Contents

A few words as a preface 7

I The harbinger of the fascist invasion of Greece 9

Sinking of the cruiser "Hellen," August 15, 1940

II October 28, 1940 13

The great disgrace of fascism and the trial of an honorable ambassador

III The "Italian" neighbors 19

IV The first Italian prisoners in Athens 31

V Two "spoils" from the front 33

VI A revealing letter from Georgios Vlachos 37

VII The Italian cats 43

VIII Enemies and "enemies"... 47

Human stories in the absurdity of war

IX The Italians "occupy" Athens 51

X Two theatrical performances: 53

The greedy pasta lover and the little mouse

Sofia Vembo and her songs

XI Bravo Colonel! 57

XII The gramophone records with songs for Mussolini 63

XIII A trial with great significance 65

XIV Mussolini in Athens 67

XVI A tender story 69

How a cat inspired my first feelings of sympathy for Italians

XVI The beginning of the end of the fascist nightmare 75

The Allied landing in Sicily

The surrender of the Italian fleet

XVIII An eye for an eye 79

Two unforgettable days: The ousting of Mussolini and the surrender of Italy

XIX Sic transit... 87

Chiano was imprisoned as... a collaborator!

XX Mussolini's opportunistic megalomania 89

Cause of the disgrace and destruction of the Italian armed forces

XXI The horrific crime of Cephalonia 95

XXII The liberation of Rimini 101

XXIII The Italians who fell fighting fascism 109

XXIV Evangelos Averoff escapes from a concentration camp in Italy 113

XXV Piero Lovat: the singer with the velvety voice 115

XXVI A commemorative plaque that troubled me 119

XXVII Strange thoughts and "heretical" reflections 123

Mussolini an involuntary... "benefactor" of Greece

Final thoughts 129

It has been nearly 75 years since then...