A British Boy in Fascist Italy

Peter Ghiringhelli’s turbulent childhood as the son of Italian Fascist parents saw him deported from England to Italy at the start of World War II. Here Peter witnessed at first hand what life was like in a totalitarian state, and his vivid memories of cold and hunger, his own role in Fascist rallies as a member of the black-shirted "Balilla," and the fall of Mussolini are a living link to the past. Published for the first time, his memories of childhood in this part of war-torn Europe are a fascinating insight into life under terrible oppression, first by the Fascist party and later by the invading German army, who selected random Italian civilians for execution for every German soldier killed in the violent partisan fighting. Although his experiences were typical of any young boy living in Mussolini’s Italy, Peter Ghiringhelli’s incredible recall and vivid memories serve as a unique testament to an extraordinary period of history. His story is one of a daily tug of war between life and death, hunger and survival, desolation and victory.