and battlefield reenactors at events throughout the State of New Mexico and beyond.

The members of Forza! Partigiani portray typical Italian partisan combatants operating in central Italy (primarily the provinces of Lazio, Campania, Abruzzo, and Molise) from January through June of 1944. This period begins with the Allied landings at Anzio-Nettuno and concludes with the liberation of Rome. Should an opportunity present itself to portray ‘militarized’ partisans operating after the liberation of Rome, and north of the Gustav Line, members may elect to develop additional impressions for that time and place. Nevertheless, the fully civilian partisan impression is valid for both.