Place:

Cantone (Introdacqua)

Province:

L'Aquila

Region:

Abruzzo

Assistance provided:

Guide across the frontline

Prisoners helped:

Sgt. Demetri Haydakis-South African Infantry, Rodney Hill, John Esmond Fox-Royal Horse Artillery and numerous escapees, in particular coming from PG 78 Sulmona

Start date:

September 1943

End date:

6 April 1944 (arrested)

Other helpers involved:

Fratelli Balassone

Description:

One of the most important guides for crossing the lines in Abruzzo. Domenico was a hunter and knew the local mountains extremely well. In coordination with other helpers, he organised numerous crossings from Sulmona to Casoli, where the Allied command had been based since December 1943. His final expedition, in March 1944, was intercepted by a German patrol, and all members of the group were arrested. Taken, along with many others, to the prison in Civitaquana, he was repeatedly tortured and remained there for several months. As he was about to be deported to Germany, he managed to escape and returned to Sulmona, by then liberated. Domenico’s whole family, particularly his sister Elisa, was involved in rescue activities.

Bibliography:

J.E. Fox, Spaghetti e filo spinato, trad. it [a cura di] Liceo scientifico statale E. Fermi, Sulmona. - 2. ed. riveduta e corretta. - Torre dei Nolfi : Qualevita, 2002-B.G. Lett, Italy’s Outstanding courage. The Story of a Secret Civilian Army in World War Two, Independently published , 2020- F. Del Monaco, M.R.La Morgia, Sul sentiero della libertà. Storie dell’Abruzzo tra guerra e resistenza. Ianieri Edizioni, Pescara, 2023.

Archival sources:

NARA, Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II Claim, Series (RG. 331), Claim n° 3829