Photo credit: courtesy of the Russian Embassy in Italy
The fate of the Soviet and Italian partisans, who fought side by side during the Second World War, was described in the book by the Italian writer Marta Tondjani called At the behest of the heart. Apuan Resistance and the Contribution of Soviet Partisans. The presentation of the book took place in the Italian city of Carrara.
Tonjani was hinted the theme of the book by the life itself. In the 1980s, she was asked to help with the translation of correspondence between a veteran of the Italian Resistance and a fighter from Uzbekistan, who during the war fought with the Nazis in the ranks of Italian partisans.
Akhmed Mamadzhanov was captured in Germany near Stalingrad, one of the Italian comrades in misfortune helped him escape. Forty years later, former fellow soldiers were able to meet, and Marta Tonjani found out that other Soviet soldiers also fought in the Resistance. Years of work in the archives and meetings with partisans allowed the writer to collect unique evidence of a joint struggle against the Nazis.
The presentation of the book was attended by the mayor of Carrara, Russian diplomats, representatives of the Italian Partisan Association and residents. Marta Tonjani's interest in Russia has continued for many years, now she runs the Vostok cultural center, which has been contributing to the development of relations with Moscow since the 1980s.
Russkiy Mir
