plaque that recalls the partisan struggle and the sacrifice of dozens of young people who fought for freedom against Nazi-fascism; The Battle of Pertuso, fought between 22 and 26 August 1944, was the most significant event in these places. Part of a larger plan to occupy the valley, it was a Nazi-fascist attempt to break through with columns converging from nine directions, aimed at Mount Antola. It all began on 22 August, when a unit of Bersaglieri from the RSI of the Non-Commissioned Officers School of Novi Ligure attempted to force the narrows but, unexpectedly, were repelled by the machine gun of a partisan checkpoint. It was only a first attempt: two days later, fascists and Germans tried again. Marco asks for help from other partisan formations: the men of the Capettini Brigade, the Detachment, arrive in Pertuso Verardo commanded by Pinan, the Peter Detachment commanded by Scrivia. They build barriers of logs and stones and occupy the slopes of the gorge. The Germans attack with a cannon, mortars and machine guns: they fight all day but the partisans hold their positions, repel the assaults and capture 64 prisoners, the cannon, a mortar and numerous automatic weapons. Young people, elderly people and women from nearby villages support the partisans in the battle: they feed them during breaks and treat the wounded. After three days of very hard clashes, the partisans, having run out of ammunition, retreat: the Nazi-fascist action has spread and Pertuso's defenders risk being taken from behind. Everyone was treated in the Rocchetta hospital: valley residents, partisans, fascists and Germans. The black shirts responded with the massacre of Zerba where they massacred the prisoners seriously wounded during the battle of Pertuso with hand grenades: Chicchirichi, Silurino and the Polish Cencio.
Translated by Google •
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