Thank you for the photographs, Stu. The English translation is faithful to the Italian. No reply from Zingaretti (but then I wasn't really expecting one). If he had replied I would have sent him these photographs. Vitellino
Janet. Do we know whether the plaque was ever erected. I am in Cassino on 17 May 18 and would like to take a look. Regards Frank
Frank, The plaque was in via Di Biasio. I found this on line and have translated it: In the end, after so much controversy, the plaque intended to pay homage to the German parà at the entrance to the Foltin Cave, was removed. To avoid controversy, that is, the historical revisionism that had infuriated the National Association of Partisans, Governor Zingaretti and the entire group of centre-left politicians on the town council, the first citizen invited the Association of hoteliers who had promoted the event to remove at least the parachute. Said, done: At dawn this morning the parachute disappeared, only the stone base remained. Janet
Janet. Thank you. Zingaretti is clearly a first class plonker. The hoteliers have recognised for many years that they are utterly dependent on the massive local Chrysler-FIAT car factory for their survival and have been working very hard to diversify. Attracting tourists that do more that just drive up Monte Cassino in their big polluting coaches, have a pee and a tour around the Monastery before heading back to Rome or Naples, is one way of breaking that dependence and should be encouraged by the Governor. Regards Frank
Frank, you are right. Unfortunately, against the national trend, he has just been elected (4th March) for another term as governor of Lazio. He wouldn't have got there without the votes of his mates in ANPI, a good number of whom weren't even born in 1944 but never lose an opportunity to pontificate about things they have never studied at first hand...but don't get me going on that one, please! Vitellino
It has been pointed out to me that this would have been the only memorial (outside their cemeteries) in Europe to the German soldiers, other than the FJ memorial in Crete. If true it would have set a wider precedent.
